Page 31 of Gravity

“Makenna’s. That’s if she doesn’t go home with a guy. Then I’ll just head home. Why?”

“Your brother is shitfaced at his place. Please drop me a text when you’re in.”

So, what? Now that I’m home he suddenly cares and needs to know of my whereabouts?

I have to fight back the emotion that’s building in my chest. How does one man have the power to make me feel angry as hell and hot with need all at once?

“Gray, have I done something wrong?” I snap not able to take anymore.

“No. Why would you think that?”

“Because you’re making me feel like I have. And I don’t just mean right now.”

He locks eyes with me, and I swear there’s regret in his. Placing the drinks in front of me, he confuses me even more and smiles softly. “You’ve not done anything wrong, Shortcake. I’m just tired and working.”

“Then why—”

“Drinks are on me. Go and enjoy your evening.”

With that, he casts me aside and heads down the bar to serve someone else.

Stunned by his rejection, I head back to Makenna as fury once again burns through me. I’m not an angry person. I don’t like confrontations, and I certainly don’t like the aggression that is building, but right now, Grayson Bennett has me on the verge of going crazy.

“What’s his problem now?” Makenna asks, nodding toward the bar as I hand over her drink.

“No idea but he’s working and tired so that more or less told me to leave him the fuck alone. But don’t worry, he still cares some because I have to notify him of my whereabouts later so he can rest easy,” I state, sarcasm overflowing. “I mean, Jesus. If this carries on, I won’t be pulling that stick out of his ass, I’ll be shoving the damn thing up even more. Who the hell does he think he is? Asking me to drop him a text!” I’m so mad, my body physically shakes.

Meanwhile, Makenna is looking at me with a shit eating grin on her face. “You sound a little stabby.”

I laugh, shaking my head in disbelief. “Yeah, I am just a little bit.”

She places her arm around my shoulder and turns us toward the dance floor. “You know what you need? A new direction.” She points to some guys across the room who are sitting in a booth. “Hot bait to the left. The one in the black is so your type.”

A small group of guys are laughing and joking with each other. They are all good-looking men, the one in the black shirt more my type than the others, but I’ve got more important things on my mind right now and his eyes are burning into me from behind the bar.

“How do you know he’s single? He could be married. Or even gay.”

“Married or gay, he’ll wish he was neither once he learns there’s a virgin checking him out,” she mumbles in my ear so only I can hear.

I burst out laughing, blessed by the fact she calms my mood in seconds. “Next you’ll be saying I need to auction myself off online.”

“Hey, don’t dis that shit. You can make millions doing that. I’d pay toward it just to see your brother’s face when he realizes your booty is all over the web.”

“You are crazy.”

“And I’m not the only one,” she says, looking over my shoulder. “If I had to pick out a hot mess in male form, I’d choose the one standing not far behind you.”

I roll my eyes. “I can feel his stare burning into me.”

“That’s not the only thing he wants to be burning into you.”

“Stop it, Makenna. It’ll never be like that.”

She side-eyes me. “That’s only what you’re telling yourself, but standing on the outside looking in, I can see that a certain Mr. Bennett is fighting a lot more than he lets on. I’m a woman of the world, Nora. I see things others don’t or don’t wish to.”

“A woman of the world at twenty-two, huh? Impressive.”

“Shut up. You know I’m right. You’re just choosing to not believe it in case he hurts you. Which I can see he’s doing. Now, go sort it out with him.”