Page 118 of Eleanor & Grey

“All right, I think she’s down for bed,” Shay said coming into the room. The minute we heard her voice, we both jumped back. I grew flustered as I leaped to my feet. Shay looked my way with a look of confusion mixed with pleasure.

“Okay, good, we should get going,” I muttered. “Uh, Greyson, I’ll see you, um, yeah, okay, bye.”

I hurried out of the house with Shay following closely behind.

When we got into the car, Shay turned my way. “What was that about?” she asked, curious as ever.

“Nothing. Just a little bit of nostalgia,” I mumbled, closing my eyes and hoping my wild heart would slow down at some point.

“He was about to kiss you, Ellie,” she said, as if I hadn’t known what was about to happen.

“Yes, I know.”

She whistled low. “I swear…this reality show is getting better and better each night.”

I ignored her comment, because currently my mind was too jumbled to tell her to shut her mouth.

Greyson almost kissed me.

And without much thought, I almost kissed him back.

44

Greyson

“What do you think about Eleanor?” Claire asked me for our weekly lunch date. I had to admit, the question threw me for a bit of a loop. Did she know what almost happened between Eleanor and me? Could she tell somehow that we almost kissed?

Was I overthinking everything ever since Eleanor’s lips moved in toward mine?

Yes, I’m just overthinking. Shake it off, Grey.

“I think she’s great with the girls. Lorelai is in love with her. Even Karla is getting used to her, which is insane to me. She’s really good for them.”

“Yes, I agree. I think she’s wonderful for the girls, but that’s not what I meant.”

“Oh?”

She leaned in closer and gave me a smirk. “I meant what do you think of her?”

I sat back a little, confused. Then the more I looked at her, the more I realized what she was getting at. The slyness in her smile. The wonderment in her eyes.

Oh, for fuck’s sake, Claire. Knock it off.

I glanced at my watch. Our hour lunch date was up. Thank God. “Oh, will you look at the time? It seems our lunch date is coming to a close.” I scrambled to my feet and tossed some money on the table—probably more than we needed to pay. “I have to get back to the office. Great seeing you again, Claire.”

She snickered, almost pleased by my discomfort. “You, too, Greyson. I’ll see you next week for lunch. And next week, you’re going to actually let me buy you a meal.”

Never.

“And think about an answer for that question!” she hollered, but I ignored her. I definitely wouldn’t be thinking about an answer for that question at all.

And Claire needed to cut back on those corny romance novels she was so obsessed with reading.

One Friday night after the girls went off to their grandparents’ house, I noticed Eleanor sitting in her car, trying to start the engine, and it just wouldn’t turn. We hadn’t really spoken since the almost kiss we shared.

I almost felt like she was going out of her way to avoid me.

“No, no, no,” she moaned as I walked out toward her.

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