Page 66 of Gravity

“True,” she pauses, looking at me with a wicked grin. “Well, if you ever want to experiment more, then I’m your woman.”

“And how would I want to experiment more?” I already know what is about to come out of her mouth.

“Nora, everyone needs to try a threesome once in their lifetime.”

I raise my brow. “Oh, really?”

“Hell yes. So, you know, if Grayson ever wants his tongue to wander while he’s banging the door to your womb then I’ll be your girl.”

I burst out laughing. “You are crazy.”

“And that’s why everyone loves a Dixon girl.”

* * *

“Are you all right, darling? You haven’t been yourself since you got back from Makenna’s,” Mom asks, coming into the living room and sitting on the couch with a coffee.

I’m watching a documentary on National Geographic about sharks while I wait for a response from Grayson. I’d texted him earlier asking what time he finished work but not yet had a reply.

“You’re not worried about your father, are you? Because you do know he will be okay. We’re just going to have to adjust to a few things that’s all.”

“Yeah, I know.” After a restless night, Dr. Newman had decided to keep him in hospital one more night. He is due to come home tomorrow, and excitement and anxiety have both hit me in equal measures. I’ve not seen him since yesterday, and I can’t wait to have him home, but right now, that’s not what’s on my mind.

“I mean, I’m anxious, but with everyone around, I know he’ll be in good hands.”

“So, what’s up?”

I look at her, unsure why she thinks there’s something wrong when there isn’t. “Nothing. I’m fine. I’m just waiting to hear back from Grayson about when I’m working next. I asked him to switch some of my shifts around this week.”

“Why don’t you pop over and ask him?”

“Because he’s at work.”

“Nope. His truck is in his drive. I saw it when I came home.”

I frown, sitting myself up. “He’s home? But he’s on a late shift.”

“Well, clearly he has finished early. Why don’t you go over and spend some time with him?”

I want to jump out of my seat and head to the door to find out why he’s home so early and if everything is all right, but then I think better of it because I don’t want to look to eager, especially with the look in my mother’s eyes that is now making me question what she is truly thinking.

“No. You’ll be on your own.”

“Nora, I spent many nights on my own when your father was a SEAL. Go. I’ll be fine. I have a few things to get prepared before your dad comes home.”

I stand, tucking my phone into the back pocket of my shorts. “Are you sure?”

“Yes. Now go. Take as long as you need. That man needs to start smiling more.”

Kissing her on the cheek, I head out the door and over to Grayson’s, still unsure why I’ve not heard from him. Maybe Asher is there, but then he would have called in to say that he was.

A low hum of music is coming from his living room and I see one of his cat’s jump down from the couch when I walk up the steps of his porch. His door is ajar, and I head in through the screen, picking up Soda who is now crying at my feet.

“Hey, girl. Where is your daddy, huh?” I murmur, stroking her.

I’ve not been here in so long; it will be interesting to see what Grayson has done with the place. “Grayson. Are you in here?”

When I reach the living room door, I halt and my breath catches.