Chapter Twenty-Seven
Laynie
Is it normal to get butterflies every time your best friend looks at you, does any sort of act of service, or just simply sends you a text? Because right now, it feels like I have a damn zoo in my stomach with how many collywobbles I have.
On Monday, Grayson bought me a whole bag of groceries from the market and cooked my family spaghetti and meatballs. That’s one of my favourite dishes of all time, and the meatballs were perfectly delicate. The way they melted in my mouth had me humming with happiness.
Tuesday, there were a bunch of blue and white flowers waiting for me when I got to the café. My first thought was that Hazel or Mum must have left them like they have on occasion, but to my delight, the note said that it was from my favorite blondie.
There’s only one blondie in my world.
Wednesday, Grayson took me to Ashwood Afterhours with Reid and Macie.
We played pool while having a few drinks.
I, of course, had mocktails, and Grayson even tried one and enjoyed it.
Dropping me off at home, he kissed my cheek, and I felt my face flood with heat.
He waited until I got inside before leaving the porch.
He’s such a gentleman when he wants to be.
Yesterday was a hectic day at the bakery, followed by an appointment with Fiona, which Sadie joined me for.
It was just to check my blood work and to make sure everything was fine.
After the appointment, she gave me a card with my ultrasound time for next week.
I giggled about it as Sadie drove us back to Ashwood.
As soon as I walked into Golden Hour, Grayson was there with Reid waiting for me.
The way he smiled when he saw me was different. It felt loaded. Yearning, almost.
It made my blood heat as he took the cloth off the bench and started wiping down tables to help out. I couldn’t thank him enough, so I gave him some desserts to take with him, which I knew he wouldn’t be able to say no to.
Tonight, I’m at the cafe, finishing off some final touches on the cake I made for Grayson’s birthday.
The bell over the door chimes loudly over the soft background music playing through a speaker.
Frowning, I slip the cake into one of the fridges and go out to find Grayson standing in the middle of the cafe in a flannel jacket, boots, jeans, and his hat. A grin gleans my mouth, matching his.
“What are you doing here?” I ask, stepping closer.
He shrugs. “Macie mentioned that you were still here preparing for something, so I thought I would come and help you.”
My insides thaw as my toes wriggle in my boots. Tomorrow’s baking day will be full on, but if Grayson helps, then it might not be as bad.
I stare at him. I don’t want to ruin his surprise birthday party. We’ve been planning it for weeks, and tomorrow night is the big night.
I shrug and say, “There’s an event tomorrow that I’m baking for. It’s in Hollow Grove.”
He hums, smiling. His gaze flicks down to my baby blue apron. “Still not letting me wear the blue one?” Smiling, I shake my head. He sighs. “Fine, pass me the pink one and we’ll get it done.”
Biting down on my lip, he follows me into the kitchen and I pass the apron to him. I watch as he shrugs off his jacket, revealing his veined arms and the mountain tattoo on his forearm as he ties the apron around his waist.
“What are we working on?”
I show him what I’ve planned to make, which unsurprisingly are all his favourite desserts. Grayson mentions this, and I brush off the comment. Of course I was going to bake everything he loves for his birthday, but I don’t want to ruin this.
Continuing with the cupcakes, Grayson talks about his day.
Honey Haven Ranch is one of the sponsors for the local round up, so Reid, Holden, and him went to the Calloway farm with some supplies.
There they got caught up with the rodeo scene, watching their training while Jaxton explained everything behind the scenes.
“It’s different in winter. There’s so much slosh. I’m surprised they manage to stay on,” he says as he removes the cookies off the oven tray onto some cooling racks.
“They’re athletes. They need to practice all year round, just like Sawyer and Cole.”
His chin dips as he slides out the next tray, his arm muscles contract as he works. I can’t help but watch them move beneath his skin like stones. “Yeah, but it’s dangerous. Imagine how much your body would hurt after that.” He gives a little shiver.
Snickering, I nod in agreement. My gaze sticks on his tattoo once again. Swallowing, I put down the piping bag in my hand. “Do you remember getting that tattoo?”
Blue eyes blink at me as he stills. There’s a beat of silence, the crease between his golden brows forming as he peers down at his arm and sniffs. “Yeah, I remember. That drink was horrid.”
“I’m surprised you got half of it down.”
He pulls a face. “Right after beer. It was a terrible idea.”
I hum. “Almost like that timing was planned.”
