Page 145 of Capturing Love

“Do it for yourself, not for us,” I said, relieved Grayson was going with her. He needed closure as much as Melanie did.

With a small nod, Melanie pressed her lips together and turned to leave, before pausing at the door. “He really loves you, you know?”

I rolled over and squeezed my eyes shut. It didn’t matter anymore. Grayson and I needed to move on from the ridiculous notion it would ever work. Selling Maude was obviously his first step and now I had to take mine.

“I saw the way he looked at you last night,” she said, quietly. “He’s never looked at me that way…not the way Scott used to.”

I turned back, surprised by the emotion in her voice, but she was gone.

Late that afternoon, I was allowed to leave the hospital. Lenny took me out the back exit as Grayson was still stalking the hallways, waiting to see me.

We arrived back at my apartment to a very lonely and bored Luci.

“I’m sorry Lucifer,” I said, throwing my arms around his neck. “I’ll get Reed to come and take you for a walk. I’m not feeling up to it today.”

At the mere mention of my neighbour’s name, Luci bounded all over the living room in anticipation. I gave Reed a quick call, and within minutes he appeared at my door. When he offered to take him for the night, I jumped at the chance. I highly doubted Luci wanted to watch as many Buffy reruns as I did.

Once I assured Lenny I’d be fine on my own, I made my way to the fridge desperate to put something back in my stomach. Praying for the bare necessities—ice-cream, chocolate or left-over pizza—my mouth dropped when I discovered it full of home-cooked meals. Aww, Lenny.

Settling on his famous lasagne, I popped it in the microwave and went to plug in my cell phone, which had gone flat overnight. I flinched as each message came through.

Grayson: Please call me. They’re refusing to let me see you.

Grayson: Why won’t you let me in?

Adam: In light of recent events, I want you to take a week off. PS. Please call my brother. He’s acting like a lunatic.

Grayson: Why aren’t you pressing charges? She could have killed you.

Grayson: ???!

Amy: Is everything okay? I just got a cryptic text from boss man wanting to know if I’ve heard from you.

Amy: I just did a reading. I’m coming over.

Grayson: So, I just got myself arrested for breaking into your room, only to find you’ve already gone home.

Grayson: Don’t worry, Adam bailed me out.

Grayson: I’m coming over.

The doorbell rang and I froze. My feet felt like lead as I shuffled over to the bedroom window to peek below. I caught a glimpse of snow coloured hair, and breathed a sigh of relief.

I waited for Amy at the top of the staircase, but she took longer than expected. A thud sounded with each step, and I curiously waited until she appeared, dragging a large suitcase behind her.

“I’m here to look after you for a few days,” she said, between puffs.

“A few days? It looks like you’re moving in.”

Amy blushed and waved me off as she made her way into my apartment.

As we both settled into my little couch, eating ice-cream and watching the vampire slayer kick demon arse, I picked up my phone. Ignoring all the missed calls from Grayson, I logged into my bank account to check the state of my savings.

“Holy crap!” Ice-cream dripped onto my top and I didn’t even care.

Amy looked up. “What is it?” she mumbled with her mouth full.

“There must be some mistake.” I scrolled through my recent payments and found a large sum from AG Galleries. “The money from my art sales…it’s all there.”