Chapter 11 - Greyson
Chapter eleven
Greyson
Horrible disaster it is.
~ The Next Day ~
I’ve been watching her. Emma. It’s weird, it’s like I now see her under a different light than the one I saw her under before our secret sharing last night. I can’t explain it, but I feel the need to watch her every single movement.
She’s not at all who I thought she was. I always pictured her as a self-centered, entitled little princess who likes to spend all of Daddy’s money, with a personality that overshadows everyone around her. But that’s so far from the truth.
Emma is a genuine soul. She cares deeply about people like they’re her responsibility.
She’s kind, loving, and so thoughtful. Every morning, she makes sure I have a nutritious breakfast. She gets my suits dry-cleaned and sets them aside for game nights.
I've never been so well taken care of in my life.
She always wakes up earlier to get my daughter so that I can sleep in. She thinks I don’t know, but I do. I know everything she does. Yesterday morning, I watched her with little Gracie on the baby cam, talking about making pancakes because it would make me happy.
She never does anything for herself, always for the happiness of others. All the money she’s spent since she’s been here was for me or Gracie. Maybe they were unnecessary things, but still, none of them were for her, with the exception of her room.
Emma has been amazing with Gracie. I know she’s not technically a real nanny, but she’s doing a better job than I could have ever asked for. She goes above and beyond with my daughter, and it does something to me every time I see them together.
Last night at the game, watching my friends with their wives and their kids, it made me crave it for a moment. I never realized it was something I could potentially want in the future. I was happy with my bachelor life.
But then I saw Gracie in Emma’s arms, smiling and giggling.
The way Bunny looked down at her with fondness, as if she was the most precious and important thing in her life.
But then she looked up at Cecilia and Silas, then Clay and Morgan, and that glimmer in her eyes dimmed.
In that moment, all I wanted to do was go over to her and bring it back.
What’s happening to me?
It’s why I agreed to go with her to her parents’ today. She’s done so much for us, and I thought the least I could do is be there for her during a time of need. She might not admit it, but I know how much her parents’ opinion affects her. So if I can be there as a buffer, then that’s what I’ll do.
I don’t know her parents personally, but I did talk to Cecilia yesterday after our morning practice, and from what she’s told me, tonight could go either way. Either perfectly fine or a horrible disaster.
Her dad apparently is a pretty nice guy, but he tends to let his wife do as she wants, which includes insulting his daughter. And her mother, well, she seems like the devil. What kind of mom tells her kid she’s not allowed to cry at a funeral? That’s just heartless.
No matter what happens, I’m prepared for battle. I’ll support Bunny through it all. But if her parents do so much as say something inappropriate, I won’t hold back my tongue, because I know Emma will just accept their verbal hits.
She always wants to appear strong and untouchable to everyone, but when it comes to her family, she seems to let them walk all over her. And I won’t tolerate that shit.
It sucks to see this version of Emma when the one I know is so feisty, funny, and quick with her tongue. But at the same time, I’m glad she’s let me witness her softer side, and it only makes it harder not to notice her now.
It’s 2:00 in the afternoon, and we aren’t set to be at Em’s parents’ house for another three hours. I’ve been waiting around the house, constantly checking out the windows for an important package that was supposed to arrive this morning. I hope it gets here on time.
Bunny put Gracie down for her nap a little while ago and has been deep cleaning the house, even though I have a cleaning lady that comes twice a week.
She’s nervous. Every time I ask if she’s okay, she tells me she’s great.
But I know that’s bullshit, so I just let her do what she needs to do to help with the stress.
The doorbell rings, and I stand from the couch to get it. Opening the door, I see a retreating delivery man and two brown boxes on my doorstep. Finally. I gather the boxes and set them down on the living room coffee table.
“Bunny, come here.”
She looks up from the sink that she’s currently scrubbing down with question. She wipes her hands on a rag and walks over tentatively, taking a seat on the couch beside me as she eyes the packages, then turns to me. “What’s this?”
I look at both labels and grab the one I recognize first, passing it over. “This is for you and Gracie. Open it.”
She scrunches up her brows but opens it anyway.
Her hands reach inside and pull out two jerseys with my team’s colors and logo.
All blue, with two white bands and one gold in the middle that run horizontally along the bottom and biceps of the shirt.
