Liv
Grey and I spent the rest of yesterday watching his fighting channel. Well, he watched that barbarian channel while I was making some…plans. I thought I’d been discreet the entire week but turns out he’s really observant. More than I actually thought he was. Not that I’m saying it’s bad, it’s just kind of terrible timing because of how important what I am doing now. The good news is he hasn’t figured out what I’m planning. If he did, everything would be ruined. So the next day when I wake up, I make sure to show him some affection and pay extra attention to him.
“What was that for?” he asks after I’ve given him a long kiss.
I shrug and straddle his hips, splaying my hands against his chest. I stare at his unique tattoos and almost find myself falling into their backstory and complexity when he lifts his hips, jarring me out of it.
“Can’t I show my lovely man some love without there being an underlying motive?” I question with a playful tilt of my head.
He just hums and looks me up and down.
“I’m serious, Grey,” I say, trying to convince him I’m not lying.
I am not lying, well, not fully, anyway. Sometimes I really do have to touch him, kiss him even to make sure this is real. That we’re really together. He isn’t yelling at me to go away or pushing me away. I am not diving into bottomless pools or having mental breakdowns. Nor am I accidentally downing anti-depressants to relieve the heartache inside of my chest.
I gently drag my nails down his hard stomach, and he hisses while I smile bashfully. He is one hundred percent real. And my love for him is unfathomable and irrevocable. It is like the air: I can feel it nourishing me, yet instead of not being able to sense it physically, I can taste it when I kiss him. I can feel it when he does the little things like kiss my cheek or randomly hold my hand. And I can see it the way he looks at me, the way his black eyes shine just for me and a crooked smile breaks out on his face.
“Is this real?” He reads my stunned thoughts, interlocking my fingers with his.
“Does this feel real?” I lean down and press my lips against his. I glide my hands up to his pecs and squeeze. I receive a low growl that causes me to reverberate. I smile against his soft lips and rock my hips gently against him.
I never imagined we would be doing this—here. When he left me all those months ago, I felt my heart crumble to pieces around the horrible person I had become. I didn’t think my lips or body would ever find their home again, against his. I finally feel like I am whole again.
I hate that I say that because I shouldn’t let anyone, not even Grey, define my well-being. But let’s be honest, I was horribly miserable without him. To the point that I needed multiple therapy sessions each week and anti-depressant medication. And now that I have him, I don’t ever want to let him go. Sounds obsessive and a little crazy, but love does things to you. I never expected it when I saw him, but it made itself known by smacking me square in the chest. Now it’s bigger than ever and is itching for me to be closer to Grey.
A familiar pinging noise coming from my laptop across the room sounds, causing Grey to groan as he shoves his head into the pillow and writhes like an upset child.
“Turn it off,” he pleads.
“I’m sorry, I’ll get it—” I begin to get off him.
“Good.” He rubs his eyes.
“I think it’s just Matthew.”
His hand wraps around mine, and his scowl stops me. “Hell no.” He tugs me back into his chest; he’s sitting up now. “He’s interrupting something. The fucker can wait a couple of hours.” I smile when he presses a longing kiss against my chin, looking up at me expectantly. Like one…oh, two…okay, that’s three, and—fuck—it feels good…kisses can, um, can change my mind. Wow, his lips are doing quite the works, huh?
“No, I’m sorry. It’s about the—”
“I swear to God, if you say the word program, I will flip my shit,” he grits through his clenched teeth, eyebrows screwed together. He looks like a pissed off pit-bull. He instantly softens when I peck his lips. His eyes glaze over, and I laugh and do it again, moaning against his lips. I pull back before his hands can hold me.
“We won’t take long, I promise.” One more kiss and I’m walking over to my laptop. The ringing has stopped, but I shoot him a text to give me twenty minutes to get ready. I’ve just woken up and I look like a mess. “Take a shower with me?” I take off Grey’s shirt and look over my bare shoulder. I’m topless, and he looks like a cartoon character with his tongue out and eyes wide. Just hang the word “Wowza” over his head, and you can toss him in a Looney Toons show. He scrambles off the bed, and I squeal in laughter as I leave a trail of my underwear behind me, entering the bathroom.
The shower doesn’t take long, much to Grey’s dismay. He constantly tried to start something, but I kept reminding him that I have Matthew waiting for me in the next room. That only fueled his jealousy. I can’t say that I don’t find it attractive. The way he grabs my hips possessively and tries to show me I am his. It’s all very alluring in a strange way. Unfortunately, I don’t have time for jealousy. So I appease him with a very rushed quickie and am still glowing afterward.
