Page 25 of Love Me Back
“What?” Her eyebrows pulled together.
“Tell them that if you cook, they have to clean up. One person shouldn’t have to do all the work. Especially when that person is also in school.”
Addie turned away. Her cheeks pinkened when I mentioned school, and I wondered what that was about. I looked over my shoulder at Grayson, who still sat at the table. He was waiting for something or someone, and a small piece of my soul hoped it was me.
I looked around the kitchen to see if there was anything left to be done. I could have stayed there for hours, organizing the cabinets, mopping the floors, and dusting the heat registers, but Addie deemed it clean enough. I folded the dish towel in my hands and set it on the counter.
“I’m going to bed. I have a test to study for. Why don’t I show you where you’ll be staying?”
“I’ll show her; go ahead up to bed,” Grayson said, his eyes on me.
Addie smiled and winked. “Goodnight, Jessie.” She shimmied over to Grayson and kissed his cheek. “Goodnight, big brother. Be nice,” she warned before dancing out of the room.
The towel I placed on the counter held my attention morethan it should. I couldn’t bring myself to look up at Grayson now that we were alone.
“Follow me.”
I startled at his harsh command but followed him down the hall. He stopped between two doors on opposite sides of the hallway. He reached over and twisted the doorknob.
“This is Pops’ room. He hasn’t been here since the last time Addie changed the sheets, but it might be a little dusty.”
“It’s fine, really,” I assured him.
Grayson’s chair blocked the entrance into the room. “This is my room here,” he said, hooking a thumb over his shoulder, indicating the door opposite the one that stood open.
“Do you need help getting into bed?”
“You really think you can lift me from this chair?” He shook his head. “I don’t know what they were thinking bringing you here.”
I folded my arms across my chest. “They were thinking that I had the education and experience to help you.”
“But not the fucking strength.” He glared up at me.
“Do you want my help or not?”
“Not. Go to bed.”
Grayson spun around and opened the door to his room, rolled inside, and slammed the door behind him. His mood swings were really pissing me off.
Leaning over, I placed my ear to the door. I wouldn’t be able to sleep until I knew he was in bed. He mumbled a few words I couldn’t hear, but then everything fell quiet. I waited another minute before I moved to my door. My hand paused on the doorknob when I heard footsteps. Emerson rushed down the hall, stopping abruptly when he saw me.
“Uh, hi, Jessie.”
I didn’t say a word. I just leaned against the wall with my arms folded across my chest and waited for Emerson to enter Grayson’s room. When the door opened, Grayson’s eyes locked with mine. He had the decency to look sheepish. I glared at him, then spun around and slammed my door shut.
He wanted his brother to help him, then so be it!
I threw myself onto the bed and pulled out my phone to call Ellie.
“Hey, Jessie, everything okay?”
“No, and I’m sorry for calling so late.”
“Um, it’s only seven.”
I sat up in bed and looked at the time on my phone and groaned. He was acting like a child sulking in his room because he couldn’t have dessert after dinner. Except we did have dessert. Addie had baked a cake yesterday knowing they would be having a full family dinner this evening after Grayson came home today.
“He’s such a baby. He’s in there right now, throwing a tantrum because he doesn’t want me here. The man hasn’t left me alone for months, and now that I’m here in his house, he ignores me. Unless he’s telling me to go home. Should I go home? Should I just leave him to fend for himself? Say to hell with him and he can just fuck off?”
