Page 101 of Gravity

“What’s on your mind, Shortcake. Talk to me.”

“I didn’t do everything I promised him we would. I didn’t take him on a picnic in the park. We never made it to the Aquarium. We had so many things planned this summer while I was home, and now he’s not here.” She shakes her head, her hand pressing against her chest as tears stream down her face. “I’m scared, Grayson. I know you said it will take time, but what if I can’t get past this? This heaviness that’s weighing down on my chest. It’s like I can’t breathe. What if it doesn’t stop?”

Fuck, I hate this. Seeing her this way is fucking crucifying.

“Not long ago, when I was a mess over my mom, you told me I had to find my courage. It is what your dad told you once—that when someone needs to grow as a person, all they have to do is find courage. You will find that, too, Nora. It may not be today. It may not be next month as time heals in different ways, but I promise you, it will get easier with time. And in the meantime, we can do whatever you want to get through this. If you want to go and do that picnic in the park to remember him, we can do that. If you want to go to the Aquarium or continue playing with bubbles while you remember the old times, we will do it. I’ll do everything you want and anything you need. Just say the word.”

“You’d do that for me?”

“Of course.”

“Why?”

Needing to say the words I’ve been longing to say for some time, I bring her closer. “Because I love you, Nora.”

Her breath hitches. “Grayson…”

“I love you. And when I said that I’d be by your side no matter what, I meant it.”

“You love me.” It’s more of a statement than a question.

“I do. And pushing everything aside that you’re feeling right now, I know that I’m in your heart, too.”

“You always have been,” she whispers. “From the very day you gave me scuttle on my fifth birthday, my heart has been yours. I love you with everything that I am.”

I press my lips against hers and kiss her softly. “I’ve wanted to tell you that for a long time.”

She smiles, but I notice concern in her features, and I know what is troubling her right before she speaks the words. I’ve never despised my friend more because even without being here, he’s still stolen this moment from us.

“What are we going to do about Asher?”

I reply with honesty because, best friend or not, I’ll never allow him to come between us. Not now that I have her. “I don’t care about Asher when it comes to you. You are all that matters. What he says and does is not important.”

“He will try to break us up.”

“It’s not going to happen. I can assure you of that.”

I don’t want to talk of Asher anymore today. He’s made his choice, and while he’s been gone, I’ve found my reason to be happy again. I never want to lose the brotherhood I have with him, and I hope in time he will accept us, but if he doesn’t, then I’ll happily walk away from the years we’ve shared if it means I get to spend the rest of my life with Nora. She is all that matters to me. I love her unconditionally, and more importantly, I made a promise to a man I miss dearly that I will always protect her.

“Now, enough about him. Your dad is waiting for those bubbles to reach him beyond the clouds.”

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Nora

It’s been four weeks since we said our final goodbyes to Dad. Asher still isn’t home, and although it’s been hard, I’ve been forcing myself to try and keep going. The hardest part of all is waking up in the mornings when for a split second, before I remember, everything feels right—everything seems like nothing has ever changed. Then, from nowhere, I’m brutally reminded of the loss I have in my life. It’s still surreal heading downstairs and not seeing him sitting by the patio doors. The dining table now remains jigsaw free, and I miss the times when he’d race down the hall in his chair.

But the one thing I am grateful for is Grayson.

Every day he makes me smile one way or another. Bubbles have now become our daily thing in memory of Dad, and when the low moments hit, he holds me tight for as long as I need him too. He is everything I want and know I can’t live without. And I don’t want to. If I’ve learned anything over these past few weeks, it is that life ends too quickly. Dad is a key factor in that. He lived his life; he loved those close, and he smiled every day with each new adventure he took on. And I want that with Grayson. I don’t want to wake up each morning wondering what life would have been like. I want to wake up knowing what it is like with him. I want to share my adventures with the man I love, knowing that he is a part of them, and nothing is going to jeopardize that. Not even Asher. Where I was once concerned what his reaction would be, now it doesn’t bother me at all. As far as I’m concerned, he has no say in my life anymore after leaving us all when we needed him the most. Despite the troubles of his own that he must be going through, I still don’t understand why he couldn’t come back and face them with his family. He left us. He never said goodbye to Dad, and I will never forgive him for that.

“Oh, good morning, sweetheart. I didn’t know you were awake already,” Mom says, entering the kitchen having just gotten up.

“I couldn’t sleep,” I admit.

“That’s the third time this week I’ve heard you say that.” She smiles, preparing herself a coffee. “Is everything okay?”

“I’m fine, Mom. Honest.” Truth is, I don’t sleep well when Grayson isn’t here. On the nights he works late, he doesn’t stay over anymore. But on those nights, I can't stand it because I can’t sneak into the spare room like a teenager and sleep beside him until sunrise.