Page 114 of Cockpit
“You don’t need to apologize. Just be safe.”
“Always.”
I watch the chaos unfold. The frenzied hugs and kisses between Luke and Grayson that represent an obvious routine. Selfishly and ridiculously, a part of me is jealous of the attention that I’d have a share in, too, if I were part of the equation.
But I’m not.
That thought makes me just that much more insecure, since it comes on the heels of the revelation that I’ve fallen in love with Grayson Malone.
“Sidney . . . you’ll get home okay?”
“Go,” I say as he grabs his wallet and keys and shoves them into his pockets. “I’ll be fine.”
“Only if you’re sure.”
“Yes.”
“Walk me out?”
I wasn’t expecting that, but since I’m still craving that connection with him, I nod. We go out the front door, and the minute it shuts behind us, his lips meet mine in the softest of kisses. It’s slow and tender and makes every part of my body vibrate with the bittersweet knowledge that this is what I’ll be walking away from when the contest is over. A man whom I never expected but now I don’t want to figure out how to get over.
When he pulls back, it takes me a second to get my footing because he just kissed me like he already knows when I know he doesn’t.
“Sorry that I’m leaving you here with my family.” He runs a hand down my arm and links his pinky with mine.
“It’s okay. I kind of like them.”
“I’m also sorry we didn’t get to finish our conversation.” He squeezes that pinky around mine.
“We said what we needed to say,” I murmur.
“You’re amazing.” His words startle me as he presses a chaste kiss to my cheek and then heads down the pathway.
You’re amazing, too.
And it’s the first time he’s ever walked away from me that I’ve felt uncertainty. He just took a huge step in opening up to me . . . and I didn’t do so in return. I’m still hiding something from him because I’m scared to death of ruining this feeling.
He said we’re just going to go along with whatever this is. Day by day. I’m not naïve enough to think that day by day means I don’t have to tell him what’s going to happen after the winner is announced.
I know I need to. I know I should have. But this all happened so fast that now I’m the one stuck being the asshole.
When I walk back into the house, Grayson’s dad is standing there waiting for me.
“You okay?” he asks, eyes searching mine in a way that tells me he sees way more than I want him to.
“I’m fine.”
He laughs softly. “My Grayson can be a tough one to figure out,” he says without prompting. “Strong but sensitive. Stubborn but fair. He’s our peacekeeper around here.”
“I can see that.”
“He likes you, you know? He wouldn’t be pushing you away so hard if he didn’t.”
“Oh.” It’s silly that my heart swells hearing this.
Chief settles onto the arm of the couch. “Shh, don’t tell Betsy I’m sitting here.” He winks, and I shake my head. What is it with these Malone men and their charm? “She has a strict rule for the boys about butts anywhere but the cushions, but I earned it.”
“I won’t tell her. I promise.”
