Page 298 of Lilah

Even in the car on the way to Jai's, he's got his hand over in my lap, interlaced with my own.

I'm happy to know that he recognizes that I'm here for him but I just want to take his thoughts and pain away. It hurts me to see him hurt.

"We can leave whenever you want to, Sugar," I remind him, "just tell me when okay?"

He turns his head over to me as we pull into the driveway of Jai's craftsmen style house.

"Okay."

We get out and Grey's automatically by my side. On one hand, is the plate of cookies I made and in the other is his hand.

He opens the door for us and walks right in.

"Look who it is," Oaklee calls out as Jai gets up to greet us.

"Merry Christmas," he smiles before he sees the cookies.

"Oh my God, she brought cookies," he notices them, taking the plate from my hands and giving them to the grabby hands of Oaklee.

Jai brings me in for a hug and Grey never releases my hand.

"Hey man," Jai gives him a slightly sad smile, "you good?"

Grey only nods at him, tugging me closer to his large frame.

"Azalea!" Abby's voice calls my name and I gasp. I don't let go of Grey's hand, I wait until she reaches us.

"Are you here with Roman?" I wiggle my eyebrows at her and her face turns only a little pink. She gives me a nod and my smile widens. Then she looks up at Grey.

"Hey, Grey," she throws up a friendly smile and he gives her a nod.

"Y'all come in here," Maxon calls out, the plate of cookies in his hand, "we're about to start watching The Grinch."

"Aka, Grey," Oaklee coughs and the guys laugh. Grey rolls his eyes, shaking his head as he holds back a little smirk.

We take a seat on the couch and he leans his whole body into me. I place my hand on the top of his back and run my fingernails along the surface. He relaxes and sets his sights on the movie in front of us.

A quarter of the way into the movie, most of the guys get up and follow Jai into the kitchen. Grey looks down at me.

"Do you care if I go have some drinks?" he questions and I give him a soft smile.

"I don't mind," I shake my head. He gives me a soft kiss and follows a few others into the kitchen.

Abby scoots over to me.

"Is Grey okay?" she questions, "I mean he's usually pretty quiet but tonight just seems a little more than usual."

"He had a tough day today," I explain without giving too much detail. She nods in understanding.

Abby and I talk and watch the rest of the movie for another forty-five minutes before the guys start filing back in. Some stumbling already. Grey comes out walking smoothly but by the way his eyes look tired, I know he's drunk.

He's about to get real sweet.

"Watch this," I giggle a little, nodding to Grey.

"Oh gosh, is he a horny drunk?" she laughs. Not even.

"He's very,verysweet. Not hornish, but a sweetheart," I smile as he gets closer. Actually, depending on what he drank, it may not have set in all the way yet but he still looks pretty drunk even right now.