Page 102 of Shattered Mind

I wanted to give them some time alone as a family so that they could adjust to having a newborn and for Reign to become acquainted with her baby brother.

But, today, the whole family are gathering at the big house on The Calloway Ranch, and I plan to soak up every second I can with newborn snuggles.

I haven’t given much thought to the fact I will have to face Grayson today. He’s been relatively quiet since Iarrived home from London, but his dozen or so text messages have made it very clear that he’s not giving up just yet.

Bella parks her car in front of the main house, and I send up a silent prayer to make it through this without incident before I climb out.

Bella, Daisy and I make our way up the steps and enter the front door without knocking. Voices filter down the hallway and we follow them into the open living space next to the kitchen.

Amelia greets us first, wrapping all three of us in a hug one at a time. Savannah is next, her face glowing with happiness and pride as she holds her son close to her chest and the three of us coo over the small bundle in her arms as he sleeps peacefully.

We make our rounds, saying hello to everyone before we’re summoned to the kitchen by Amelia and Elizabeth for a celebratory drink.

Elizabeth and Mason sold their house in London a few weeks ago and moved out here permanently to be closer to their daughter and grandchildren and I couldn’t be happier about it. Having them here with us is the last piece of the puzzle that makes Rosewater Creek home.

We clink our glasses in cheers and take a drink of the bubbling liquid. Savannah sucks down the entire glass and reaches for the bottle for a top up.

I raise a brow at her and she shrugs. “I’ve got breast milk in the freezer and Hunter is on baby duty. I’ve waited nine long months for this.”

I throw my head back with a laugh and it’s echoed around the room as the other women join in. “Touche`.”

We chat for a few minutes before we head back into the other room.

I stand off to the side with Savannah as we watch Hunter show off his son proudly to his family. Reign follows closely at his side, never taking her eyes off her little brother and the entire scene is more than my little heart can handle.

My eyes wander around the room, stopping short when they land on familiar emerald-green ones. My stomach dips as Grayson pushes off the doorway he was leaning against and begins walking towards me.

Panic crawls up my throat and I feel my breath hitch. I give my head a small shake, hoping he can see it in my eyes that I’m not ready to have this conversation yet. If he see’s it, he ignores it as he continues his approach, only stopping when he’s standing directly in front of me.

“We need to talk,” he says, his eyes boring into me with an intensity that makes me squirm.

I feign indifference as I stare back at him. “I have nothing to say to you.”

His face drops and his eyes take on a pleading gleam. “Please, Liv. Just let me explain.”

I blink at him, keeping my mask firmly in place. “Give me one good reason why I should listen to anything you have to say.”

I feel Savannah shift uncomfortably next to me, clearly wanting to make an exit but not sure how to do it discreetly. Grayson’s eyes search mine as though he’s looking for the answer within them and I wait.

He opens his mouth like he’s about to say something, but nothing comes, and I shake my head at him before pushing past him and walking away.

I make it exactly three steps before six little words stop me dead in my tracks.

“Because I’m in love with you.”

CHAPTER 61

GRAYSON

Liv freezes.

The entire room freezes.

Timefreezes as she slowly turns on her heel, her soul-destroying eyes landing on mine. “What did you just say?”

I take a step towards her, deciding to just lay it all out there. I don’t give a fuck that everyone is watching.

All I see in this moment is her.

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