Page 46 of Blood Ties
I took a moment absorbing what he claimed. “Did you know?”
He watched me for a second deciding his next words. “About your mother? Yes. You?” He shook his head. “He didn’t tell Jade or me until we were preparing to come here.”
“Really? But…”
Knowing what I was going to ask Sebastian cut me off. “They disappeared for a while. A few months. When Damien came back he declared that your mother had grown tired of living in fear for her life and decided to return to her sire.” Sebastian shrugged like he knew the whole thing didn’t sound right. “So why are you out here by yourself? Where is theinfamousfiancé?”
“Infamous?” I giggled. His tone hinted at jealousy, although I wasn’t sure why. So I ignored it, assuming he was simply teasing.
“Yeah! You can’t go anywhere in this human town without hearing his name. Grayson Alexander this, Alexander that. I mean you really landed a big one there.”
“Ah yes, of course I’m only with him because of his money and reputation. It couldn’t possibly be that I love him.” I pushed away from the railing feeling my anger bubbling inside me. Shawn had already hinted at this scenario and I knew others surely felt the same. “I mean I shouldn’t be upset. That’s what everyone thinks anyways.”
“Gaby,” Sebastian spun and reached for my wrist. Gripping it, he stopped me from leaving. I did my best to ignore the tingling sensation where his hand touched me. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you. I was just meaning that you’re a lucky woman. I know you adore him. I’ve seen the way you look at him and it’s something I aspire to have one day.”
Guilt rushed in replacing my anger. I was so used to people thinking that I was only after Grayson’s money that I was quick to jump the gun. “No, I’m sorry. Sebastian. I shouldn’t have lost my temper. I just assumed that was where you were going. I just…”
“No, I get it.” His fingers slipped until he was gripping my hand. He took a step towards the railing so that our arms were stretched out between us, trying to pull me back. “Come talk with me some more. Don’t leave just because I stuck my foot in my mouth.”
I opened my mouth to respond. Just before I could get a word out, the doors swung open and Grayson stepped onto the balcony. He looked at me with a staggering grin, but then saw Sebastian holding my hand and his grin faded to a scowl. I released Sebastian’s hand like it burned me. I didn’t see how the situation looked until that moment. We were out here, alone, door shut, holding hands? I could see how anybody would get the wrong impression.
Grayson spoke breaking the silence. “I’ve been looking for you everywhere Gabriella and here you are.” He didn’t say it with any accusation, but I could see it in his eyes that he wasn’t happy to have found me like this.
“Well, it was a bit crazy in there so I came outside to catch my breath.”
“I see.” His gaze bore into Sebastian. When it returned to me, it was gentler. “Well come along then.”
He held out his hand to me with a soft smirk. I took it then turned to look at Sebastian and spoke quickly. “Thank you for keeping me company.”
“Any time.” His eyes flickered to me then to Grayson. Grayson put his arm around my waist pulling me close. I felt like I was standing in the middle of a supernatural pissing contest and I was the hydrant. I just didn’t understand why.
The following morning I sat at the dining room table eating the omelet I had attempted to make. Grayson sat across from me enjoying the Sunday paper with a steaming hot espresso. I had made him a twin omelet of the one that sat on my plate and he had managed half of it so far. My thoughts were muddled over nothing particular, but as I stared off in space Grayson’s voice broke through to me.
“This is delicious,” he stated.
I laughed halfheartedly. “You know you’re already getting the milk for free, there’s no need to lie.”
He chuckled a deep throaty sound. “Gaby, I love you and I would never lie to you and I hope you would never lie to me,” his face turned serious, no longer showing signs of his earlier humor, “no matter how much you thought the truth would hurt me. Promise me.” He waited patiently for me to respond, yet his eyes bore into mine.
“Of course I promise, Grayson,” I swore.
He nodded like he knew that’s what I would say. “Then tell me what exactly was going on with you and Sebastian when I showed up last night?”
I couldn’t help it. The moment I heard the mention of Sebastian my heart rate sprang into overdrive. I knew his vampiric hearing would allow him to hear the rapid increase. His more attuned senses were something that I hated. He still hadn’t mastered his new abilities which meant he didn’t quite know what the accelerated heartbeat meant. For me, in that moment, it was shock. My heart rate wasn’t escalated because I was preparing to lie to him, but I worried that was what he would think which only made my heart race more.
“There was nothing going on Grayson. It was like I said, I needed some air and Sebastian showed up keeping me company. He said something jokingly that I didn’t find funny so he was trying to stop me from storming off when you showed up. I promise you, it was all innocent.”
He studied me for a moment. My heart was already starting to decrease which should have shown I wasn’t lying, but again I didn’t know if Grayson understood that that was what it meant. He nodded then went back to enjoying his paper and coffee, but I didn’t think it would be the last time I’d hear about his concerns towards Sebastian.
It was Monday when I was woken by the incisive screeching of my phone. It was early enough that Grayson was just getting ready for work. I sighed in relief when the noise was silenced, but then I heard Grayson’s voice as he spoke his greeting.
“Hello?”
My hearing, even dulled by sleep, still picked up the other side of the conversation.
“Grayson, this is Damien. I was hoping to speak to Gabriella.”
I heard Grayson shift his stance and knew he was staring at me. My back was to him so he didn’t know I was awake. It was unexpected that Damien even knew how to use a phone or that he was willing to. Sebastian had even played messenger for him because he suggested Damien didn’t like phones.
