Page 12

CHAPTER 12

Henry

All day I’d stared at my phone. At the conversation I’d started with Grayson. Our meeting at the cafe was gnawing at me.

I hadn’t meant my words to sound so harsh, but perhaps there was some truth to them. It was probably apparent to anyone with eyeballs that we were in stark contrast. While my sister and I had both grown up in the same house, with the same parents, she’d always been starstruck by the finer things in life. It was her mission to be one of them , and being besties with Giselle exposed her to such things. Gave her opportunities purely because she’d aligned herself with the upper echelon.

Though to be clear, she wasn’t some wealth-chaser who was happy to lap up scraps or anything. She fit in that world just as much as Giselle and her brother did.

Everyone in Giselle’s circle was like her. They had everything.

Love, money, nice houses, good jobs.

A weekend in the mountains “glamping” with my sister and her preppy friends, sniffing wine I couldn’t pronounce, did not sound ideal to me.

But maybe that was the point.

Maybe I needed to leave my comfort zone and put myself out there.

I hovered my thumb over the screen on my phone for only a moment before my co-worker, Andi, passed me, jostling me from my trance.

“Cara just sat your table five,” she said as she started throwing a side salad together.

I sighed, shoving the phone back in my apron pocket. “Thanks,” I murmured, exiting the kitchen and strolling over to the table.

But the moment I left those doors and set my gaze on my table, I wanted to run right back.

Because sitting alone, looking like a goddamn snack of revenge, was fucking Grayson Sanderson.

Well, better get this humiliation over with.

“Can I, uh... get you something to drink?” I said as I forced myself to stand tall, look him in his deep amber eyes, and act as if I hadn’t just completely made an ass out of myself earlier.

To my surprise, Grayson only looked at me with a gaze that was a mix of dark and inviting, and apathetic.

“Fancy meeting you here. Again,” he said.

I crossed my arms involuntarily as I regaled him. “Well, this is my place of business. But you already knew that.”

God what was wrong with me?

Why do I just have to worst fucking word vomit around this man?

It’s like he’s a curse or something!

Grayson twisted his perfect pout, shrugging. “Perhaps I just needed a drink after a long day.”

I sighed in defeat. “Let me guess, gin martini with extra olives?”

Grayson smirked, a dark chuckle escaping his lips.

“Heavens, no. I wouldn’t want this to turn into an episode of Groundhog Day.”

I actually laughed.

Like an idiot.

“Well then, what it’ll be, Grayson? ”

“Perhaps I shall keep it simple with a rum and coke.”

“Noted,” I said as I slowly backed away, making my way to the bar.

“Whattaya need, Henry?” Max asked as she wiped the bar down again. She was meticulous about constantly wiping it down and I wasn’t entirely sure it wasn’t out of boredom and not some undiagnosed OCD.

“Rum and coke.” I said, taking a moment to breathe.

She looked from me to Grayson before raising an eyebrow. “Isn’t that the guy you escorted home last night?” she asked with a grin.

“It’s not what you think, I promise.”

Max laughed. “Better not be. I ain’t running an escort service, sweetheart.”

I rolled my eyes. “Besides, I already put my foot in my mouth,” I murmured as she slid me the drink.

“Too bad, so sad. Hey, those days you put in for, you got ‘em.”

My blood chilled.

“I... what?” I wasn’t entirely sure I heard her correctly, and my panic button was already at an all-time high.

Max cleared her throat, obviously taking my shock as I didn’t hear her. And instead she all but yelled , “Those days for the big wedding trip this weekend. You got ‘em. Go spend the weekend with your friends and make sure you have a glass on me!”

My cheeks flushed and I hurriedly grabbed Grayson’s drink, caught between the devil and the deep blue sea.

I all but threw his drink at him because I was so agitated over everything that happened.

It truly was the worst fucking day ever.

“Should probably tell your boss you’re not spending your time with a bunch of yuppies,” he drawled as he took a sip. “I thought about mentioning it to your sister, but...”

I huffed indignantly. “Are you legit blackmailing me into going on a trip?” I asked, my neck aching from all the whiplash.

I watched as he sipped his drink, his lips shimmering with fresh moisture from the alcohol.

Lips that looked far too tempting...

No, Henry!

I watched as he slid his hand in his pocket, pulling his phone out, and I panicked.

Sue me.

I lunged for his phone, not needing him to tattle on me like a grade-schooler to my sister of all people, my stupid, senseless jabberings.

The motion pushed his chair back, pitching me into his lap haphazardly, our faces only inches from one another. He gazed down at me, raising an eyebrow, his smirk more than amused.

Up close like this, the heat between us was undeniable. I should have known then that I would be a goner when it came to Grayson. The man knew just how to press my buttons.

I fought to regain my composure, knowing there were multiple eyes on us. Including Maxine’s.

“Do not say a word about this... to my sister.”

“Or what? Hmmm? What will you do, Henry?” He grinned, and I realized he liked this.

He liked playing with me and my emotions.

Because he truly was an asshole.

And I was at a disadvantage, and he knew that.

“Giselle and Mia will be so happy to hear you are coming,” he taunted as I righted myself, brushing off my apron with a huff.

The prevalent need, the desire, to do as this man said was like someone had lobotomized me.

I’d never wanted to obey someone’s demands—albeit outlandish demands—so badly.

Maybe there really was something wrong with me.

As I delved into a spiral of madness, Grayson spoke.

“Someone really should mop up that spill,” he hollered over me at Maxine. “Poor old Henry could have been sorely injured,” he said with a wicked grin.

Abruptly, I turned away, leaving a chuckling, smug Grayson in my wake.

What had I gotten myself into?