Page 179 of Wicked Minds
“Hi, Aurora.” His voice is tentative, filled with enough emotion to make me want to cry.
“Hi,” Aurora responds nervously.
“Grayson was just telling me the other day how much he wants to throw a princess tea party,” I say to her, watching as her eyes instantly light up with interest. “Only he’s never done one before. So I was thinking we could show him how it’s done some time.”
Aurora’s head bobs up and down enthusiastically.
“I can wear my tiara!”
“You can! And put on your princess dress.”
Aurora’s eyes go round. “We can all wear princess dresses.”
“What a great idea.” I barely get the words out through my fit of laughter. “I think Grayson would look so pretty in a princess dress, don’t you?”
“Everybody looks good in a princess dress,” my little girl states in aduhtone.
And now I have visions of all three men dressed in princess dresses, and I can’t decide if it’s hilarious or the cutest thing ever.
“You are so right,” I agree.
Grayson is a silent spectator as Aurora and I chat until I hear my mom’s voice in the background, and Aurora says she has to go.
“Bye, baby. I love you.”
“I love you, Mommy. To the moon and back.”
“To the moon and back.”
“Bye Gayson.”
“Bye,” Grayson croaks before the phone screen goes black.
I lower the phone to my lap, shifting so I can see his face.
“She’s…” He swallows, seemingly stuck for words.
“She is,” I agree.
His gaze slowly lifts to mine, shining with emotion I’ve never seen him express. “I… thank you.”
“She’s your family,” I say easily. “No matter what happens with you and me, the two of you will always have that.” I tilt my head to the side. “I think you could both really benefit from a relationship.”
His tongue runs along his lip as he swallows. “You want me to have a relationship with her?”
“If that’s what you want. But you have to want it, Grayson. If you’re unsure, I need to know because once you’re in, there’s no backing out. You can’t just disappear on her. I know she’s the result of a lot of pain and anguish, but she’s an innocent victim in all of this. She doesn’t deserve your anger or mood swings. She deserves the Grayson I remember.”
He looks physically pained and emotionally wrought as he sits silently, thinking.
“You don’t need to decide right now,” I say, giving him the out, because hedoesneed to be confident about his decision and I know this has all been a lot to process.
“No.” My chest slices open, thinking he is saying no to having a relationship with her because,damn, I really wanted them to have that. “I don’t need time. I want whatever you’re willing to give me with her. I want to know her. I want to be there for her.” His gaze bores into mine with such all-consuming intensity. “For both of you.”
That night, I’m curled up in my bed, reading a book. Grayson finally gave me permission to come home—cue eye roll. While I enjoyed my weekend with the guys, there’s something to be said about being in your own space.
Although I admit that I’m anxious about sleeping alone. And a little bit regretting turning down Logan’s and Royce’s offers to stay with me. Even if a part of me demands that I learn to deal with this on my own. There’s bound to be a night when neither of them can stay, and I need to learn to deal with the demons by myself. I’ve done it before, I can do it again.
As I turn the page, I glance up, pausing when I notice a green light on the newly installed camera. Of course, I came home tofind one installed in my bedroom. I guess I should be grateful the bathroom was camera-free. I still believe the entire thing is overkill, but ripping them out will only result in new ones being installed tomorrow.
