Page 6 of Unspoken Hearts
By the time everyone arrives, it’s well past sunset and a cool breeze drifts through the house. Axel and his buddies sit in the living room, basically on top of each other, drinking and chatting before they all have to part ways for university.
I don’t normally condone drinking alcohol, especially with our parents' history, but for one night, Axel can enjoy himself.
“Hey, you,” Laynie announces, popping into the illuminated kitchen, followed by Grayson. He moves around us, carrying the cake Laynie made in her cafe, Golden Hour.
She opened the cafe a few years after high school, and I wanted to help her out. She didn’t want to see me without work, so it was partly pity-hiring and part getting-to-work-with-your-best-friend hiring. Either way, I appreciated it a lot.
Grayson drops the paper box on the bench, letting out a low breath. “L doesn’t have an off switch,” he grumbles with a smile.
Laynie rolls her crystal blue eyes framed with coats of black mascara, smirking. She puts her bag on the bench. “I thought you’d be used to it by now, G. You have known me for far too long to complain.”
“Never said I was complaining,” he chimes back at her.
Laynie snickers before disappearing into the living room, wearing her classic denim overalls and Doc Martins, blond ponytail swishing behind her.
Taking the cake, I place it in our dingy fridge to keep it cool. I can feel Gray watching me.
“Stop staring,” I say. I close the door and peer up at him.
His smile drops a fraction, and my heart thumps in my veins as I wait for him to ask the one question I’m dreading.
“Are you okay, M?”
My shoulders deflate a little.
I’m trying to be okay. I’m trying to not think about Axel leaving tomorrow morning, but it’s useless. He’s my baby brother and I’d do anything for him. Literallyanything.
Clearing my throat, I shake the thoughts from my mind. “I’m fine. Just getting used to the idea, I suppose.”
Reaching out, Gray squeezes my hand tightly, letting me have a fleeting moment of comfort and vulnerability before I shove it aside.
“It’ll be fine. You still have Laynie and I. And my annoying brothers. Take one of them if you need one, I've got enough to spare.” He laughs at his own words, and I force out one of my feigned smiles.
I wish I could take one.Onein particular.
“You’re a weirdo,” I tell him, trying to lighten the mood again.
A flurry of amusement comes out as Grayson slings an arm around my shoulders, pulling me into his chest. He’s warm, with his khaki shirt pressing against my cheek, smelling of fresh grass and elderflower.
“Listen,” his tall frame bends to whisper in my ear, “do you need any help with money for Axel?”
My throat constricts and I quickly shake my head against him, the pressure returning once more. “No.” My cheeks flush with heat, betraying me. I don’t want him to know how much I’m drowning right now.
Nobody needs to know that.
Although, with Axel being away, it might be easier to just look after myself for once.
“Are you sure? Macie, I don’t want—”
“I’m fine, Gray,” I blurt, pushing away from him enough to suck some air into my crushing lungs. Giving him a twisted smile, I wipe my shaking hands on my shorts. “You’re very nice to offer, but I’m fine. I’m helping Laynie, and with Axel now gone, I can start saving a bit, so you don’t have to worry about me.” I pray he will leave this alone.
A slight crease forms between his dirty blonde brows, making my teeth nervously dig into my bottom lip. “I’ll always worry about you, Macie. You’re my friend.”
“Yeah, I know.” I’m trying to control my racing heart when the oven dings, making me flinch. Grabbing the gloves, I pull out two trays of party pies. “It’s ready!”
Grayson’s hands steady me as half a dozen oversized boys come in and scrape the trays clean. Each of them thank me before they disappear again, taking all of the food with them.
I exhale loudly, and Gray chuckles behind me. “I hope you aren’t hungry.”
