Page 91 of Eleanor & Grey

“Yes.” I nodded. “You do, and it’s completely normal after the tragedy your family has been through. After my mother passed away, I couldn’t sleep. Remember? You’d call me. You’d call and sit on the phone with me and—”

“Please don’t.”

“Please don’t what?”

He stepped closer to me, and his voice lowered so much it cracked with his next words. “Please don’t do this.”

“Do what?”

“Make it so clear that I’m failing this family.”

The sadness that dripped from his words was heart-wrenching. “No. That’s not what I’m saying. You just have so much on your plate. I don’t think I could do half of what you do, especially with everything going on. You’re doing all the right things for your children. They are involved in activities, they are staying busy, they are going to grief counselors, but, you have to do something for you, too. Do you talk to anyone?”

“No. I’m fine.”

He lied straight to my face, as if it were the easiest thing in the world. Maybe somewhere deep inside of him he truly believed that lie, too, but there was nothing about Greyson that was fine. He was living with an internal flame that was setting his soul on fire, yet he was doing nothing about it at all.

Maybe because he didn’t know how to deal with it.

Or perhaps he thought he deserved to burn.

“It’s okay to get help,” I promised him. “You taught me that when I was younger. You were the person who helped me. Let me help you, Greyson.”

He shook his head. “You just get tired of it, you know?”

“Tired of what?”

He inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly as he brushed his hand against his beard and he softly said, “Everything.”

“Greyson—” I started, but he shook his head.

“Good evening, Eleanor.” He gestured toward the door. It was clear our conversation had gone on for too long.

I nodded in understanding and took a big step away from him with chills racing down my spine. “Good night.”

36

Eleanor

“So, what episode are we on with the distant lovers?” Shay asked as we sat down on her couch for our weekly reality show binge. “How are things going with our Greyson?”

“There is nothing about Greyson and I that is a reality show.”

“Right, uh-huh, so we’re still on episode two: ‘Denying the Love.’ Gah, this is so exciting! I cannot wait, because this means the ‘Slow Burn Friendship’ episode is coming up soon! I cannot wait for you two to accidentally become friends again.”

“Are you drunk?” I laughed. “You’ve only had one glass of wine, so I’m guessing you’re not drunk, right?”

“No, I just know these things. As a writer, you learn about story structure, and you and Greyson are the classic rom-com. It’s like you’re Meg Ryan, he’s Billy Crystal, and I’m Nora Ephron.”

“I really don’t get that reference.”

Her eyes widened. “What do you mean you don’t get the reference? Ellie, it’s When Harry Met Sally, only one of the best romantic comedies of all time.”

“Oh, I’ve never seen it.”

She jumped back, stunned. “What is the matter with you?”

I laughed. “Okay, so if he’s the hero in the movie and I’m the heroine, who’s Nora Ephron? The quirky best friend?”

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