Page 59 of Unspoken Hearts
Grayson’s gaze narrows a fraction before he smiles, slinging an arm across my shoulders. “I thought you’d be used to the taps by now with the amount of times you’ve stayed here.”
A nervous laugh bubbles out of me. “You think I would, but it still surprises me.”
Leading me downstairs, I throw my clothes in the washing machine, thankful that my face has now cooled down. As much as I want to picture Reid standing in the shower, I have to push those thoughts away, not wanting my cheeks to stay pink.
“Did you tell Laynie to meet us at the pub at seven?” Grayson asks once I'm out in the living room again.
I nod, patting my pants before remembering I left my phone in the bathroom. My mind definitely slipped when Reid grabbed me.
Oh well…
“Great. We’ll leave after dinner,” Grayson continues, walking towards the kitchen.
I follow him in. “We also invited our friend, Delly. She’s new to town.”
“Delly?” Grayson repeats questioningly.
“Short for Delilah. She seems really nice. A little shy, though. She moved for work at the primary school.”
Grayson smiles, pulling open the fridge to grab some orange juice. “She sounds cool. We’ll keep her away from Cole though. No doubt he’ll scare her away.”
“I heard that!” the familiar voice calls from upstairs.
I giggle as Grayson’s eyes roll before he shouts back, “It’s the truth and you know it!” He turns back to me. “I guess we are branching out with friends. I better not be replaced.”
I know he’s joking, but I hear the underlying fear in his words that rubs me the wrong way.
I tap his shoulder gently. “You could never be replaced, G.”
“I’ll hold you against that if I find out you’re spending more time with anyone else besides me.”
His words feel like a punch to my stomach as I think about Reid’s lips on my ear, the tingling rushing through me, wanting to kiss him.
Grayson grins, pulling me into a sideways hug when footsteps come down the stairs. Turning, Reid’s eyes instantly find mine, hair damp, almost falling into his eyes as droplets slide down his neck. I feel the squeezing of my lungs, remembering how close we were. How my body vibrated.
He drops my phone on the kitchen bench. “You left that.” His tone returns to its usual flatness whenever he’s with his brothers.
Grayson’s face falls.
I move to grab it, letting out a quiet thanks when Grayson is beside me like an oversized bodyguard I didn’t ask for. The look on his face says that he wants answers, making me shiver uneasily.
Reid just sighs before briefly explaining, “I showered right after her. Macie left it on the bench, so I brought it down for her.”
I feel my skin heating once more at the way my body tingled with Reid being so close to me, holding me. The way his aura started to mix with mine, and I selfishly want to feel it again.
“Macie.” Grayson’s low grunt makes me look up at him as Reid disappears into the laundry. Eyes scouring my face, his lips tighten into a straight line. “You’re blushing again.”
All I can do is swallow before rushing upstairs, needing some air. I hear him coming after me, but I don’t want to answer him. I’m afraid maybe he’s already figured out my crush on the one person I am meant to stay away from.Crap.
Guilt pools in my chest as I open my bedroom door, and Grayson slips in with me. “I have one question, Macie.” I can hear the sharpness in his tone, like a knife cutting at my throat.
Facing him slowly, all I can do is nod and wait, although I have a feeling I already know what he’s going to ask.
“Is there something going on that I need to know about?”
“No,” I lie, hating that I have to cover everything up. If only Reid wasn’t his brother, then I wouldn’t have to pretend that I don’t feel anything for him. We could just be together, and I wouldn’t have to force myself not to kiss him when I’m literally an inch away.
My throat works again as he brushes his fingers through his hair, scuffing it slightly. “You’d tell me if there was, wouldn’t you?”
