“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” he asks gently.
I sigh, breaking out eye contact again. “I want to help him.”
Grayson scoffs, “And he callsmethe puppy dog.”
That gets a small laugh out of me.
“We had a good time the other night, right?” I question.
“Yeah. It was unexpected, but yeah.”
“And you trust me?”
He nods, holding my cheek in his palm, running his thumb along my cheek while his eyes search mine. “I do. And I trust that you’ll do what makes you happy.”
“What about what makesyouhappy?” I counter.
“That’s easy. You.”
I shake my head. “Why do you always say things like that?”
“It’s just the truth.”
“Well stop it because it’s too nice,” I tease.
He pulls my body into his in a strong hug. I rest my head against his chest. “Do you want me to join you again?”
I look up at him with a small smile. “Yes, but I think I need to figure out what’s going on with all this individually.”
Grayson gives me a closed-lipped smile. “I’m always going to be here for you, no matter what. Even if I don’t like the guy.”
I’m chuckling, “I get that, but you like me.”
“I do,” he admits easily.
I press a quick kiss to his lips. “You’ll be the person I call if I need anything.”
“Good, because you know I’ll be wherever you need me to be immediately.”
I smile. “I know.”
I manageto leave the family BBQ with the excuse of being tired. Both my parents give me tight hugs before leaving. Iactually drove here because I’ve started to dislike the feeling of having to get a driver to take me everywhere. The whole reason for this has been security, but I think I’m overreacting.
It was one small incident, and it wasn’t that big of a deal, just enough to shake me. But it’s time to get over it and I want more of my independence back.
Which, yes, is a little ironic considering the fact that I’m currently caught in between wanting two guys, and that doesn’t feel very “independent” of me. But driving myself home does. It feels like it used to when I was younger, before the world really knew who I was. I’ve always been Spencer Sparks and Jared Colver’s daughter, but that doesn’t compare to being known asRae Sparks.
There’s a pair of headlights behind me, and they get close so I speed up. But whoever is driving keeps up easily. My Lexus isn’t a race car by any means, but the car currently trailing me might be.
As the lights shine into my rearview mirror, a wave of panic comes over me. Maybe driving myself was a mistake. The person behind me is so close, but if they wanted to pass me they could, and it’s not like I’m driving slow.
I turn, and hope they won’t do the same. But they do. I tighten my grip on the steering wheel and press harder on the gas. Chewing on my bottom lip, I wonder if I should call someone. My security, Grayson, my dad…Asher. But my phone is in my bag, and I don’t want to go digging through it when I should be watching the road.
When I turn again and the car follows, I really start to panic. There’s no way I can go home and lead them to my house. Just when I thought I was safe, something like this happens and I feel like an idiot.
I reach over to my bag because maybe my phone is sitting on top, but then I swerve slightly, and panic even more, white knuckling the steering wheel.
The car that’s been following me finally moves over andspeeds up; the sound of the engine is loud as they race in front of me.
