Page 123 of Unspoken Hearts
“See.” Laynie turns her taller body to face me, arm resting on the back of the chair. “Grayson probably just hates the idea that you two went behind his back without telling him. Maybe he would have liked to have known before this blewup in his face.”
“Well, maybe, but I can’t change it now.” I rub at my forehead, avoiding her stare. “I could see how pained he was, and I think that’s what made it hurt even more. That I’d made him that upset, and I never meant to.”
“You might not have meant to, but you did.”
My eyes find hers again and I swallow down the lump in my throat. “What should I do?”
Laynie exhales again, shuffling in her seat a bit. “Do you remember the time when we were with Reid, Grayson and Sawyer at the river that summer Reid finished high school?”
I nod, remembering how they decided to have the rock skimming challenge that ended with Reid having a bump on his head. He was sick that night… Maybe it was a migraine and I just didn’t see it?
“—but while they were competing,” I listen to Laynie again, “Grayson was so determined to beat Reid. It’s like he was trying to prove himself or something.”
Blinking at my friend, I nod slowly, understanding what she’s getting at. “He really didn’t like that Reid was better than him, and look how it ended.”
Laynie’s eyebrow raise. “See what I mean. There was a reason he told you to stay away from his brothers. I think deep down, he just didn’t want to have to compete with Reid for his friends.”
I bite down on my lip, dropping my gaze. “But that’s exactly what happened.”
“See. So just give him some time.”
I blow out a long breath, knowing that she’s right. “How much time?”
Laynie shrugs. “Not sure, but I will talk with him when I’m home.” Her finger lifts to rub against my cheek, and I wince.
“They were fighting outside…”
“I take it that you tried stopping them.” Her eyes glisten a little.
I nod. she drops her hand, rolling her lips inward.
Glancing at me, Laynie smiles again, gentle and warm before sliding her arm around me. “I’ll talk with him, but you should give G a few days to calm down and think it out. Besides, you’re still one of his best friends, and we have been through so much together. I don’t think he’d ever drop you as his friend.”
“Even if I’m with his brother?”
Laynie sniffs a laugh, shaking her head. “He’ll come around.” She pauses, looking over her shoulder. “We should probably get back because it’s starting to get busy, and Paisley will need to get back to helping her mum. Also, some people ask questions, and I doubt Delly knows what kind of sugar I’ve used in each recipe, considering there’s a dozen varieties.”
“All right,” I breathe out, not really wanting to go into the throng of people, but it might also keep my mind off of everything for a while.
Walking back uphill towards the stands, Laynie ducks inside the stall right away as four customers are waiting to pay.
Reid comes out from the Honey Haven one, sidling me like the gentle man he is. “How’d it go?”
My throat works. “Laynie is going to talk with him. She said I should give him a few days to let him calm down.”
His blue eyes meet mine, light but full of knowledge. “I think I should speak with him first, as his brother.”
“About everything?”
He dips his chin. “Yeah, about everything.” He lets out an exhale. “I just think it’s time that we sort things out for good. I’ve never liked that we drifted apart.”
“I think you should. It might help.”
Reid leans over, kissing my temple before putting his hands in the pockets of his jeans. “I will when he’s ready. But will you let me take you somewhere once this is done? I’ve been meaning to for a few weeks now, and I think you could use the… quietness.”
Staring at him, I nod, a small smile growing on my face. “Yeah, I’d like that.” I can’t help but wonder where he has in mind.
Chapter thirty-five
