Glory pinches her brow, staring between us with sad eyes.
Gray continues, spitting venom in my direction. “It is my business when you get a girl pregnant, then fuck off back to your fancy life in LA, leaving the rest of us to raise your kid.”
Glory’s mouth is wide open, matching her shimmering wide eyes, like she’s trying to speak or scream, but nothing’s coming out.
“It’s not mine,” I blurt out, hoping I’m right. There’s no way I could have got her pregnant, and she knows about it in three weeks.
Gray’s knuckles crack with his clenched fists. “I always knew you were a selfish bastard. I don’t want to see you on my property again.”
Glory shakes her head, finally snapping out of her frozen trance. “Gray. What are you talking about? Who’s pregnant?”
Gray’s eyes soften when he looks at his sister. “You, aren’t you? It’s okay, Glory. You can talk to me. I’m here for you, even if this selfish bastard isn’t. I found the pregnancy test in the staff bathroom’s trashcan.”
She digs her fingers into her hips. “It isn’t mine. I’m not pregnant.”
A clatter sounds behind me, causing my head to spin to see an audience. Cam freezes on the steps of the veranda, surrounded by broken pots. Her brow furrows as she winces.
Now it’s Gray’s turn to be lost for words. He jogs over to the veranda and takes the steps in one giant leap, jumping over the broken pots. He cups Cam’s face. “Are you?”
She nods with tears in her eyes and a half smile. Any tension Gray had leaves his body as he scoops Cam up in his arms and spins her around. She lets out a small half giggle and half sob. “I tried to tell you, but you’ve been preoccupied lately and I was waiting for the right time.”
He sets her back down on her feet, away from the broken china. “I guess we need to work more on our communication. I’ve been preoccupied worrying about you.” His lips crash to hers and they’re lost in their own world.
It seems the drama with me is long forgotten as everyone gathers around to congratulate them. I rub the sting in my jaw and move it side to side, checking nothing is broken.
“You okay?” I ask Glory. I want to hold her, but I think I’ve caused enough drama today. If I’m to salvage any relationship with Gray, I need to let him cool off.
Glory nods. “I guess we may as well call this a day.” She waves a hand between us. “Whatever this is. We both knew it wasn’t going to last. May as well put an end to it now before anyone else gets hurt.”
The pain from my jaw somehow travels to my chest, grabbing hold of my heart and squeezing the life out of me. I wanted more, and I was willing to fight Gray for her, but if she doesn’t see this going anywhere, I can’t make her want me. “I’ll see you around.” With a tightness in my lungs, I walk away. Glancing up at the veranda, Gray pulls Cam close and watches me go with a crease in his brow.
Being friends since kindergarten, we’ve had our fair share of fallouts and scraps, but I’ve never seen him look so disappointed. We have to come back from this. There must be a way to make it right. He’s always been the closest thing I have to a brother. We might not always see each other, but I know he’s always there if I need him.
If this had happened with anyone else, I’d be calling round to talk to him. Only I have nobody to talk to now. Even in LA, it’s not this glamorous lifestyle everyone thinks. I keep up the façade and pretend I’m living the high life, but in reality, it can be quite lonely.
Yes, I have acquaintances and people to party with, but they’re not true friends. They wouldn’t be there if I fell on hard times. Not like Gray. It’s ironic that when I need him the most, he’s the one person I can’t talk to.
GLORY
Watching Noel leave was the hardest thing I’ve had to do. I shouldn’t have got involved. He was never going to settle down, and the way he reacted with this pregnancy nonsense—that I’m still getting my head around—tells me everything I need to know. I thought I could change him, but Gray’s right. He’s going back to LA and back to living his best life. I don’t want a baby any more than he does, but I realise I can’t settle for a casual hookup with him. I’m falling for him faster than the July rain.
I trudge back towards the tearoom. Gray and Cam are still on the veranda, gazing into each other’s eyes, and I want to puke at the sickly sweetness of it all. I am happy for them, and I’m excited to be an aunt, but I feel like I’ve lost the love of my life, the one who I used to fantasise about marrying when I was a teenage girl.
“Congratulations,” I say as I walk up to Cam and Gray.
Cam gives me a hug. “I’m sorry. I feel like I’ve caused all this mess. Are you all right?”
I nod and give her a weak smile, then glare at Gray as I continue into the tea shop. It suddenly dawns on me why he’s been acting so weird lately, giving me extra breaks and making sure I’m eating. Although he should know that’s one thing he never has to worry about.
Thinking of food, I grab a handful of Tizzy’s chocolates from Cocoa Corner and gobble them down while I deal with the lineup we have waiting. So much for a good night tonight, though I guess I’m going to have to see him at some point to get my stuff back, and then there’s work tomorrow.
Dread claws at my neck. I lift the lever to the urn, filling up a pot of tea, my blood boiling inside just like the hot water pouring from the spout. What a shit show of a day, and it’s only noon.
Gray sidles up at the side of me, taking the pot from my hand. “Cam thinks I need to apologise, but I don’t think I should have to apologise for defending my sister’s honour.”
I give him an eye roll. “If that was any other guy, would you have reacted that way? Or is it because of some ridiculous bro code you think I should be off-limits to your friends?”
“I would have beaten any guy who tried to disrespect you behind a bike shed. But I am questioning your judgement, Glory. What the hell were you thinking, letting some guy video you? What if that got out? You could be all over the internet,” he whispers, but it gets louder the longer he speaks.
