I gather the necklace in my hand as she places her back to me. Pushing her hair over her shoulder, I bring the necklace in front of her, making sure it’s facing the right way. Then I secure it behind her slender neck before pulling her hair out from underneath it, letting it fall down her back once more.
When she faces me again, her fingers run over the jewel with a smile. The way she looks up at me next steals my breath. I’ve never had someone look at me like that. The same way Morgan looks at Clay…The same way Cecilia looks at Silas.
“I love it. Thank you, Grey.” She smiles with pure adoration, then turns and bends to pick up something off the side of thecouch. She comes back up with a decent-sized black box with a big gold gift bow on the top. “I got you something, too.”
She passes me the box, and it’s actually pretty light for its size. I hadn’t even seen her with it.She must have snuck it down.I remove the puffy bow and pull open the wrapping, only to stop abruptly when I see the engraved name on the top of the box. BVLGARI.
What the fuck? There’s no way! She couldn’t have…
My eyes are wide as I look at the beautiful, excited smile she carries on her face. I take a deep breath and turn back to the gift, slowly lifting the lid, then shutting it back down when I get a glimpse of what’s inside. “HOLY F… FUDGE ON A SOUR SKITTLE! Bunny!”
My father bursts out laughing, slapping his thigh. “Jesus! How do you even come up with these words?”
I want to laugh with him, but I can’t. My heart rate has spiked to a thousand, and I’m suddenly clammy and dizzy.Why would she do this? Why would she get me this?“Emma, no. I… I can’t accept this, it’s too much. How did you even…?”
“I saw you looking at my dad’s. You looked like you were in love.”
“That’s not a reason to get me something so expensive!” I’m not mad, I’m just in complete shock.
“How expensive?” my dad, ever the nosy one, questions.
“$60, 000. That’s how expensive!” I tell him staggeringly.
He nods slowly, rubbing his thumb over his bottom lip. “Nancy, I want a divorce,” he declares to my mother, then turns to Emma. “I’m officially a single man, Doll. Now yours for the taking if you’ll have me. I know I’m your type; there’s no need to deny it,” he delivers with a wink.
“Well then, if you’re offering.” Bunny flutters her eyelashes at him, then holds her hand out toward me, palm facing upward. “Grey, hand over the watch. It’s Daddy Ford’s now.”
“You heard her, son! Listen to your new stepmom and give me the watch.” Dad scoots to the edge of his seat, ready to claim his new possession.
I drop my head with a shake while my mom slaps the back of his. “Shush it, you doofus. Or you’ll really be a single man.”
Emma giggles and places her hand on my thigh, causing me to look up into her captivating eyes. “You deserve it, Greyson. I know you would never treat yourself to something like this, so let me do it.”
I finally turn back to the box and open it, reaching in to skillfully remove the gold watch. The same one her dad was wearing during dinner. She takes it from my hand and helps me put it on my wrist. When she’s finished, I take her into my arms, my hand coming into her hair.
“You’re absolutely amazing, Bunny. Thank you,” I murmur against her ear.
“It was worth every penny,” she whispers back.
I don’t think I’m the only one in denial anymore…
Chapter sixteen
Emma
No touching, my ass.
I’ve been doubting myself since I bought the watch for Greyson. Maybe I had seen him wrong, maybe he just liked it on my dad but wasn’t crazy about it. But after seeing his reaction when he unwrapped the box, I knew I hit the bullseye. For a second there, I wasn’t sure if he was going to cry or pass out.Totally worth it.
The necklace he got me nearly made me speechless. If I had been alone, I would have cried. It’s so unique and special, and I’m in love with it. I can’t stop touching it.
He could have gotten me just a simple piece of jewelry, but instead he took the time to get something thoughtful, something that would hold meaning. I didn’t ask, but I’m pretty sure it was custom-made. I’ve never seen anything like it. And trust me, if I had, I’d already have it.
Last night, I saw the carefree Greyson for the first time. First in the parking lot, then in the kitchen. And with every new version of Grey I see, the harder it is to ignore how he makes me feel.
It’s ridiculous. We’ve known each other for three years, and not once did I ever imagine feeling something for him. Yet, a month of living together, and he’s rapidly becoming someone I can’t stop thinking about.
This morning, after the special mug surprise, something happened to him. I’m not sure what, but one moment he was smiling, and the next he seemed spooked. From there, he started pulling away, and it almost felt like he was trying to avoid me.
