Page 86 of Redemption

“Hold me above others. I’m not really better or see things others don’t. I just have a different view.”

“I’m not trying to offend you.”

She looks at the ground and sits back down. “I can’t be everything for everyone. I’m not the all-knowing person who magically fixes everything like everyone thinks I am.”

“Lex, what happened? I mean, I know you and Colt are on the outs, but you seem different.”

“Broken?” she asks with a chuckle. “I am. I’m the most broken I’ve ever been in my life, and I’m not sure I should be giving out any sort of wisdom to anyone when I’m barely keeping my life together with the gum and crazy glue I’ve found.”

Grabbing her hand, he looks into her eyes. “Are you okay?”

“That is such a loaded question,” she says and looks at the sky. “My advice is to tell Ashley.”

“That’s not advice.”

“It is. And you’ll be okay. I know it’s not what you imagined for your life, but you’ll be just fine, Grayson.”

“Lily thinks I should become a private investigator.”

Tilting her head, she stares at him. He remembers a time he would have given anything to have her look at him like she is now, but something about her feels off. And he feels heartbroken for her.

“I could see that, actually. Oh, you could solve the crimes they can’t, and then rub it in their faces when you make the news and the papers on how amazing you are at cleaning up the streets of the city! That’d really piss Julian off since he’s become quite the media whore.”

“Grayson?” Ashley calls from her car parked next to his.

Lex pulls her hand from his as though they were caught doing something wrong. “Tell her.”

The brunette walks up to them, and he can feel her suspicion. “What’s going on here?”

“We were just talking,” he says.

“And holding hands?”

“He was comforting me. Apparently, I look like the train wreck that has become the definition of my life,” Lex says.

Her eyes widen. “You told her she looks like a train wreck?”

“No!” he shouts.

“You two need to talk,” Lex says. “Babe, can I take your car to work so I can get mine to get the kids? Grayson basically hog-tied me and forced me here.”

“You’re not helping,” he groans.

She smirks. “Like I said, don’t put me above others. I’m nothing special, trust me.”

Ashley holds out the keys to the Audi she purchased with her book sale money. “Here. And for the record, that’s not true.”

“Yeah, okay. Thanks. I’ll talk to you later.”

His girlfriend takes Lex’s place and looks at him. “Grayson, what’s going on?”

Sighing, he looks at the ground. “I wasn’t sure what to do, and I stumbled upon Lex’s car as I drove around. I thought she could give me some sort of sage wisdom, but it turns out she’s all tapped out.”

“Yeah, she has a bit of an issue with the club. And men, in general, lately. What did you need wisdom about?”

“I got fired today.”

Her jaw drops. “That’s not funny.”

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