Page 171 of After All This Time

Dani’s walking back over to us like a goddamn model. She does this shit on purpose to torture me internally and externally.

“Shit, act normal,” I whisper.

“Again, you’re an idiot,” Grayson makes his point even clearer.

Sticking my middle finger up at him, I smile at Dani who’s standing in front of me.

“Are you boys done gossiping about me?”

“We weren’t talking about you, Princess.”

“I know you were, Heart Eyes. I could hear you guys all the way from where I was sitting.” Her nose scrunches as a smile spreads across her lips.

Fuck, I’m never going to get tired of those adorable nose scrunches.

“Well, we’re going to go and leave you two kids alone,” Xanders says with his top lip covering his bottom lip.

“Thanks for saving my ass from passing out,” I say to the guys.

“Anytime, buddy.” Grayson puts his hand on my shoulder. “Anytime.”

Dani walks closer to the guys. “Can I talk to you guys for a second?”

Grayson and Xander look at each other and nod in unison at Dani.

What could she possibly want to talk to them about? Can’t be about the three of us talking about her because she knows what we discussed. I know she does.

I watch the guys while Dani walks over to Grayson’s truck.

Anxiety is being put on the back burner because I want to finish this damn sandwich. It’s so fucking good.

CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT

dani

“Thank you guys for coming. I’m sorry I was kind of a bitch on the phone.”

“You don’t need to apologize. Any person would’ve reacted like that if they were in the same situation,” Xander says to me.

Dubbing Xander as the voice of reason, I can see why Noah is best friends with him. Xander brings you back to earth when it feels like you’re looking down at it.

Grayson piggybacks off Xander. “He’s right. And there’s nothing we wouldn’t do for Noah. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for him. I’ve known the guy since we were kids. He’s been there for me through the good, the bad, and the ugly.”

“I know. And I know he’s very grateful for both of you even if he might not say it enough,” I say.

Grayson makes eye contact with me. “Since it appears the two of you are a package deal now, don’t ever hesitate to reach out if you ever need anything. Seriously, I mean it. And I’m sorry for acting like an asshole to you. I’ve been trying to convince Noah that he’s been in love with you for years. Took him fucking long enough to realize it. Don’t tell him I told you this, but he was freaking out about how he should tell you how he feels about you.”

“We thought he was going to have a heart attack,” Xander chimes in.

“I’ve never seen him like this,” Grayson says.

My lips twitch. “Seen him like what?”

“Noah’s fucking crazy about you. He’d literally murder someone for you if he knew someone was trying to hurt you. He’d go to the ends of the earth to find you if he lost you. By the way, I know why you call him Heart Eyes. When you’re around him, his pupils transform into little hearts like they do in cartoons.” Grayson pauses to catch his breath. “He deserves to be with someone like you. Someone who will protect him and his heart. I hate being sappy and shit like this, but you two belong together.”

Wow, that was beautiful.

I’ve never heard Grayson get all sentimental like this before and I’ve known the guy for a long time.

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