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“I have to fly out Monday. I’ve got a class that afternoon.”
Turning to look behind me, I asked Grayson a question. “What’s your major?”
“Criminal Justice. I’m actually getting my master’s degree this year.”
Raising my eyebrows, I looked at Grayson. I knew it was wrong of me to stereotype him. I asked, “Masters in criminal justice, huh? How old are you?”
Laughing as he threw his head back, Grayson said, “Don’t look so shocked, Grace. There is more to me than just being a stripper. And I’ll be twenty-three in a couple of months.”
“He’s a Christmas baby,” Noah said.
The three of us stepped out of Noah’s car and headed toward the restaurant.
Something about Grayson intrigued me. “Seriously though, how is it you’re getting a master’s degree so quickly?”
Grayson smiled at me as he looked straight ahead. “I took a lot of classes in high school to start toward my degree. Then I applied for an advanced course toward my masters. My grades were there, so I was easily accepted.”
Nodding my head, I smiled. “One of my best friends is getting her degree in social work; she’s also talking about a master’s degree. Up at Baylor.”
Grayson turned to me with a surprised look. “Really? That’s awesome. Was she with you in Colorado?”
“Yep,” I said as I popped my p. “The red head.”
Grayson laughed. “Ah yes. If my memory is correct, she was the other one yelling for me to take it off.”
Letting out a chuckle, I said, “You are correct.”
Noah held the door open for me as Grayson said, “I’ll have to meet this friend of yours.”
I glanced back over my shoulder and gave Grayson a smile. “Oh, I have no doubt in my mind, Meg would be very eager to meet you, Grayson.”
“Gray, call me Gray.”
I made a mental note to send Meg a text message about Grayson. Noah leaned in and spoke softly in my ear. “You have a look of pure evil on your face, Grace Johnson. What are you up to?”
Giving Noah a look of innocence, I smiled and said, “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Uh-huh. Sure you don’t,” Noah said as he took my hand and led me to a booth.
Grayson and Noah talked about everything from sports, to Grayson’s volunteer work at a kick-start program for boys from troubled homes. After a few questions, I quickly found out Grayson grew up very differently from Noah. His mother struggled to make ends meet. In order for Grayson to afford to go to school, he took up working at a strip club. Apparently, stripping paid really well. Really, really well.
“Are y’all ready to head up to the hospital and see Aunt Lisa?” Grayson asked.
My heart dropped and I was overcome with anxiety. Peeking over to Noah, he was smiling from ear to ear as he stood. Clearly he was not worried about me meeting his mother, so maybe I shouldn’t be either.
Lifting my index finger to my mouth, I chewed on my fingernail as I walked toward the exit. Grayson reached over and pulled it from my mouth. “Breathe in, Grace, breathe out. I promise she is going to love you.”
Worrying my bottom lip, I whispered, “How do you know?”
Grayson looked over to Noah and smiled as he shook his head. “One look at him and it’s written all over his face.”
Glancing over to Noah, he was walking slightly ahead of us while texting someone. Most likely his sister to let her know we were on our way.
“What is?” I asked.
Grayson looked at me and winked. “Noah is clearly in love with you, Grace. I’ve never seen him so happy.”
Feeling my face turn hot, I looked back at Noah as a calmness swept through my body. “The feeling is mutual.”
