I give him a thumbs up, not sure what to say, and I’m just trying to hide my grimace from the creepy feeling he’s giving me right now. Especially when I catch his eyes trailing over me. I fight the shiver and look around, wanting to do anything to get away from him.
My eyes lock on Grayson; his hair is wet as he walks through the doorway, and I quickly make my way over to him and watch his smile instantly appear when he sees me, and it calms me.
Of course he notices and looks at me, concerned. “You okay?”
I nod. “Mhm, just ready to go.”
“Damn Wheeler, staked your claim?” Collins says from behind me, and I had hoped he walked away. My body tenses, and I know Grayson sees it.
“Fuck off and walk away,” Grayson threatens in a way I’ve rarely heard from him.
Collins laughs, but I hear him leaving and I grimace.
“Sometimes I forget what assholes hockey players can be,” I tell my friend.
He pulls me into his arms in a tight hug. “Not all of us.”
“No, not you.” I press my nose into his chest, breathing in his body wash from the quick shower he took and the sweet musk of him invades my nose. I want to be wrapped in his smell.
“Let’s go before more of my teammates harass you,” he encourages.
“Can we go to your house?” I ask, not wanting to be at mine.
“Of course,” he agrees easily and doesn’t ask me why. I don’t want to tell him that when he leaves I’ll be alone and the thought of being alone in my house right now gives me a wave of panic.
I know I’m overreacting, but I can’t help it. At least being with Grayson is helping me, even if he doesn’t know it.
On the car ride to his house I get a text from Asher, and instantly look over at Grayson like he can read my mind.
He chuckles when he notices me looking at him. “What?”
“Nothing, Asher just texted,” I admit to gauge his reaction.
He remains nonchalant, not even the smallest reaction other than asking, “What did he say?”
I open the message, but continue to watch Grayson, trying to watch for anything that would indicate how he’s feeling.
“He just asked if the game is over and what I’m doing.”
Again, he doesn’t have any reaction. “What’re you going to tell him?”
“The truth, that I’m with you.”
“I was actually wanting to talk to you about that,” he says, and the panic is back. Here it is, this is where it all will start crumbling down. It was fun while it lasted, but this will be it. “Do you like him?”
My head swings over to look at Grayson, who’s still facing ahead at the road. He’s relaxed, his tone isn’t accusatory. He’s the same calm best friend I’ve known for my entire life, but I’m still scared to answer.
“I like you,” I tell him gently.
He looks over at me with a grin. “And?”
I sigh. “Yeah, I do like him too.”
Grayson’s hand lands on my thigh, the warmth seeping through my jeans as he gives me a reassuring squeeze. “I see you freaking out, but I want to make it clear that as long as you want me, I’m here. No matter what.”
“Damn, you’re one of the good ones,” I joke to try and lighten the mood. Which works because he chuckles along with me.
“Call him when we get back to my house. I think we should fuck with him,” Grayson tells me, and I love this side of him. The easy going man I’ve always known.
