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“Nothing. He went to Florida where his mom lives. We’ve texted a few times. We had that one night, and it was incredible, and then…” She trails off and shrugs as she twists her lips. “I’ve been busy. He’s been busy. I guess if it’s meant to happen again, it will.”
“And you’re okay with that?”
“I don’t want to be the desperate girl chasing him down.”
I study her, and she really does seem to be okay with whatever arrangement they have. We shift topics to work, we eat our pizza, and we drink our vodka.
As it turns out, the soon Kelly was referring to in Grayson getting in touch with me comes the next morning after a rather fitful night’s sleep.
I don’t have to go into work until noon today since I wasn’t sure how late I’d be at the game yesterday, though I debated going in earlier since I’m not waking up in Grayson’s arms.
I’m awake since I wake up early every morning, and I’m scrolling my phone at six thirty when a text comes through from Grayson.
Grayson: Are you up?
My chest tightens with anticipation as I wonder if this is it. Is he going to admit he was awake all night thinking about me?
Me: Yes.
My phone rings a beat after I send the reply, and I answer with a groggy, “Hey.”
“Hey.” His voice is low and raspy. “Did I wake you?”
“No. How’d you sleep?”
“Like shit, but that’s not why I’m calling. My sister-in-law went into labor late last night, and my first niece is here. I’m going to the hospital in a bit to meet her, and I was wondering if you’d come with me.” He pauses, and then he adds, “So, you know…so we’re seen together.”
Right.
It’s for show.
We’re showing the world, which apparently includes his family, that we’re together. And it makes sense. All eyes will be on who is entering and exiting the hospital to visit Vegas’s hottest football coach’s new baby.
“Oh, sure,” I say, my voice flat to try to hide the hurt I feel that he’s still just doing this for show despite his admission last night. “I have to be at work at noon, but I can meet you at the hospital and head in from there.”
“Can you, uh…” He pauses as if he’s trying to choose the right words. “Can you call in sick and spend the day with me?”
“Oh,” I say, surprised by his question. Why? I want to ask, but I’m terrified to know the answer. “Let me check in with my boss, okay?”
“Of course.”
“What time are you planning to go?”
“I’m just going to take a quick shower, and then I’ll be ready. Asher and my dad are heading in after breakfast, my mom flew in yesterday, and Spence is on his way today. I figured we’d all spend the day together.”
“That’s…that’s lovely,” I say softly, and suddenly I want more than anything to spend the day with Grayson and the Nash family. “Let me call my boss. I’ll call you right back.”
“Okay.”
We hang up, and Poppy gives me the go-ahead to take the day off. “You haven’t taken a day off…ever, my girl. Take two days if you need it. We’ll survive.”
Not with my recipe, but she’s right. They’ll survive.
I call Grayson back.
“Hey,” he answers, and why is just a simple hey from him enough to send my pulse into overdrive?
“She told me to take two days,” I say with a light laugh.
