Page 42 of Shattered Mind

I snort out loud, quickly covering my mouth with my hand and Grayson raises a curious brow at me.

“Hey, Gray.” She croaks; the years of smoking evident in her voice.

“Sophie,” Grayson nods at her before quickly turning his attention away.

The girl doesn’t give up. “How’s Hunter? I haven’t seen him around lately.”

She has completely ignored my presence, not bothering to take the time to introduce herself. For all she knows we could be on a date.

I open my mouth to answer the question before Gray has the chance. “Probably with his pregnant fiancée.”

That gains her attention, and she turns her heavily made-up eyes to me.

Grayson keeps his amused eyes on me, as I sit up straighter, plastering a fake smile on my face. “Hi. I don’t think we’ve met, I’m Olivia.”

She returns my smile with a sheepish one. “Sophie.”

I tilt my head, the fake smile still on my face. “Oh, I know who you are, honey.”

She glares at me, a redness crawling up her neck and into her cheeks and for a moment I wonder if she’s going to stomp her feet and have an almighty tantrum, but she just spins on her heel and storms away from us with a childish huff.

***

I rap my knuckles on the front door and within seconds it swings open, revealing Bella clad in cupcake pyjamas, her hair thrown haphazardly on top of her head in a messy bun.

“I didn’t realise it was a pyjama party,” I raise a brow.

She looks down at herself before giggling. She opens the door wider, allowing me to pass her. “Sorry. I’ve been packing.”

“Packing?” I question.

“Yep. I may have invited you here under false pretences.” Bella chews on her nail nervously as I step into her living room. My eyes widen comically as I take in the absolute chaos surrounding me.

Boxes are piled up high in the corner of the room. Picture frames are stacks on top of each other next to sheets of newspaper. The shelves on the walls are bare, making the room appear empty despite the mess covering the floor.

“You’re moving?” I ask, confused as to why this is the first I’m hearing of it.

Bella nods, kicking an unassembled box to the side. “My contract is up in two weeks, so I’m reluctantly moving back in with my mom for a while.”

“You don’t seem too happy about that,” I say as I trail behind her.

She sighs. “I’m not. The woman is a nightmare.”

An idea forms in my mind immediately and I don’t think twice as I say, “Well, why don’t you move in with me?”

Bella freezes, her expression full of confusion. “What?”

I shrug as I go into the adjoining kitchen, collecting two wine glasses from the cupboard before joining her on the floor of the living room. “Savannah moved out, and I have a big ol’ empty house with two spare rooms, it only makes sense.”

She contemplates my offer for a moment, and I think she’s going to politely refuse, but then an ecstatic smile overcomes her face, and she launches herself at me, wrapping her arms around my neck. “Oh my God! I’m so glad I don’t have to live with my mother.”

I burst out laughing and hug her back. “Okay, crazy. Let’s get this packed up, and seeing as you tricked me into helping you, you can tell me all aboutyour date with Justin.”

CHAPTER 21

GRAYSON

Icheck my phone for the millionth time, shaking my head at myself when I feel a pang of disappointment at the lack of messages.

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