Page 15 of Since I First Laid Eyes On You

Grayson

Why didn’t I check what return flights we were on?

If I’d known we were on different flights I would have changed them.

I’d stupidly assumed we would be on the same ones going home.

I feel like I’ve been cheated of time with her.

Tonight’s going to be the first night we spend apart since I first kissed her, and I hate it.

These nights with her have been my first ones of real sleep for as long as I can remember.

I’m lucky if I get four hours, but with her, I’ve slept like the dead.

We’re currently standing at departures and she’s about to walk through security without me.

My flight isn't until this afternoon, whereas she’s booked on a mid-morning flight.

I’ve still got hours before I can go through, but there was no way I was letting her leave for the airport without me .

“I hate this,” I whisper. I sound like a needy fucker, but I’m beyond caring.

“I do too. But we’re seeing each other tomorrow, you’re going to come and meet me for lunch.” Her hands run through my hair, her nails scraping the back of my scalp. Soothing me.

“Pack a bag, you’ll be staying with me tomorrow.

” And every night after. I silently add.

I’m telling Edward tonight, which means I can tell Paige everything tomorrow at lunch.

After that, well, there’s no reason for her to not spend every moment with me.

I’ll be moving her in by the end of the week.

“So bossy,” she laughs.

“You love my bossiness.” It’s true, she might be a badass at her job and a ridiculously intelligent woman, which is a massive turn on. But she was made to submit to me and she loves it.

“Lucky for you.”

“I’m very lucky,” I say, lightly kissing her lips.

“I really do need to go,” she says pulling back. She bends down to pick up her carry-on case, which I’d placed down by our feet. I cup her face and capture her mouth with mine, kissing her deeply one more time before she leaves. We break apart, both breathless.

“Have a safe flight,” I rasp. “Let me know when you land and again when you’re home.”

“I will,” she says, walking backwards towards security. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Gray.” With those parting words, she turns and walks through the doors to security.

I love you. But I don’t say the words out loud. I can’t say them yet, not until she knows everything. Not until I tell her who I really am.

** *

Paige

The only issue with taking a couple of days off is the mountain of work you come back to.

I’ve tried to keep on top of my emails as much as possible, but it doesn’t stop my to-do list from racking up.

Especially when my Director is a dick and thinks that just because I’m an analyst, I can do all his work for him.

This is the issue with banking, the pay is pretty decent, not great for a junior, but it’s way above a lot of first placement jobs and the potential earning is high.

But the hours are so long, and the work can be tedious as hell.

I regularly ask myself why I’m doing this.

It’s ten at night, my final wash from the weekend is in the tumble dryer and I’m sitting here putting the final figures together for a presentation.

I’m ridiculously tired and the numbers on my screen are starting to blur, not to mention my mind keeps wandering to last night.

Another reason I’m so tired is the complete lack of sleep after the wedding.

Gray kept us up all night, he was insatiable.

I’m quite sure he spent all night inside me.

I’m incredibly sore, but in a good way, the way that lets you know your body has been used and used well.

My phone vibrates next to me. I pick it up and read the message.

You awake?

Yes. I’m getting some work done.

It’s 10pm. You should be resting.

Tell that to my boss.

Come work for me .

Is he being serious right now? He has no idea if I’m even good at my job.

You can’t be serious.

I don’t joke about work.

I could be crap at my job.

Are you?

Oh, for goodness sake, of course I’m not crap at my job. But he doesn’t know that and you don’t just offer someone a job because you’re sleeping with them.

No. But I don’t want a job for sleeping with you, Gray. I don’t want some form of payment for my services.

I know I’ve made a mistake the minute I send it. Shit. Shit. Shit. Why did I send that? He is going to be so mad. My phone starts ringing in my hand and I let out an involuntary shriek. Quickly hitting decline.

Answer your phone.

I can’t. I’m working.

Pick up the fucking phone, Paige.

It rings again in my hand, and again I hit decline. I know I’m pissing him off further and only making things worse for myself. But I am incapable of answering my phone right now. I’ll let him cool off overnight and hopefully we can speak calmly about this tomorrow.