Grey glares at me with those dark eyes of his as I curl my hair and style it so most is over my right shoulder. His eyes go up and down, scrutinizing my white shorts and my strapless blue shirt.
“Do you not like how I look?” I turn in the desk chair, and he shrugs on the bed. I frown and consciously tug at the shirt I thought was kind of cute. “I look bad…?”
“What? No, of course not. You look beautiful as always,” he says. “Just a little too much for Mark.”
“His name is Matthew. Why can’t you remember a name so simple?” I shake my head. The laptop rings again, and I face it.
“Because he’s a fuck-head,” he says, and I hear him walking up behind me.
“He is not. He’s a kind man.” I peer up at him; he’s scowling at Matthew’s icon, him dressed in a button up, dark blond hair gelled. “Please leave. We’ll only be chatting for a little while.” I push at his legs, but he doesn’t even budge.
“Chatting about what?” he huffs out, crossing his arms, eyes unmoving.
“You know what, now please, at least get out of the shot,” I plead, and he grumbles and reluctantly shifts a few feet away. Finally…I plaster on a smile and finally press the accept call button. It takes a second, but his face appears on the screen, and I am blasted by his radiant smile and warm blue eyes.
“Hello, Liv! Good morning,” he greets me politely, and I look around at the gorgeous scenery around him. He looks like he’s at a park or maybe a golf course.
“Hello, Matthew, and good morning to you too,” I greet back and hear a mumble next to me. Grey. But I keep my eyes on the screen. “I’m sorry, but I have to ask: where are you? It looks amazing.”
He chuckles a cute little laugh that makes me smile just by how happy he looks. Grey growls beside me, and I shoot him a look to shut his trap. He rolls his eyes and mumbles to himself. I look back to Matthew with a smile.
“I’m in California. The CEOs of the program have decided to expand across the country,” he explains, and I gape in awe. He laughs at me, and I chuckle, reddening how foolish I must have looked. “I’ve been touring with the manager of the branch in Pennsylvania, checking out the HQ buildings and such. Pretty soon they’ll be in every state for many college students.”
“That’s amazing, Matthew,” I tell him honestly.
“I’m going to the beach soon,” he says and slants his lips in an uncharacteristically playful smile. “Maybe you should come out here and catch some waves.”
“Maybe I will.” I mirror the smile he is ridiculously making, and we both burst into laughter.
“No, nope—not—fuck no. I think that’s enough for today.” Grey tries to snatch the laptop from me. I gasp and grab it from him, kicking his thigh and making him stumble back.
“You promised!” I’m red as I set the laptop back, him very much known to Matthew now.
“I ain’t promised shit. You two were nerd flirting, and I do not tolerate it,” he accuses, and I gasp.
“We were not!” I snap through gritted teeth. “I don’t even know what that is.”
“Flirting: it’s when two people tease and joke around with the intentions of fucking—” he says crudely, but I stop him, unfortunately not soon enough.
“Jesus…” I pinch my nose bridge and hear Matthew clear his throat. “Matthew!” I straighten up in the chair and nervously smile, feeling hotter than the sun as he laughs lightly, looking between me and Grey, who is standing behind me, head on my shoulder.
“Should I call back later?” he asks and catches Grey’s very intense gaze.
I shift the laptop a little, but he just nudges over too. I sigh and shake my head. “No, please, just don’t mind him.” I point to Grey peeking over my shoulder like an eager puppy. A mean one that doesn’t understand staying out of the way. I should have known the jealousy thing would bite me in the butt.
He laughs easily, and I bite back a smile, because Grey surely would rip the laptop from my hands and hold Matthew hostage, thus losing his mind. He and I talk about the program branching out and what I should expect when I begin. I admit that I’m a bit nervous to be a part of something so elite, but he laughs it off and tells me that I will do great. I can’t even help but blush at his kind words. Grey almost went crazy at that point, but I whispered in his ear what we could do later if he left me alone with Matthew. He reluctantly left, but he left all the same.
“All done?” he asks when I come into the living room twenty-five minutes later.
I plop onto the couch next to him and kiss his cheek. “Yep. Now I’m all yours.”
“Good, and I’m not letting you go.” He smiles and lifts my leg, pushing me down on the couch. I smile against his lips, but before it can get any deeper, my shorts buzz. “Oh. My. Fucking. God,” he grunts each word harder with each one as I sheepishly smile and pull my phone out. “Who is it now?” he complains, letting my leg fall.
I sit up and read the text message, hiding a smile. “The girls. I totally forgot, they promised to take me out to celebrate me getting into the program.” I smile widely and pinch his cheek to cheer him up, but he has crossed his arms and is staring at the blank TV. “Raincheck?” I give him a chaste kiss and feel horrible when he mumbles something and shakes his head.
