Chapter Twenty-Nine
Laynie
REID: We’re on our way back.
REID: We’ll be about ten minutes.
REID: He’s in a MAD mood.
My throat works as I stare at Reid’s messages. Is Grayson mad with me because of last night? Because I pushed him away when I should have pulled him closer?
I couldn’t think straight. My mind was clouded with anxiety. Not because I doubt Grayson wouldn’t be there for me, but because this whole situation is terrifying for me.
He kissed me, and I kissed him back. I’ve waited years for something like that to happen between us. Yet as soon as it did, reality washed over me and I realised how deep we’ve fallen into this mess. I’ve dragged him down with me, and I don’t want to mess up his life.
Macie’s voice steals my attention, pulling me from my spiralling thoughts. “All right, streamers are up. Cake is on the bench. Balloons are inflated.” She turns to me and grins. “I think we’re ready.”
“Good,” I say, trying to match her enthusiasm but it falls flat. “Reid just messaged. They’re almost here.”
“Perfect,” she chimes, clapping her hands.
We’ve somehow fit fifty people in here, which was a bit of an effort.
Hazel and Austin are with my parents and Paisley’s mum.
Aspen is on Delly’s hip, talking her and Sadie’s ears off about ducks, but they seem to be enjoying it.
Paisley and Knox stand together in one corner, and in the other are people from high school, like Jaxton Calloway, his older brother Damien, and Bennett Miller.
I’m glad it’s a big turnout.
“All right, everyone, when the door opens and the lights flick on, it’s your cue to jump up and yell surprise,” Macie announces.
I hear someone snort and turn to see Jaxton with his hands in his pockets, thinking he’s the hot shot he really isn’t. Some things never really change, I suppose. “That’s usually how these parties work. Have you ever watched a movie before, Cambell?”
Macie rolls her eyes.
My phone beeps again.
COLE: One minute away.
“Okay. We have one minute until they’re back. Everyone find a place and hide. The lights are going off in thirty seconds,” I announce loudly.
There’s a frantic rush as Macie and I wait for everyone to crouch. Turning off the lights, Macie and I hide beside the door just as we hear the crunch of the gravel driveway. My stomach flutters nervously, anxiety creeping its way up my skin. I swallow, trying to stay silent.
Doors slam and the ute’s lights flash as they approach the porch.
“Where’s Mum and Dad?” I hear Grayson ask. “I thought they were looking after Aspen.”
“They probably took her out for ice cream,” Holden answers.
“I want ice cream,” Cole says, and I roll my eyes.
Someone gives a short laugh, and seconds later, the door swings open and Grayson steps in. Macie jumps up, flicking the light switch. Everyone jumps up and shouts, “Surprise!”
Shock and amusement spread across Grayson’s face. He chuckles with disbelief. “What the heck is this?”
“Surprise!” Macie adds again, stepping closer to hug him.
“You planned all of this for me?”
She nods, turning my way. I feel my cheeks heat. “Me, Laynie, Delly, and Sadie. We organised everything together. Your brothers helped a little too.”
“You guys are the best.” His eyes shimmer with a slight glean as he turns to his brothers and hits them all on the arm. “No wonder you took so long looking at those stupid seed packets.”
Reid shrugs, grinning. “We had to stall somehow while people got here and decorated the place. Do you really think we need three different types of tomatoes?”
Grayson glances around again, taking it all in.
Hazel steps to the front and hugs him, wishing him a happy birthday. “Okay, everyone. Food will be on the table. Enjoy yourselves!”
Someone turns the music back on, and everyone gets to talking amongst themselves. Grayson is swarmed by friends and townspeople, all wishing him a happy day and asking about his work and hobbies.
I duck back into the kitchen behind Hazel. She sighs once she’s out of the throng of people, rubbing her forehead. I frown. “Are you feeling okay?”
She waves a hand to dismiss me. “Oh, yes, I’ll be fine. It’s just another headache.” She looks at the cupboard above the fridge before glancing at me. “Since you’re taller, could you grab me some tablets?”
“Did you want to lie down for a bit?” I ask, doing as she asked and grabbing her medication. “We can handle the party if you need a moment.”
“No. I don’t want to miss this. I’ll be fine with these.” She gives me a small smile that doesn’t diminish the worry settling in my bones.
Lips thinning, I decide it might be best if I bite my tongue on this one. If she says she’s okay, then she must be. Hazel isn’t someone who would lie.
I grab a glass of water for her, then work on filling the paper platters with the desserts Grayson and I baked last night.
My stomach clenches as I think about what I said, how I pushed him away.
I’m doing the right thing, right? I don’t want him to be a part of this right now then regret it later.
Or worse, what if he finds someone else and realises he’s stuck with me and a kid?
I don’t think I could handle that level of guilt.
Carrying the trays towards the large dining table, I squeeze my way through the crowded room and set them down. I feel hands on my leg. Peering down, I giggle as Aspen holds onto me, grinning with a smear of icing on her lips. “Aunt Lay, I got another duck this morning!” she squeals happily.
Grabbing a hold of her little hands that are sticky with sugar, I give them a squeeze before bending to her height. “That’s amazing. You’ll have to show me the next time I’m here.”
“Now?” she asks, her brown eyes rounding a little.
I pout and shake my head. “It’s your uncle’s birthday party, and it’s already dark outside. We can go out tomorrow before family dinner and you can show me.”
“Okay!” she shrills before taking off back to Holden, who scoops her up with one arm.
Smiling, I move back towards the kitchen. Someone grabs a hold of my arm, pulling me to a stop. Macie stares at me with flared eyes before pulling me back into the kitchen.
