2. Gray
Chapter two
Gray
Islam my car door and mutter a string of curses under my breath. If Nicole insists something is "very important”, it usually means trouble for me.
I head to the intercom outside her building, the chilly evening air biting at my neck as I press the button for her apartment.
Her voice crackles through. “Hello?”
“Hey, Nicole, it’s me.”
“Okay, come up.”
The door buzzes, and I push it open. Inside, the lobby smells like a mix of lemon cleaner and despair. A security guard stationed at the desk looks up as I walk past.
“Good evening, Mr. Hayes.”
I stop just long enough to glare at him. “No, it’s not.” Without waiting for a response, I continue toward the elevator and jab the button.
The doors slide open immediately. Lucky me. I step inside, leaning back against the wall as the doors close. I’m not even halfway to her floor, and I already regret coming.
The elevator dings on the fourth floor, and I step out. The hallway feels too quiet except for the faint hum of someone’s TV behind one of the apartment doors. I walk past a couple of them until I stop in front of number 44.
I ring the buzzer and wait.
The door opens, and Nicole is standing there, looking frazzled, as always.
“Oh, thank God you’re here.” She steps aside to let me in.
From the living room, Maddie’s voice cuts through the air. “Take that you piggy one-eyed monster!” BANG!
I step inside, really regretting this decision. “So, what was so damn important that you couldn’t tell me on the phone?”
Nicole doesn’t answer right away. She’s wheeling a suitcase toward the door, and I immediately don’t like where this is going.
She heads back toward her bedroom, so I follow her.
“What the hell is this?” I ask, watching as she starts packing another suitcase.
She stops just long enough to glance at me, then goes back to cramming clothes inside. “Okay, so, Dianna—my boss—called me about an hour ago and said I’m booked on the 11 p.m. flight from Portland International to Florida tonight. It’s for a business trip, and I’ll be gone for ten days.”
I stare at her, waiting for the part where this is my problem. “And?”
Nicole doesn’t answer right away, but a loud crash from the living room does. Maddie’s voice follows almost immediately. “It’s fine!”
“And,” Nicole finally says, turning to me with those wide, pleading eyes, “Gray… little brother, please, could you—”
“No,” I cut her off. “I am not looking after Maddie.”
Her mouth drops open like she didn’t expect me to say no so quickly.
“Now, if there’s nothing else—”
“Oh, Gray, PLEASE!” She practically shrieks, grabbing my arm as I try to leave. “I’ve done so many favors for you! Can’t you just do me this one? I don’t have time to find a nanny, and if I don’t go, I’ll probably lose out on the promotion I’ve been working toward for two years!”
“This is when a real father would have come in handy rather than artificial insemination,” I grimace. “At least you would have a back-up sitter.”
There’s a tear now. Perfect. Is it fake? Genuine? I don’t care.
“Please, little brother? I’ll do anything for you when I get back. PLEASE?”
I sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose. “Jesus Christ...do I have any other choice?”
Her face lights up like Christmas morning as she throws her arms around me. I stand there stiff as a board, waiting for her to let go.
She points to a small pink suitcase sitting in the corner of her bedroom.
“Maddie’s?” I ask flatly.
Nicole smiles that smug, infuriating smile she gets when she knows she’s won. “Yup. Everything is in there.”
I lean down, grab the handle of the obnoxiously pink suitcase, and stand up with it. Ten days. Ten whole days with that kid. God help me.
Following Nicole out of the bedroom, I’m already thinking about nannies. But before I get too far into my escape fantasy, Nicole shoves a folded piece of paper at me.
“It’s all written down,” she says. “School, times, school address, mealtimes, allergies.”
I glance at the list. “Strawberry ice cream is not an allergy.”
Nicole flashes that innocent smile of hers that hasn’t worked on me since we were kids. “I know, but she said her best friend Tash has an allergy and wanted one too. So, I gave her that one.”
I stare at her for a second. I don’t even know how to respond to that.
We head into the living room, and it’s like stepping into the aftermath of a tornado. Cushions are everywhere, dolls are lying on the sofa with slices of bread taped to their faces, and shopping bags and toys are scattered like debris. Maddie’s darting around the chaos like a caffeinated hamster.
She stops mid-sprint when she spots me, her face scrunching up like I’m something unpleasant she stepped in. “I don’t like Uncle Grayson.”
I smirk back at her, unimpressed. “Don’t worry, kid... I don’t particularly like you either.”
Nicole shoots me a look. “See? It’s the negative vibes you give off. She’s only picking up on them.”
“Yeah... obviously, it’s my fault.” I sigh, wondering if I can just make a break for it and deal with the fallout later.
