“I said it’s nothing. It’s no big deal, just drop it.”
“Drop it!? Do you realize how hard you need to hold someone to make them bruise like that?!” he barks out harshly as I fold my arms over my chest, feeling even more vulnerable than I was seconds ago.
Greyson moves back a step and passes a hand through his hair. “Give me his address.”
“What?” I frown. “Why?”
“Because I’m going to go beat the living shit out of him while you stay here with Gracie,” he says matter-of-factly.
“What?! Absolutely not!” I blink in disbelief.Would he seriously go beat up someone just for hurting a girl he doesn’t even like? That can’t be.“You’re overreacting, Greyson. I promise, I’m fine. Tommy and I just got into a heated argument, and he got a bit handsy, but that’s it. I left right after. Besides, I got my payback already.”
“You sliced the tires of his car?”
“Shit, I should have done that too before leaving the firm,” I mutter under my breath as Greyson snorts. “But no, I did something better.” I smirk and walk over to the nightstand, picking up my phone and accessing my voicemails. I tap into the only one I saved while coming back to Grey and put it on speakerphone as I start it.
He frowns at first, not understanding what’s going on. But the instant Tommy mentions climbing through a window and then proceeds to fall out of it on the other side, his eyes widen. “What did you do to the door for him to have to get in by the window?”
“I broke the key inside the hole.” I smile smugly.
He shakes his head and makes that snorting sound again, the tiniest hint of a smile appearing before it vanishes. He continues to listen to the voicemail as Tommy curses me in every way possible and screams about his wall and his TV.
“And I wrote‘you’re a lousy fuck’on his wall with a heel and smashed the other in his precious television,” I tell him while trying to hold in my laugh. Now that I’ve calmed down, I have to admit it was not one of my finest moments.
“You did not?” he asks in disbelief.
“I very much did so,” I tell him proudly.
“Jesus, you truly are crazy,” he mumbles.
I frown instantly. “Hey! What happened to our truce?”
“Right, sorry.” He clears his throat as I stop the voicemail and drop my phone on the bed. “Do you want to talk about what happened? Why you two got in an argument?” His voice drops in a way I’ve never heard before, almost sounding delicate.
I sigh and sit down on the end of the bed while he stays standing next to me. “Not really…” I admit. “Tommy cheated on me, and I lost my shit.” I shrug, trying to play it off. “Or went crazy on him, as you’d call it.” A smirk plays on my lips as I look up at him and see that twitching lip once more.
“He’s an idiot,” Greyson says in a way that seems genuine.
“Most likely. But maybe he’s not the only one to blame for my failed relationship.” I look down at my hands, hating these thoughts still swimming through my mind, hating that I’m being vulnerable in front of Greyson out of all people. I don’t like this. This isn’t me.
“I mean, let’s be real, Greyson. I’m a lot. If anyone can admit to that, it’s you.” I laugh while peeking, knowing he’s most likely agreeing with me in his mind. My shoulders drop as my smile falls, and I look away. “I probably just turned out to be more than he thought he could handle.”
“What the fuck are you even saying?” He glares at me like my words have personally insulted him. “Him being a cheating ass has absolutely nothing to do with you. Sure, your personality is a bit on the extreme side at times, but if the guy was miserable, he could have just left you. Being unfaithful was his choice and his fault. Don’t fucking blame yourself for his shitty actions.” His tone turns aggressive, and my eyes widen bigger with each word.
“You’re better than that,” he adds quietly after a few seconds, that softness from earlier coming back.
“Okay,” I whisper, not sure what else to say to all of that.
I know what he’s saying is right and that I shouldn’t blame or question myself about everything Tommy did. But when you were raised by a woman who constantly made you feel like you weren’t good enough and then spent two years with a man who thought everything you did was wrong, it becomes hard to get those nagging negative voices to shut up.
We’re quiet for a moment as his eyes roam over my bruises once more, a displeased look playing on his features. “Do you need anything for that? I have pain relievers in my bathroom, and applying some ice could help too.”
“No, I’m okay, Greyson, really.” I place my hand on his wrist, trying to reassure him. “I was just about to take another dose of meds to help, but I’m fine. No need to worry.”
He nods slowly, his gaze inspecting my features closely. “If you say so.”
“I do. You can go to bed now.” I smile brightly, hoping he buys that I’m okay and leaves.
Another nod. “Okay. Night.”
