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“Thanks, Paige. You didn’t have to get me anything.”

“It’s just something small, and I really am grateful.” As I was speaking, my phone started lighting up where it sat charging on the bedside table. I didn’t need to check to know it would be my mom, probably wondering where the hell I was. “I better get going.”

Gray reached for my bags before I could tell him not to worry about it. He leaned in as we left Cammie’s room. “I knew you had at least one snow globe in there.”

Of course he did. Gray knew me too well, but that was what made starting a relationship with him so special. We had something no one else had. It had kind of always been that way, but now we could take our unique relationship to a whole new level.

But forging our friendship into something new came with its own risks, and as I considered all we had to lose, I started to worry. What if this didn’t last? It was the first time the thought had truly entered my mind since the date, and I let my anxiety bubble up as we made our way to my car. This thing between Gray and I was still so fresh, and I didn’t want to do anything that might spoil it. But this felt too important for me to stay silent. He was too important.

“What if we don’t work out?” I said as we stopped by the trunk of my car. “I don’t want to lose you.”

Gray’s expression was serious, and he placed my bags on the ground so he could take my hands in his. “You’re never going to lose me.”

“You make it sound so simple.”

“It may not always be,” he agreed. “But fighting is one of my strengths. I’m always going to fight for you. For us.”

“You don’t think we’d be better staying friends?”

“I’ve felt this way about you for a long time,” he said. “Keeping those feelings bottled up and hidden from everyone was a struggle. But now that they’re out in the open and I know you feel the same way, it’s like a massive weight has lifted. I think if we just promise we’ll always be honest with each other about what we’re feeling, then whatever happens, we’ll be okay.”

“Whatever happens?” I frowned. “So, you’re saying we could lose each other...”

His thoughtful expression was replaced by the bright smile I’d been seeing more and more of recently. “No, that’s not what I’m saying.” He laughed. “You’re stuck with me forever, Pidge. I promise.”

“I’ll be holding you to that.”

“Good.”

He pulled me in for a hug, and once again I was surround by Gray’s warmth, his smell, and the strength of his embrace. They were such familiar sensations, and they instantly cleared my mind of worry. We were still us, but we also weren’t. Things had changed, but that was okay. It was more than okay.

Chapter 29

Paige

I had no idea how Grayson could make carrying all my luggage look so easy. When I arrived home, I managed to lift just one of my bags out of the car and bring it to the house. It was bursting with my belongings and weighed a ton. I might have overpacked this one in my rush to gather my things at the Darlings’, fully aware that every second I delayed, the more impatient my mom would become.

As I walked through the front door, the seam of the bag burst open, scattering all its contents across the floor. I cursed under my breath. Even my bag had decided it would prefer to hit its own self-destruct button than be in this house. I supposed I should at least be grateful it had waited until we were inside to call it quits.

“I’m home,” I called as I stooped to clear up the mess. Mom didn’t respond. Instead, I heard her clearing her throat from the kitchen. Whenever she made that sound, I knew I was in trouble. The mess could wait. I should probably face her first.

She was sitting at the kitchen table, and it looked as though she’d been waiting for me. I cringed as she pushed her chair back and stood.

“I’ve been home for over an hour. Where were you?”

Unsurprisingly, she was getting straight to the point. No “I missed you, Paige.” No hug, no kiss on the cheek. Not even a “hello.” Sometimes, I wondered whether my mom might be part robot.

“I was still at the Darlings’. I had to pack my bags.” I straightened my back as I spoke, just in case she felt like berating me over my posture too. The way her mouth formed a tight, thin line, I could tell she wasn’t in the mood to listen to excuses.

“How was your flight back?”

“Fine. But I was expecting you here when I arrived. I had to fish around in the garage for the spare key, which you’d know if you ever checked your messages.”

“My phone died,” I said. “But I’m here now.”

“Yes, you are. And you’d better get started...”

“On . . .”