Page 5 of Gravity

“Best.”

Chapter Two

Nora

I wake to the sun streaming through my window, and I instantly smile to myself at how good it feels.

After eating a large amount of apple pie yesterday and catching up with my dad and all of his achievements, Mom helped me unload the boxes from my car so I could make a start on settling back home.

The stroke had affected Dad’s movement, but his arms and hands are pretty much in working order now, and he is gradually taking on little tasks and activities while the physical therapy continues.

Getting out of bed, I stretch my upper body and run my fingers through my long hair, scooping it up into a messy topknot. My room is currently full of the boxes I’ve brought back from College—boxes of clothes and shoes because a girl can never have too many, and years of textbooks, college work, and God knows what else. The last four years of my life are packed away, waiting to be placed back into my old childhood room that could really do with a freshen up. I hadn’t been a bit interested in unpacking anything last night, to the point where I’d slept in the clothes I returned home in. However, the one thing that’d had me searching through a few of the boxes is the one thing I can’t sleep without: Scuttle: the soft sea turtle that Grayson bought me for my fifth birthday; the very day he stole my heart.

Now, after being loved so much, Scuttle’s barely holding together. I’m not the type to get attached to things like that, and certainly wasn’t as a little girl being more of a tomboy, but there was something about the turtle that has stayed with me forever, and regardless of how ridiculous it may be given my age, I can’t sleep unless it’s sitting on my pillow.

The one time I lost him, I’d never felt panic like it. For a child so small, the fear I’d felt in my chest from not knowing where it was, was unbearable. I’d cried countless hours and had everyone searching the house from top to bottom, only to find it was wedged really tightly down the side of the couch. But what had made that day even better was when Grayson had held me close and promised me that if we couldn’t find it, that he’d go out and find me another, just the same, no matter how far he had to travel. The generosity from that man went above and beyond.

Even at that young age, I knew Grayson was not like any other boy I’d been around. The way I’d felt when around him had been different, and as I got older and matured, not only did I realize my feelings for him were changing but also that the man that Grayson had become had me falling for him even harder. My skin prickled more when he got close. My heart pounded faster when he looked at me. I wanted him in a way I wouldn’t be able to have. Whatever fantasies I’d had about him had to remain behind the closed doors of my heart because not only was he older than me, he was also Asher’s best friend.

Now though, I’m left confused and hurt because he’d once vowed to me he’d remain in my life forever, and that’s all changed. I’m still trying to work out why.

Pushing my reminisces aside, I head downstairs to the smell of pancakes and strong coffee, Mom no doubt busy in the kitchen before she heads off to work later. When she works at the Children’s Hospital of Kings’ Daughters, Dad has a carer who comes in to look after him and keep him entertained throughout the day.

“Good morning, Pop,” I say, kissing him on the cheek.

He’s sitting at the dining table, doing a puzzle, hundreds of little pieces spread out around him.

“Wow check you out with your hand eye coordination. It’s looking really good.”

“Your dad was a little disappointed when I came home with a puzzle based on farmland. Apparently, it wasn’t the sort of chick he was referring to.”

I look at Dad and the glee in his eye makes me snort. “Never mind, Pop. Maybe once you’ve finished this one, we can get you another.”

“Nothing rude, thank you, Nora,” Mom warns. “Your dad has regular visitors, and I don’t want them to see that sort of thing.”

“Leave it with me,” I whisper with a wink.

Heading over to the coffee maker, I pour myself a large mug of black coffee and inhale the strong smell. Like predicted, Mom has laid breakfast out on the counter like the good old days where we’d help ourselves. After grabbing a few pancakes and a banana, I take a seat next to Dad so I can watch him doing his puzzle.

“What are your plans today, Nora,” Mom asks, returning to the kitchen, now in her work uniform.

“I’m not sure. I said I might meet up with Makenna for a bit, but then I have to sort out my boxes as I can barely move in my room. Why, what are you thinking?”

“Nothing really. It’s just Wade will be here soon. I delayed him for an hour as I knew you’d be here for breakfast.”

I frown. “Who is Wade?”

“Your father’s new carer. Didn’t I tell you? Sonia left as she’s moving to New York.”

“Oh, no. I didn’t know that,” I say with a mouthful of food. “But I’ll be around for when he gets here. What’s he like?”

“Lovely!” Mom says, a little over enthusiastically, and I can tell by the look on her face that she’s already planning something in that mind of hers. “He’s such a gentleman and is only five years older than yourself. You’ll like him. He may even be your type.”

That makes me chuckle. Mom has no idea about my type of guys. I like them tall and strong and with a confidence that makes my skin tingle. And the only man who has ever had the ability to do that is one that you could class as prohibited.

“Single. Too,” Dad pipes up.

“Is that right?” I grin at him.