Grayson’s eyes narrow, and I grin as he walks around the bench, coming to stop a foot away from me. “Of course you did. You and Macie were always ganging up on me.”
“That’s because we’re girls. We have to stick together.”
He mocks offence, bringing a giggle out of me. “And here I thought I was your best friend. I must have been wrong this whole time.”
I shake my head. “Nobody could take that away from you.”
He holds my steady gaze, unblinking. I can hear my heartbeat pounding beneath my ribs as my feet shuffle towards him.
“The tattoo is us,” Grayson starts. I still. “You, me, and Macie. I thought it was fitting as we used to sit on the hill and look out over the valley every time Macie’s aunt skipped town. It was our place, and I guess I wanted to carry it with me wherever we went, in case I lost either of you.”
My tongue runs along my bottom lip as I study it closer. Three mountains. One for each of us. “I never realised it meant something to you. I just thought you liked the design.”
Grayson snickers, and when I go to ask what he finds so amusing, he’s pulling off his apron and lifting his tee. “Gray—”
Then I see it. The two little biscuits stacked with crumbs on the side of his ribs. My pulse thickens, blood warming as I stare at it silently.
“I got this one when I turned twenty-one,” he continues, explaining as if he knew I was going to ask him about the significance.
“They’re biscuits,” is all I can mumble. Reaching out, my fingertips glide over his soft skin, which flinches at my touch. “Why did you get this?”
Lifting my chin to meet his face, Grayson’s eyes are darker, shinier, and I already know there’s a deeper meaning here. My fingers linger on the spot.
“Because you’re special to me, Laynie. You have been since the day I met you.”
My throat works, hand dropping from his skin . He lets the material go, covering the tattoo once again. Turning to face me, I can’t ignore the undeniable energy between us. The shift that’s occurring. That’s pulling us together like two magnets.
“You shared your biscuits with me.”
“Actually, you stole one,” I correct him.
He snorts, his dimples showing, and I feel my body melt like ice. “Possibly, but you offered.”
I nod, because I did offer him one. He was all alone, much like me, and I could see how pure he was. “So you got a tattoo because of preschool?”
Grayson chuckles, and I frown in confusion. “I got it because of you.” He exhales, dragging his hand through his messy hair. “A part of me was worried that you’d find someone else, and this way, I could have a part of you forever. Even if you found a better friend or…”
My eyes prickle with water as his gaze flickers away, not able to look at me.
Reaching out, I take his hand. It’s strong and rough against mine, and dirt hides beneath the nails, but it doesn’t bother me as I pull myself closer. “Or what, Grayson?”
My chest moves faster, despite my breaths shallowing. I sense I already know what he’s going to say, but I need to hear it from him. To confirm that every emotion I’m feeling isn’t just one sided. That we’re both aware of the invisible string pulling us together.
He swallows. “Or found someone else you loved.”
My breath hitches in my throat as his hand lifts, curving around the nape of my neck. Gaze holding mine, simmering with heat and tenderness, I can’t bring myself to blink. I don’t want to miss a second of him holding me this way.
“I’ve never loved anyone else,” I admit softly.
His eyes drift to my lips. “When you told me about your baby and him, I thought for a minute that you’d found someone better than me. That you’d fallen for someone—”
“I hadn’t,” I tell him, my head shaking slightly. “It was a mistake. It didn’t mean anything.”
That makes the corner of his mouth tick upwards as his face nears mine. “I know that now. And you have no idea how much relief I had when you told me. I know that’s selfish of me to say, but—”
“I would never think that.” Grayson blinks down at me, his fingers tangling in my hair, while the other wraps around my hand. “I just want you to be honest with me, Gray.”
I hear a slight shift in his inhale as he leans in, pressing his lips against mine and closing the gap between us.
My eyes flutter shut at the contact, my fingers entwining with his as he holds me close.
Heat rushes through me, flooding every cell and crevasse as I breathe him in.
All his spice, adoration, and yearning. My body is flush with his.
Hands snaking around his waist as he deepens our kiss.
Lips moving, tongues swiping, and chests heaving, I fall further for this man.
Letting me go, my lungs inflate as Grayson’s forehead tips to rest on mine, our faces so close that I can almost taste him once more. He tastes like pastry and apple, which has me thinking that he snuck some of the filling while helping me with the crumbles, but I don’t care.
I just kissed my best friend.