“I’ve decided that I’m old enough to look after myself,” Maddie declares, crossing her arms like a mini dictator. “I’m not going with him.”
Oh, I like her thinking.
“Well...” feigning disappointment as I turn to Nicole. “We tried. I think I’ll get going now.”
Nicole glances at her watch. “Oh, no you don’t.”
She crouches down to Maddie’s level, her voice syrupy sweet. “Now, sweetheart, remember what I told you about behaving yourself for your Uncle Grayson.”
Maddie glares at the carpet, kicking it with her foot. “Plppptth!” She blows out a loud raspberry. “Oh... If I have to.”
“That’s my girl,” Nicole grins. “Now come here and give me a big hug.”
Maddie stomps over to Nicole, throwing her arms around her in a dramatic show of reluctance.
“Come on then,” I say, gripping the suitcase like it’s a death sentence.
Nicole leans over to kiss my cheek, smiling in a way that tells me she’s far too pleased with herself.
“Thanks again, Gray. I’ll call you tomorrow.
Remember, Maddie has to be at school at 8:45 a.m. sharp.
I’ve already left a voicemail for Ms. Staple, her teacher, to explain everything. I owe you big time.”
“Yeah... you do.”
I glance down at Maddie, who’s glaring up at me like I’ve ruined her entire life. This is going to be a long ten days.
Just as I’m about to head for the door with Maddie trailing behind, Nicole pulls me aside. Her hand shoves a small, floppy stuffed monkey into my jacket pocket like she’s slipping me contraband.
She leans in and whispers, “That’s only for when, and if, she gets upset.”
“Understood,” I mutter. “For when... I mean if she gets upset.”
Nicole straightens up, calling out to Maddie, “And hold Uncle Gray’s hand when you leave the building!”
Maddie doesn’t even acknowledge her. Instead, she bolts toward the elevator like someone just announced free candy.
By the time I catch up, she’s stepped through the elevator doors and stabbed every single button on the panel. Every. Single. One.
I glare at her. “Remember: me, adult. You, kid. So don’t annoy me and just do what you’re told.”
When we finally hit the lobby, the security guard looks up from his desk. “See you, Maddie.”
Maddie turns to me, loud enough for the guy to hear, “Don’t like him.”
Figures.
As we reach the main door, I grab her hand before she can bolt again. She immediately yanks it away, scrunching up her face. “I don’t think this is a good idea.”
I stare at her. “Okay, I’m taking you back.” I turn toward the door, already done with this whole ordeal.
“No!” she blurts out, clearly deciding this is her hill to die on. “I’m coming with you.”
I hold out my hand. “Hand then?”
She narrows her eyes like this is some kind of test of wills, but eventually, she grabs my hand, muttering under her breath as we head for the parking lot.
At my car, I let go of her hand and unlock the trunk, tossing her overly pink suitcase inside. “Stay. Don’t move.”
“I’m not a dog,” she snaps, crossing her arms.
I open the back door, muttering under my breath, “No... they’re far more obedient.”
Maddie hops into the car, immediately launching into a ramble about how flowers talk to each other. I lean over to buckle her in, trying to tune her out.
Once I’m in the driver’s seat, I start to turn the key, but she screams at the top of her lungs, “STOP!”
Heart racing, I whip around. “What’s the matter?”
She glares at me like I’ve committed a mortal sin. “I’m not going anywhere without Monkey.”
I exhale, fighting the urge to laugh. For once, Nicole actually got something right. I pull the stuffed toy out of my jacket pocket, my lips twitching into a reluctant smile as I pass it back to her.
She snatches it and immediately hugs it tight, her little victory making her look far too smug.
I turn back to the wheel, start the engine, and pull out of the parking lot.
Oh, Gray. What the hell have you got yourself into?
Driving through Westhaven, the streets are quiet, save for a few stragglers walking along the sidewalks. Closed shopfronts line the main street, their signs dark and lifeless.
We pass a bar spilling faint music onto the street and a couple of late-night diners with lights still on.
I tap the screen on the dashboard, connecting the call through hands-free. Clara picks up almost instantly.“Mr. Hayes,” her voice crisp, as always.
“Clara, I know that it’s getting late, but can you prep one of the guest bedrooms? My niece Maddie is staying over for about ten days. I’ll be home soon.”
“Oh, of course. I’ll get guest room number three ready right away.”
“Thanks.” I end the call with another tap and refocus on the road ahead.
From the back, Maddie pipes up, “Does the room have princess pictures on the walls?”
“No, not right now,” I call back. “But if—and only if—you’re a good girl, I’ll see what I can do tomorrow. Is that a deal?”
“Suppose,” she mutters, clearly unimpressed.