I will turn your ass so fucking red if you don’t pick up RIGHT NOW!

Yeah, no. That has definitely not convinced me to pick up. In fact, I’m turning my phone off. I hold the button on the side just as a call comes through. Yep, I think to myself, tomorrow my ass is going to be sore.

***

Grayson

I am fucking furious. Absolutely livid. Not only does she put herself down, thinking I’m offering her a job as some sort of payment for sleeping with me.

What the fuck?! But then she ignores me, declines my calls, and now she’s turned her phone off.

Turned it the fuck off. There is nothing I can do as I don’t know where she lives, which is fucked up in itself.

I don’t know where the woman I’m in love with lives.

Add to that, Edward is still not home, so I haven’t been able to speak with him, which I need to do before I see Paige tomorrow.

This whole day, from the moment I found out that Paige and I were on different flights, has been a complete shit show.

At this rate I’m going to have to go into the office late tomorrow so I can speak to Edward in the morning.

As I have the thought, I hear the key in the front door.

Thank fuck. Something is finally going my way.

My son walks into the kitchen where I’m sitting at the breakfast bar.

“Hi,” he grumbles.

“Take a seat. I’d like to speak with you.” I’ve found the only way to communicate with my son is to be direct .

“Is this about me not having a job? It’s hard, okay? No one is hiring. If you just gave me a job at your work, we wouldn’t have this issue.” That is a whole other matter that I need to address, yet again. There is no way my lazy son is going to think he can coast along at a job with my company.

“No, that’s another discussion we need to have. I want to talk to you about Paige.” His eyes narrow on me.

“What about her? She’s not talking to me at the moment.”

“I know you broke up,” I say. I’m not beating around the bush here.

“She’ll come around,” he smirks. “Doesn’t realise what she’s missing.” I have never hit my son, and I never will. But I have never been so tempted to wipe that smug grin off his face.

“No, she won’t. Let’s be honest, the two of you were never even really together.” The grin slips from his face; his expression hardening.

“What are you talking about? How would you know anything about her? You’ve never even met.” He’s getting defensive, which is not going to help what I have to say.

“We have met actually. She was at the wedding this weekend. She’s Angus’ daughters best friend.”

“Chloe?” He seems surprised, further showing me how little of a relationship he had with Paige.

“Yes, Paige and Chloe are best friends. Angus is like a second father to her.”

“Okay, what’s your point?” He grumbles, already fed up with this conversation.

“My point is that Paige and I got to know each other this weekend.” I already know this is where this conversation is going to go to shit. “We developed feelings for each other. We’re together, Edward; I’m dating Paige. ”

“THE FUCK?!” He explodes, pushing off his stool and throwing his hands up in the air. “What the fuck do you mean you're together? Are you fucking my girlfriend?” He demands.

“Watch your tone with me,” I grit, “and she is not your girlfriend. She never was. Whatever the two of you had going on was not a relationship.”

“I can’t believe you! You’re stealing my girl,” he shouts. “How can you want to fuck her knowing I did it first? I’ll give you a list of girls if my sloppy seconds is your kink,” he sneers at me.

I lose it. I fucking lose it. I shove off my stool and storm towards him, clenching my fists at my side, far too tempted to punch his face.

“Don’t you ever talk about her like that.

You don’t talk about Paige, about any woman, with disrespect.

And let’s be clear about one thing,” I add.

“You never slept with Paige. Nothing happened between the two of you. Is that what this is about? You’re pissed your old man is more of a man than you are?

” Am I being a dick? Yes. But right now, all reason has left me.

I cannot be held accountable for what is said at this moment.

“End it with her.”

“No.” Never happening, life without Paige is not a possibility.

“Father’s are meant to do anything for their children. I’m telling you to end it.” His eyes glint; he honestly thinks he’s got me.

“And I would do anything for you, Edward. Anything to keep you safe, anything to make your life better, and anything to help you in this world. But, I will not give in to your selfish behaviour. I will not give up the love of my life because you think I stole your toy, a toy that never belonged to you in the first place.”

“You’re choosing her over me?” He forces out between clenched teeth .