Chapter GRAYSON
GRAYSON
He let the heavy back door slam behind them, drawing a couple of looks from across the gym, including Eddie’s.
The taller man was directing a small group on heavy bags, but paused when he saw them.
He shook his head and gestured for a student to take over.
He jogged up to Lexi and tilted her head up, pissing Grayson off even more.
Lexi held the pastry out to Eddie. Grayson would have preferred she eat it herself, but considering how she’d eaten the last one… maybe it was better if she didn’t do that in public.
“For me, sweetheart?”
“Mama Troisi sent a box.”
She jerked her head towards Grayson.
“With him.”
“And you saved one for me, see, I knew you loved me.”
Eddie hugged Lexi, and Lexi hugged back. Eddie’s eyes met Grayson’s over her head, and the anger in them surprised him. Well, Grayson was pissed too. Eddie could get in line.
“The box is outside.”
“In de sun? We can’t have dat. Hey white boy, since you’re still here, how bout you go get the pastry, huh? Before it gets bad.”
Without waiting for an answer, Eddie turned and led Lexi away with his arm around her shoulders.
With no other choice, Gray slammed back outside and stomped back across the gravel lot.
He was grateful Marshall was nowhere in sight, and quickly snagged the box of bomb-whatevers. Old friends? Did that mean they used to date? Or was Marshall just interested in her now? Lexi hadn’t seemed interested in him, but she was acting strange as hell.
Back in the gym, Eddie was waiting for him just inside the back door. Without saying a word, he took the box from Gray and set it down on the floor. Grayson frowned. Surely that wasn’t sanitary.
Eddie took Grayson by a shoulder and pushed him right back out the door. One foot outside, Grayson dug in his heels. He refused to be marched around or kicked out.
“What the fuck?” he asked, spinning around to Eddie.
“I told you she needed time, white boy,” Eddie spat. “Not more coffee, not goddamn Italian pastry. Time. Space. I know you only care about your club-”
“How the fuck would you know what I care about? You’ve known me, what, all of twelve minutes? A punch in the face doesn’t mean you know shit. Now obviously I’m not going anywhere, so give me some real answers. Is she on something right now?”
Eddie laughed, but the sound was nowhere near pleasant.
“If you think that about her, you don’t know her at all, and you can get back in your fancy car and piss off.”
“Did she get hurt? What the hell is wrong with her?”
Eddie eyed him suspiciously before dragging a hand through his dreads.
“What did she tell you?”
“Nothing!” Grayson exploded. “I haven’t heard a goddamn word from her in almost a week, and I’ve been trying to reach her for days!”
He started to pace in front of Eddie, a few steps past, a few steps back.
“She’s too thin, she’s obviously not eating, God knows how many cups of coffee she’s had today, and why the hell is she doing all this maintenance alone? Don’t the owners hire companies for this shit?”
“Maintenance?” Eddie asked, turning to look where Grayson was staring.
The empty gaps waiting for windows reminded Grayson of gaping eye sockets. It wasn’t a comforting visual. Eddie was staring at him steadily, and nodded slowly.
“Okay, maybe you care about her, white boy. But that doesn’t mean you’re good for her.”
Grayson barely resisted rolling his eyes. Why the hell Eddie thought he had to be Lexi’s guard dog was beyond him. Obviously, the woman could take care of herself. And was apparently trying to take care of every single aspect of this gym at the same time.
He wondered if she was getting pressure here; if it was a good enough position for her. She was obviously more intelligent than the brains it took to just be a trainer. With effort, he refocused.
“What the hell’s wrong with her, Eddie?”
“Lexi…” Eddie peeked at the door, making sure it was still closed. “She doesn’t always sleep well. When she’s stressed, sometimes she…”
“She what?” Grayson asked.
He wanted to shake the man, but finally he was getting somewhere. Eddie scratched a spot through his thin beard.
“She goes on dis autopilot. She doesn’t sleep. She doesn’t eat. She just keeps going.”
Eddie took a deep breath.
“When she was out here, did you talk to her?”
“I tried to. It was like she didn’t hear half of what I said.” Grayson tried not to sound bitter.
Eddie smiled. “Don’t take it personal. She probably didn’t. When I got here dis morning, she said she started painting this wall before dawn. What else did you notice?”
”I don’t know.”
Grayson thought about it while he unstuck his shirt from his back again, and envied Eddie’s lightweight tank.
“Her movements were disjointed. Like a puppet on strings. And her smile wasn’t her real smile. And her eyes looked wrong.”
Eddie nodded, and spoke a little lower, and his accent came out stronger.
“It’s been tree or four days. Dis is about her max time. She should crash in another day or so. Maybe tonight if we’re lucky. After everything is done, she’ll be able to relax again, and then she’ll be bettah.”
Grayson stared helplessly at the back of the building. Why would she overwork herself like that? It made no sense.
“Why wouldn’t she call me?” he asked, not meeting Eddie’s eyes.
He felt ridiculous having to ask, but obviously Eddie knew her very well. And they were actually talking, instead of Eddie snarling at him. Eddie sighed and knocked Grayson on the shoulder.
“Because our girl thinks she has to do everything herself.”
“Why?”
Eddie let Gray proceed him into the gym, and swiped up the white bakery box. The smell was still delicious, and now that Gray had some answers, he wanted one. But he was still waiting for an answer.
“My guess, white boy, is because she always has.”