“I’m not picking anyone.” The throb of a headache hit behind my eyes as I dropped my fork on the plate. “I need this project to work. You have a home, and he doesn’t. Just.” Cutting myself off, I took in a deep breath. “I think it’s best for you to pack up tonight and let everything calm down.”
He waited a second before standing up again.
“Where are you going?” I asked.
“No time like the present.” He sulked out of the room.
When he cleared it, Grayson looked at me and said, “I’m touched you chose me.”
“Fuck off, Grayson.”
I’d attached a lock to my bedroom door, but the moment I’d finished putting in the last screw, Grayson stood behind me, a smirk in place. A stark reminder that he didn’t need to break a lock to enter my domain.
Matt moved out, and there’d been a weird vibe between us ever since. He was mad at me, but I wasn’t about to soothe his ego by trying to explain my actions to him. Regardless of the fact he was pissed at me, it had worked. Matthew rarely frequented the lab and testosterone levels at home halved, and that meant the arguments had ceased for the time being.
Despite all the issues we’d encountered, I’d somehow made it through to my annual leave. Finally, I would be spending some time with my brother and future sister-in-law and not think about work.
Rolling over in bed, I shoved my face into the pillow and got comfortable again, begging my body to sleep for a few more hours. We had nothing to be up and alert for.
Somewhere in the distance, a door closed, and I lifted my head up with a groan. Why was the door closing? Pulling myself out of bed, I walked into the hallway and to the top of the stairs before panic flooded me. Grayson stood in the hallway, with Cassidy and Sophie in front of him. Their flight must have got in early.
I’d asked, nearly begged, Gareth if Gray could stay with him while Cass was in town to avoid any awkward questions. The Gods must have truly hated me because this was chaos.
Chaos.
Grayson.
The moment I figured out a way to kill him, I would do it. Fuck every consequence that came my way.
“Duck!” Cass looked past Grayson and beamed at me.
“Cass!”
Seeing and hearing him swept away my previous train of thought. We may not have been blood related, but my brother was my everything. We’d gone from living together to only seeing each other twice a year.
“Come down here and give me a hug.”
I raced down the stairs and launched myself at him. It didn’t matter that I was nearing thirty — my big brother always felt like home. He was the first person I went to when I felt lost.
Cass hugged me tightly and lifted me off the ground. “It’s been too long.”
“Way too long,” I agreed.
He placed me back on the ground, and I turned to see Sophie smiling at me. I opened my arms to her, and we shared a tamer hug.
“Hi, Quen,” she said, southern drawl thick around the words and standing out. “I really appreciate you taking the week off for us.”
“It’s nothing. I could use the break.”
Cass cleared his throat. “Are you going to introduce us?” he asked, nodding in Grayson’s direction.
“I… um,” I stumbled.
Grayson had taken a step back but remained in the vicinity, watching us all. He put on the most charming smile I’d seen him wear, causing my heart to stutter in my chest. He almost glided towards Cass with an outstretched hand, and my eyes widened as Cass took it. Grayson’s free hand covered it, and I saw the cuff on his wrist and let out a sigh of relief.
“Grayson,” the God introduced himself.
“Cassidy,” Cass said. “Quentin’s older brother.”
