Now that his brother pointed it out, it seemed so fucking obvious.
“Grayson,” Jace said, still quietly. “The legend has never been wrong.”
Grayson opened his mouth, but his brother bulldozed ahead.
“It struck Dad, Levi, Theo, Maverick, and Mila. No mistakes. And I challenge you to find five happier couples.”
Grayson couldn’t. Because it wasn’t possible.
“Hell, it probably happened to Lucy too, but back then, we didn’t really think about love at first touch as a family legend. It was more like a meet-cute story Dad told us about the day he met Mom.”
Grayson couldn’t deny anything his brother was saying.
“But when you think about it,” Jace continued, “Lucy fell hard for Joey and Miles right out of the gate too. I mean, shit, those guys weren’t here a full week before she was hopping in that RV with them and taking off for places unknown.”
The certainty in his brother’s voice scraped against every doubt currently clawing in his brain. Because he still believed in the legend. He’d spent his entire life believing love could strike like lightning, fast and fierce.
Hell, he believed it even more now because he’d felt it for himself.
If Jace was right, then Grayson hadn’t fallen for Lark at all.
He’d fallen for Wren.
A pulse began pounding hard in his temple when another thought immediately pushed its way to the surface.
“So, she’s been lying to me.”
Jace winced—because he knew just how much Grayson hated being lied to. “I’m not saying they definitely switched places. I’m just saying it would explain…” His words fell away, probably because he realized there was nothing he could say to calm Grayson down.
Anger sparked hot. It wasn’t an explosive rage, but something quieter and more personal. Because if Jace was right, Wren had manipulated him, played him for a fool.
Somehow that idea hurt worse than finding out that Lark wasn’t his person.
“You okay, Gray?”
Grayson shook his head. “Fuck no.”
Jace nodded. “Fair.”
Grayson’s gaze drifted down to the valley again. Every instinct he had pulled him toward Wren with an almost-brutal force. His anger melded with an awareness. One that was urgent and undeniable.
Suddenly, Grayson knew exactly how to test Jace’s theory. A slow smile spread across his face. Not an amused one, not a happy one.
A dangerous one.
Jace groaned. “That look isn’t going to lead to anything good.”
Grayson rose slowly. “If they switched places at the festival, then one of them is going to crack when I confront them about it.”
“You’re just going to ask?” Jace’s tone let Grayson know he thought that was a dumb idea.
“Oh, I’m definitely going to ask. But first, I’m going to test my theory.”
“How?”
“By touching Wren.”
Jace studied him for a minute before shrugging. “Not sure if I should wish you luck or barricade you in here before you do something crazy.”
