Page 158 of On the Breakaway

My phone buzzes, and I glance down at it.

Grayson: Violence is not how healthy secret couples communicate.

I bite back a laugh.

Me: Stop touching me.

Almost immediately:

Grayson: Why? Is it distracting you?

I hate him.

I smile into my drink and try to tune back into the conversation around me. Food starts arriving at the table, and the chatter quiets as people start digging in.

“Two entrees?” I tease Liam when his food is set down in front of him.

“It’s called fueling,” he says between bites.

“There’s no way you’re going to eat all of that,” Wesley replies.

Nathan looks at her. “Babe, I guarantee he eats all of that.”

“Sounds like you guys are jealous that I can eat like this and still look like a god.”

I laugh into my water.

Liam points triumphantly. “See? Avery has my back.”

“Whatever you say,” I agree, rolling my eyes.

A basket of fries appears in the middle of the table.

Before I can grab one, Grayson casually slides the basket closer to my side. Then, without me having to ask, he pushes the ketchup my way, too.

Not a single person notices, but I do. The gesture is so small it’s almost ridiculous for it to settle into my chest the way it does. It’s like he knows me and thinks of me without any effort at all.

It’s not even just me that he does it for. When he refilled his water with the community table jug, he topped off Wesley’s glass because it was low and next to his.

For months, I thought he was putting on a show, but now I see just how much he likes taking care of everyone, especially when no one’s watching.

Well, almost no one.

I can’t seem to stop watching him lately.

Sloane clicks her knife to her water glass, silencing most of the table. “I have an announcement.”

Wyatt looks concerned. “Why do you sound like you’re about to tell us you’re pregnant?”

Sloane throws a napkin at him. “Oh my God.”

“You said an announcement.”

“Not every announcement is a pregnancy.”

“Most surprise announcements are.”

She rolls her eyes before letting a wide grin fill her face. “I got approved for my apartment.”