Page 126 of Really Truly Yours

“You don’t trust me.”

I shake my head hard. “I do trust you, Gray. You’ve won me over.” Truth.

A slight lift at the corner of his straight-lined mouth softens his concern. “I hope so, Sydnee Lou.” He stretches his arm across the bench’s top slat and fingers a lock of hair. “For what it’s worth, I don’t want to leave.”

Me or a world championship? Such a dilemma. “It sounds exciting.”

He shrugs. “I suppose.”

No need to downplay things on my account. Won’t hurt my feelings.

“I’ll miss you.” He runs his palm along the side of my head.

A tap dance kicks up in my chest. “I…” I’ll miss you, too. “You’ll have a good time once you’re there. Will you travel to the away games?”

A duck near the shoreline flaps its wings, quack-screaming, and charges another. Gray’s stare burns into my profile. “Yes, but we have homefield advantage, so it’s likely things will end at home.”

Home. Houston, not here. This weekend has jumbled my brain, garbled the voice of reason I typically follow like a zealot. I smile. “I’ll keep an eye on Donny.”

“I know you will.”

“You are coming back?” Shoot. “Donny would be heartbroken if you didn’t.”

Gray’s stare doesn’t retreat. “I hope he’s not the only one.”

Like a spring cold front meeting warm Gulf air, my stomach churns a spin-up. Nothing but the truth will do this time. “No. He’s not the only one.”

Chapter 27

Grayson

“Time to head out, huh?”

I glance up from the suitcase yawning across the bed and find Tripp leaning in the bedroom doorway. I toss one more roll of dress socks inside. “Yep.”

“You’re coming back?”

I pause. “If you and Avery will have me.” The agreement has been that I’d stay until the little peanut came out of his shell. After that, I’ll play uncle for a few days. Then, they’ll need their house back. Real life will be after me by that time, too.

“Of course, the offer stands. We love having you here.”

“Great, then I’ll see you in a couple of weeks. Sooner if you guys take me up on my offer and come down for some games.”

He grins. “We had a blast last year, but we’ll have to see how Avery’s feeling in a few days. You think your guys will do it again?”

“There’s a good chance, yes.” We’re the better team.

“How you feeling about not being in it?”

I scoop a stack of folded white undershirts from the dresser. The twinge in my left shoulder is a persistent reminder of why I’m not in it. “Okay. Disappointed.” But Sydnee made a valid point. I did my part.

“I have to be honest. You’re more chill than I expected.” His remark carries an odd note and trails upward at the end.

“Donny’s had me preoccupied, I suppose.” I reach for a stack of underwear.

“Donny does?”

I look up. “Yeah, Donny.”

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