A big white ‘G’ sits in the center of the jersey with a golden griffin crawling through it.
She flips over the baby-sized one that has ‘BABY FORD’ written on the back with the number thirteen below. “Aw, this is adorable! Little Tulip is going to look so cute in this!” She puts it down and grabs the adult-size jersey.
She turns it over, expecting just my last name on the back, but I had them custom made. Hers says ‘TEAM FORD’ instead, with my jersey number. Because that’s what she is. She’s part of our team.
She slides her delicate fingers over the words, tracing my last name. “Greyson…”
“I noticed you and Gracie were the only ones without jerseys among our friends. I thought you guys could wear them next time you come to a game.” I shrug, not making a big deal about it.
She observes me before a dazzling smile forms on her lips. “Of course, I already can’t wait. Thank you.”
I pick up the final package, giving it to her. “This one is for you.”
“Grey, you don’t need to get me anything.” She touches the box but doesn’t take it from my hands.
“I know, but it’s a thank you for everything you’ve done with Gracie. And for me.” I push it more onto her lap, forcing her to take it.
She huffs out and rolls her eyes, but an excited smile plays along the corner of her mouth. “Okay! Fine!”
Reluctantly, she pries it open, lifting the tissue paper and gasping loudly when she sees what’s inside. Her hands fly to her mouth as that sparkle shines brightly in her eyes. “Oh my God! Greyson! It’s beautiful!” She lifts the dress from the box and admires it.
It’s a 1950s lace-up swing dress, white on the top with ruffled sleeves and a big bow that ties loosely at the neck. The bottom is a dark gray skirt that stops at the knee, with a wide black leather girdle at the waist that ties in a bow behind her back.
I’ve never bought a gift for a woman I’ve slept with before. But when I saw the dress online, I couldn't stop myself from purchasing it. I knew she’d love it. “It comes with one condition, though.”
Her eyes narrow my way. “Are you about to ask me to role-play with you? I always knew you were into some kinky stuff.”
I chuckle, shaking my head. “No, Bunny. I wasn’t going to ask that. Although now that you mention it…” I send her a mischievous smile and wink, letting her mind wander.
The truth is, I was kind of disappointed when Emma said we couldn’t sleep together again. I understand her reasoning and support it, but it still sucks. She’s all I’ve thought about since it happened.
Usually when I sleep with a girl, I forget about them the minute it’s over and never really think about the night ever again. But with Bunny, it’s different.
I find myself going over the night in my head when I go to sleep.
Or when I step into the shower and jerk off, images of her flip through my mind as I remember the noises she made and the way she called my name as she came.
The only other person it’s ever been like that with was Rose.
Yeah, I know it’s a little fucked up with them being best friends.
“We agreed, Grey. We aren’t touching that subject anymore.” She points an accusatory finger at me.
“Okay, okay.” I chuckle.
“So, what’s the condition?” she asks curiously.
“You wear it tonight.”
Her face falls, all the light draining from it. “Greyson, I can’t,” she tells me quietly.
“Yes, you can. It’s a beautiful dress, and it will look even better on you. There’s no reason to hide it.”
She bites her lip and puts the dress down, looking defeated as if she just lost a fight. I take her hand in mine and squeeze lightly.
“Em, you shouldn’t care what your parents think of your style. This is your life, not theirs. Stop making everyone happy and let yourself be happy for once. I think you look beautiful in your retro clothes, and I’m sure everyone else would think the same if you let them see it.”
“What if they don’t?” I’d never think Emma was insecure, but now I see her tough attitude is just a front.
“Then fuck them. They don’t deserve your time or attention. Because those who love you, those who really care about you, will love you no matter what you wear or how you act.” I offer her a tender smile as I rub my thumb on the back of her hand.
She looks at the dress pensively for a while, then nods sharply. “Okay. Yes. I’ll wear it.” And that beautiful shine returns.
Three hours later, we pass through the open gates and head up the driveway to Emma’s parents’ home. They live in Saddle River, New Jersey, only twenty minutes away from us, so it was a quick drive.
Their house is exactly what I expect rich snobs to live in. A mansion, way too big for the number of people living in it. Everything in and around the house looks too expensive to touch. Jesus, if this is what her parents are like, they won’t like having me on their lawn.