Page 23 of Always Be My Baby

Grayson ran his hand ever so slowly down his face. “Actually, there are two now. First, you have to watch Mission Impossible with me tonight, or tomorrow, or this weekend, as friends of course. You choose. And second”—he leaned closer to whisper in my ear—“don’t make that sound. You give me naughty thoughts, Cams. Friend or no friend, you have that kind of power over me.”

I flushed with warmth and pressed my lips together from laughing. “Okay. Since you saved my day, I’ll watch Mission Impossible with you. I’ve been wanting to watch it for some time. But I have to warn you. I get a bit jumpy at the suspenseful parts.”

Grayson twitched his lips and his eyes twinkled with amusement. “Such a baby. But don’t worry. I’ll make sure you’re safe. Besides cooking, I have a special talent. I’m good at giving comfort.”

“Are you now?” I snorted. “Good to know. Next time an alien comes to haunt me, I’ll make sure to let you know.”

His eyes lit up brighter. “You saw Independence Day?”

“Heck yeah. My family and I went on the day it came out.”

“I think I love you even more. I mean as friends,” he corrected.

A pause. The room seemed quieter. “Anyway, I should go. You’re working, and I’ve taken enough of your time. Gus keeps looking at me. He’s smiling, but I think he’s trying to tell me to get going.”

I smiled. Little did Grayson know Gus had a crush on him. “Thanks again for my coffee.” I raised the paper mug to him.

“My pleasure to take care of you, Cams.” He winked and left.

“Not only does he smell divine, girl, he’s got it bad for you.” Gus lightly bumped his hip to mine. A drop of coffee spilled on my hand. “Sorry.”

I sucked it up. “No worries. And he does not. We’re friends.”

Gus furrowed his brow. “There is no such thing as friends. A guy doesn’t just bring a friend coffee or ask her to go see a movie as friends.”

I shrugged, dismissing Gus’s words. He had no idea what went on between Grayson and me.

I nudged his shoulder. “What do you know? You just want to take him to bed.”

He gave a wicked smile. “You bet I do.”

I snorted and got back to work when a customer came by.

Caroline. Shit!

I played it cool and held up my chin high, but my heart pounded hard against my rib cage. She met my eyes once and diverted her attention to something else.

“Eleven,” I said flatly.

A ten and a five landed on the counter. I took it and placed four bills on the same spot. I had no intention of our hands brushing. She cleared her throat. When I didn’t pay attention to her, she cleared her throat again. I peered under my eyelashes and finally met her eyes.

“I’m sorry.” Her index finger nervously tapped on the tray. “I was a bit tipsy. It didn’t mean anything.”

Why does everyone want to talk to me at work?

Thankfully, Gus went to the back room so I had a little time to talk. I didn’t know what to say. It felt so awkward to be confronted, and I didn’t like conflicts, but I was beyond enraged. Hurt and anger boiled inside me, stronger than before. And I had a fervent urge to say my piece.

“I don’t know what you want me to say. Did Lucas put you up to this?”

She stiffened. “No. I just want to make it clear that I’m not a slut and I’m not a boyfriend stealer.”

I crossed my arms, and with a sassy tone, I sputtered, “Don’t give yourself too much credit, you haven’t stolen him. He told me you meant nothing to him. He’s begging for me to take him back. I think I’ll make him grovel a bit more.”

Her eyes shot wide and she kept quiet for only a heartbeat. “I’m not talking to you because I’m trying to break you two up, but you don’t know Lucas well. I think you trust him way too much. You don’t know what he’s like at the social gatherings.”

I growled under my breath. How dare she tell me things I didn’t need to hear to confuse me. “I think I know my own boyfriend, whom I’ve known longer than you.”

Caroline took the change and picked up her tray. “All I’m saying is that you seem like a really nice person. He doesn’t deserve you. You really need to start asking questions about his loyalty toward you.” With that, she walked away.