Page 105 of Built to Fall
“I never said I was going with you.”
I’m not sure if it’s the best idea. Grant and I havebarelybecome friends. Going on a Christmas vacation with him doesn’t seem like the smartest decision.
Then again, getting away from all of this sounds relieving.
“You don’t even know where we’re going,” he replies, as if that is supposed to entice me.
“Exactly! Where are we going?”
“You’ll see.”
“It’s Christmas, Grant. I can’t leave my family.”
“You can’t, or you don’t want to? Because if you think you can’t, you’re wrong. I’ve already talked to your aunt.”
Grant is the only person in this house who isn’t a constant reminder of my dead mom. But it also feels wrong leaving my aunt alone when this is only her second holiday without her sister. She’s probably struggling too.
“You talked to my aunt?”
He nods.
“Did you meet the twins?”
He grins. “Yeah, they’re cute.”
“And you’re sure she seemed okay with this?”
“Yes.”
I sigh, finally giving in. I suppose leaving all of my Christmas misery in Boston will do me some good. “What should I wear?”
He stands yet again, walking towards the dresser where he grabs a pair of gray sweatpants off the top before digging through my suitcase to find a matching hoodie. “This will do.”
“God, are you a fucking mafia boss or something?”
“What?” Grant chokes, and I’m surprised that I blurted out that question.
“No offense, G, but?—”
He cuts me off. “Don’t call me that.”
“But you are thedefinitionof a level-ten control freak.” Grant throws me the outfit he picked out and points a stern finger to my shorts, the ones that probably fit me best when I was age thirteen. “Change.”
“I can’t wear this?” I would never wear this in public. I just like seeing Grant pretend to be annoyed with me.
Is it possible for someone to be even more attractive when they’re scowling?Because I think it is when that someone is Grant Vandenberg.
Seeing through my attempted humor, Grant shakes his head sternly. “We have to leave, Lina. Like, right now.”
“Okay, okay. Are you going to leave?” I look pointedly towards the door.
“Nothing I haven’t seen before, pretty girl. Let’s get moving.” He motions forward with his hand.
My mind flashes back to the Halloween party where I got drunk and stripped for Grant. Of course it was Grant, of all people.
“Grant.” My lips form into a line.
“Lina,” he says back in the same tone.
