Page 84 of Unspoken Hearts
I nod slowly, folding my arms across my stomach as thunder shakes the barn. I flinch. “Do you want help?”
His smile wavers for a second. “I’ll be fine. Go inside and get warm.”
As soon as I walk through the back door, Grayson is in my face. I haven’t even closed the door when questions come out of him. “Where have you been? You weren’t answering your phone?”
I swallow, brushing wet hair off my face as I feel everyone’s eyes on me. “I’m sorry, I left my phone here.”
“Where were you?” Grayson repeats, eyes flared.
“I was out horse riding.”
His frown deepens. “Horse riding?”
I dip my chin. “Yeah. Reid asked me earlier, and—”
“Why would Reid ask you to go horse riding?”
My shoulder lifts stiffly. “Because you don’t like horses, but I do. And I wanted to go, but I didn’t know it was going to storm.”
He sighs heavily, eyes lifting to look through the glass door.
Hazel interjects, “Where is Reid now?”
I clear my throat. “He’s in the barn putting the horses away for the night.”
Grayson’s eyes fall to me again, and my arms wrap tighter, guilt eating at me. He tilts his head back. “I’m going to need to strap your phone to your arm, I think,” he murmurs.
I frown. “What?”
“You keep forgetting it. In the bathroom, in your bedroom today. It’s no use if you don’t have it on you. What if something happens? What if you get stuck somewhere? How will you contact me?” Grayson explains.
Holding onto his arms, I wait for him to take a deep breath before speaking calmly, “I’m sorry I left it. I won’t do it again, I promise.”
His tongue drags across his bottom lip, nodding. The pressure on my shoulders loosen when the door slides open. I feel Reid behind me, his body warm despite the rain soaked clothes. I’m praying he has this shirt on to avoid more questions.
Grayson stares at him.
My hands tighten on his arms, forcing Grayson to peer down at me. I force out a smile. “I’m fine. Nothing happened. Can we just forget this, please?”
His eyes hover on mine for a long beat when lightning flashes. I jump forward against him, breaking his irritation.
Grayson’s arms surround me, but they’re not as comforting as Reid’s. I won’t dare seek him right now. Not with Grayson becoming increasingly suspicious by the day.
“Thank you for getting her home,” Grayson says tightly. I smile gently as Reid pats his shoulder.
“Of course. I always will. I’m showering now.” I hear Reid trudge up the stairs.
Hazel is beside us. “Honey, you can use our bathroom before you catch a cold.”
Nodding, I let go of my friend. His eyes watch me as Hazel takes me upstairs. The air feels thick with tension, and not the good kind. This type is uncomfortable enough to make my insides swirl like cupcake frosting.
Why is this becoming so difficult?
The sharp crack of thunder has always made my skin prickle ever since I was little. There were nights when my parents would go to parties or bars, leaving me alone, a young kid. I have never forgotten their irresponsible behaviour. There were some nights when storms rolled through, and Inever understood that thunder was only noise, and that lightning was only dangerous outside. That they couldn’t hurt me inside the house.
Our old home used to rattle whenever thunder rumbled. I would hide in my bed, the only place I truly felt safe, and tuck my blankets over my head when lightning flashed away in the sky.
I hated storms, and I still do.