She lets out a sigh. “Do you know why Grayson was so crabby today?”
My heart pounds, but I shake my head. I said I wasn’t going to say anything, and I’m sticking with that. The less they know right now, the better. “No.”
Macie hums, peering around my shoulder.
I look back to meet Grayson’s eyes. They’re stormy today, more grey than blue, and it makes my stomach lurch at how pained they appear.
“I think something happened, but I have no idea what.” I turn back to Macie, who is tapping her foot quickly. “Reid said he was moody all day.”
“Maybe he didn’t sleep enough?” I offer, but I know it’s a lie. I know what’s bothering him.
“Maybe. You were with him last night, was he acting funky?”
Chewing on my lip, my head shakes. “No. Just normal Grayson, helping me bake.”
“Strange,” she utters.
I give a small shrug. “He’s happy now. Isn’t that what matters?”
“Yeah, I suppose.” She sighs again, before smiling.
“We should dance before your hot mumma body gets tired and you have to sit down. By the way, this…” She looks me up and down, assessing the charcoal grey dress I picked to wear.
It hugs every curve of my body, and my baby bump is on full display.
I guess if everyone is already spreading rumours about me, then why should I hide it? “You look stunning.”
My grin widens. “You too, Mace.”
She twirls in her loose white dress and brown boots before grabbing a hold of my hand and leading me into the living room where others have already started dancing.
As we dance, I can feel Grayson’s stare on me.
My skin burns, sweat clinging to my forehead and chest as Macie shimmies in front of me.
Jaxton and his buddy, Wayne, step up, dancing closer to us, and I catch the glint in his eye.
Jaxton has always been trouble, ever since primary school, and I’ve never fully trusted him.
Obnoxious, loud, and a womanizer. Macie and I have steered clear of him ever since we realised how annoying he is.
He has hit on us more times than I can count, but it never meant anything. He would hit on all the girls.
Moving away, I grab onto Macie’s hand. Someone bumps shoulders with me. I don’t need to look up to see who it is, his scent alone is so familiar that my skin tingles at our proximity. He steps in front of me, blocking Jaxton.
“I want to dance with my friends,” Grayson grits out, staring down at a slightly shorter Jaxton, who tsks.
Reid pulls Macie closer, and I hover beside Grayson, who won’t budge a millimetre.
“That’s fine. It’s your birthday, after all,” Jaxton drawls before walking over to grab another beer from the ice bucket.
Grayson’s jaw grinds before looking at Macie and me. “Why did you invite him? We aren’t exactly friends.”
Macie’s lips roll inwards, “I invited Damien, and I guess Jaxton joined him. I’m really sorry.”
He lets out a breath before smiling once more, even if it feels forced. “It’s fine. As long as he doesn’t cause any trouble while he’s here.”
“If he does, we’ll take care of it,” Reid interjects, pulling Macie against him tightly.
My throat works, and I go to move away. But then Grayson’s hand is on me. “Wait, Laynie.”
I do.
Turning back, face lifting to his, Grayson peers down like I’m all that matters in the world. The slight flatness in his mouth, the pinch in his brows and storminess in his eyes. He’s looking at me like he did last night, but this time a bit more reserved, and I’m not sure whether I like it or not.
“Yeah?”
He sniffs before embracing me, hand on my head, the other resting on my back. I curl my arms around him, already missing our closeness. I love him, and I always will, but I’m pushing him away because I don’t want to ruin his life with my stupid mistake.
It’s my wrongdoing, and I will deal with the consequences. He shouldn’t have to.
I hear him swallow, his throat moving against my ear. “Thank you for the party.”
The tenseness in my muscles loosen, a faint smile pulling in my lips. “I remember you saying you wanted one after Michael Milkinson’s seventh birthday.” I pull away enough to look at his kind features. “Sorry it took me so long to plan one.”
“Better late than never.” A cheeky smile tilts up the corner of his mouth that I can’t help but look at. “I also can’t help but notice that all the desserts here are the ones we worked on last night.”
That makes my cheeks bloom as I look at the trays that have been half picked at. “It might have been for your party.”
“You little liar,” he utters, pinching my side.
I laugh. “Well, I couldn’t ruin the surprise. That would have been horrible.”
“Yeah…” he drawls, eyes on me once again as we slowly sway to the music. “You also look beautiful tonight, Laynie.”
My pulse thrums happily at his words. “So do you.”
That makes him snort a laugh, because he’s in his regular jean and flannel shirt with a tee underneath. It suits him like pollen in spring.
“So you like my outfits? Good to know.”
Tongue poking the inside of my cheek, I shake my head. “Just take the compliment, Blondie.” I see the glint in his eye at my nickname for him, and my fingers tingle.
“You too, Biscuit.” My stomach knots as his chin rests against my temple. The one that he kissed. “You also made my cake, didn’t you?”
I nod in response.
“I love it.”
My body tenses. “I thought you would. It’s got a dirt bike on it.”
“How’d you know it’s what I wanted?”
I smile. “Paul’s tenth birthday. You were envious of his cake.”
“You just remember everything, don’t you?” he murmurs.
I nod again.
“Thank you, Laynie. This is the best birthday I’ve ever had.”
“I’m really happy you love it.” A lump forms in my throat. Love.
Sniffing, I pull myself from his arms as the music slows, giving him a ghost of a grin. Grayson’s face drops, and I hate that I’ve done that to him.
His tone deepens as he murmurs, “Please tell me you have an answer for me.”
Staring up at him, the flutters return to my stomach, swarming my warm insides. I douse them in freezing water as I shake my head. “I need more time.”
He nods, pain striking his features, and I have to look away before my gut clenches to the point of vomiting.