Page 118 of Things I Wish I Said
Once he reaches my side, we walk to the front door in silence. He swings it open without preamble, revealing a large sweeping foyer with vaulted ceilings that lead into a massive open floor plan. A large stone fireplace draws my eye in the living space, a rustic wooden mantel atop. Everything is painted a bright white, with monochromatic art and black-and-white photos hanging on the walls, a completely different feel to my house with it’s wild, bright colors and the mismatched furniture my mom picked up at the flea market.
“Grayson, is that you?” a voice sounds from above.
I glance up and to my right toward the voice, to see a loft overlooking the space on the far end of the room. A woman with a shaggy blonde bob peers over the railing, her expression one of concern.
“Yeah. It’s me, Ma.”
“I was so worried about you! Where were you last night?” She disappears, her voice trailing behind her, punctured with the sound of her footsteps before she appears behind us at the bottom of a winding staircase. “You know you’re supposed to call if—”
Her words die in her throat, and I don’t need to witness the shocked expression marring her otherwise elegant features to know why.
One hand covers her mouth, I imagine to stifle a gasp, as her blue gaze fills with tears. “Oh, Grayson.” She steps forward,hands reaching toward her son, her voice thick. “What happened?”
Grayson takes her hands and squeezes. “I’m okay, I swear, but there’s someone I’d like you to meet.”
She starts as if she forgot I was here, but the second she glances my way, her worry transforms.
“‘Ma, this is—”
“Ryleigh Sinclair,” his mother finishes for him. Stretching a hand out in offering, a smile brightens her face. Only the subtlest hint of concern for Grayson remains. “It’s a pleasure to meet you,” she says, taking my hand. “I’m Victoria. My, aren’t you stunning.”
My cheeks heat at the compliment. “It’s nice to meet you, too. Grayson’s told me a lot about you.”
Even though it’s a lie, it seems like the right thing to say.
“Has he now?” She glances up at him with an arched brow, as if she knows I’m full of shit before turning back to me. “So, what brings you over here this afternoon, my dear? Are you supposed to be a diversion for why my son looks like he got in a fight?”
Beside me, Grayson grimaces.
I bite my lip, fighting a smile. “Something like that.”
“Mmm-hmm,” she murmurs.
“Mom, I know you’re going to want to talk about what happened, and I’ll explain everything. I owe you that much, but can it wait? At least while Ryleigh’s here?”
Victoria stares at him for a moment before nodding. “Fine.”
Grayson’s eyes widen, clearly expecting her to put up more of a fight.
“Why don’t you go change,” she says, flicking her gaze down to his dirtied T-shirt, “while Ryleigh and I have tea on the patio.”
“Are you sure—”
“We can chat.” She cuts him off. “Get to know each other. Then, once you’re up to it, you can explain your appearance and why I never got a phone call saying you weren’t coming home.”
Something tells me this wasn’t the first time Grayson disappeared for the night without texting her, but he just nods before glancing over at me, a wrinkle in his brow.
“It’s okay.” I smile, resting a hand on his arm to reassure him, not missing the way his mother’s hawklike gaze zeros in on the gesture. “Seriously, I’ll be fine.”
“You sure?”
I nod, surprised when he draws me in for a hug. “Thank you, Sinclair,” he whispers into my hair.
My entire body comes alive at the contact, and once he releases me, I watch him walk off, heading for the stairs. Victoria takes my arm and directs me toward the kitchen where she quickly sets about preparing two cups of tea.
A few minutes later, I’m sitting across from her on a patio that feels a bit like being ensconced inside an arboretum, wondering what to say. I have nothing in common with this woman, yet I find myself wanting to make a good impression.
“I guess I should thank you for loaning me your son,” I say, finally, fidgeting with my cup. I haven’t forgotten she knows about my cancer or that she’s the one who approved my wish.