“Sure. Have fun.”
“I—”
He clicks on the TV, cutting me off.
I bite my lip and hesitantly rush out of the house.
***
“You know, when you said raincheck, I thought you really fucking meant it,” Grey complains as I help him tie his tie. His head is tilted back and his Adam’s apple bobs furiously. With the way he keeps fidgeting, you’d think he was an impatient child.
“Will you please stop moving around? I’m almost done,” I ask and bend a little. I’m on the bed, so I am slightly his height and am able to do this easier. “And I did mean it. Just after this dinner party, then I am all yours.”
“Heard that before,” he mumbles, and I frown but keep my mouth shut.
We are currently getting ready to attend a dinner party. I am having them come to my parents’ beach house since Mason says my parents are still gone. The place is huge, empty, and all the hard work my mother put in it will definitely wow them. It is with some very important people from the program. They have agreed to meet with me, so I can familiarize myself with them and help them see me in a good light. They’re here because of the expansion, so I am grateful they are taking the time to have dinner with me.
“There. All done and pretty.” I cup his chin and pull him in for a sweet but short kiss.
He rolls his eyes and turns away from me. I hop down, and he assists, wrapping an arm around my waist.
“Tell me why I have to go too.” He nudges the tie, irritated.
“Because I want to show you off. Now, let’s go.” I grab my phone and glance in the mirror, giving myself a once-over. I’m wearing a pretty white lace dress, white heels, and a pair of silver drop earrings. I glossed my lips and put on a little eyeliner, mascara, and blush. Simple, but I’m not the best at makeup. And I didn’t want to go over the top and end up looking like a clown.
“Wait,” he says when I open the door.
“Yeah?” I turn around and find him rubbing his lower lip before throwing his hands in his dress pockets, which I fought hard with him to put on. He doesn’t like dressing up, but he was quick to put everything on when I offered him a little something for tonight. He’s such a horn-ball. It’s a bargaining chip I will shamelessly use. Well, a little shame will be accompanied with its usage.
“Do you…are you forgetting something?” His voice sounds a little weary.
I look around and feel my heart drop when it hits me. “Yes!”
He grins. “Finally. I thought you forgo—”
I rush over to the dresser and snatch my white clutch. “Thank you, you’re a life-saver.” I walk back over to the door and stuff my phone and wallet in it. I clasp it shut and frown when I find him pouting at me like I just stomped all over his heart. “What’s wrong?”
“Um…” He’s fiddling with his fingers now, biting his lip. “Do you…know what day it is?”
I raise a brow and shrug. “Friday?”
His face free-falls. “Oh…”
“Now that we have that clear, can we please go?” I walk over to him, grab his hand, and drag him out of the room.
***
“Okay, something is definitely wrong,” I say for the millionth time, and Grey sighs, avoiding my worried eyes.
“Nothing is wrong. Get out of the car,” he grumbles, stepping out and tugging on his blazer he swears he will burn the minute this “stupid thing” is over.
I sigh and quickly leave the car, catching up to him on the stairs. “Wait up!” I grab his hand, and I catch him rolling his eyes away from me. I stop him before he can ring the bell, holding up my keys. “Are you sure you’re all right? Because you know I will make it up to you later.”
“Yeah, you’re a pro at that.” He smiles sarcastically, and I sigh.
“You know I love you,” I remind him, gripping his hand.
He mumbles incoherently, and I sigh again, then finally unlock the door. I push it open and close it behind us. The darkness swallows us whole, and he curses to himself.
“Why is it so fucking dark in here?” he questions.
“I don’t know. Turn on the light beside you,” I suggest.
The light flips on and reveals the room full of people, all holding confetti poppers.
“Surprise!” they all scream as the poppers go off.
Music blasts through the air, and I laugh as I look up at Grey. He is stunned as he gawks at the shiny banner that reads “Happy Birthday, Grey!” in big bold gold letters. The air is littered with colorful confetti, and the sound of laughter and cameras going off fill my ears until I am smiling so hard, my cheeks are on fire. I spot my group of friends among the people I don’t know and wave at them. They wave me over, but I hold up a pointer finger to signal I need a minute. They nod in understanding and laugh at Grey, who is still like a deer caught in headlights.
I tap his shoulder, and he slowly faces me. “Today is August eighteenth, the day the love of my life, Grey Nathaniel Wyler, was born.” I cup his neck and stand on my toes, pressing my lips against his. Confetti falls all around us as he holds my waist and tastes the secrets I’ve been keeping so I can plan all of this. I pull back and laugh a little as he kisses all around my face. “I will never forget this day, ever,” I say through the laughter as he kisses me all over.