Grey Davis doesn’t know it yet, but he’s my boyfriend. Or will be when he finally realizes that I’m worth more than whatever keeps him from committing to me.
Well, I would like to get to know him a little better first because that’s what normal people do. And since I promised myself to get better, tobebetter… that’s what I will do. Get to know Grey, let Grey get to know me. We’ll take this step by step.
Plus, hedidjust ignore me for eight whole months.
“Yeah, Coach Hayes,” Grey says, laying his hand on my shoulder this time. I think that stupid hand might just cause my knees to give in but whatever. “That’ll be an extra ten squats.”
“But why? I’m single, aren’t I?”
He doesn’t answer.
Chapter 3
“you’re the sun to my moon”—you! by LANY
February 2024
Luan said he had anidea of what we could do other than spend the rest of the day back at his house with his best friend. I was fine with that, to be completely honest here, but of course Luan would find a way for me to be outside.
And I don’t like it one bit.
Especially right now when we’re standing in front of a stupidclothing storewith Luan’s wish for us to get matching hoodies. I don’t think I have ever hated an idea as much as I do this one.
Luan wears yellow, he wears colors, and I live my lonely black and gray life. There is absolutely no way that I will walk out of that store with ayellowhoodie in my hands. I think the last time I wore anything with color, I was around fourteen years old, maybe twelve.
Actual clothes, we’re ignoring my hockey ones.
“It’ll be fun,” Luan encourages me to take a step toward that store. I shake my head, not being convinced of it at all. “Don’t be such a grumpy cat, Grey Davis.”
I scowl at Luan, now definitely regretting having listened to Miles. I should’ve stayed home, but after Miles finally left yesterday I had a long time to think about his words.
He was right, I need a break from everything. From responsibilities. From being lonely. From beingnotme. From hiding. I need a little sunshine in my life, a few days of being accepted for being me, without being judged by anyone. There was only one person who could manage to force me out of my comfort zone. Only one person who likes to talk more about his fun childhood memories than anyone I know. Only one person who, despite me constantly ignoring him every now and then, is still somehow happy to see me.
Even if that person apparently lives so close to my parents’ that I can see my bedroom window from his bedroom. I can’t confirm, I haven’t been to his house yet, but I guess I’ll find out soon enough.
“Okay, you have three choices,” Luan says, grinning up at me with this devilish smile of his. That’s not good at all. “One, we walk in there and buy matching hoodies. Or two, we stand here, and I’ll talk all about why we should get them and how much you love me already. Or three, we go to your parents’ house, and you introduce me to them.”
I sigh a little defeated. The last one definitely isn’t even an option for me to consider. The second option will turn into option one so… “Fine. Let’s go in.”
Luan reaches for my hand, ready to pull me after him but now that his hand is wrapped around my wrist, my ability to walk leaves me altogether.
My eyes fall to our hands. His thumb rests right on the butterfly tattoo. His grip on me is so gentle yet firm at the same time, I couldn’t describe it if my life depended on it. The tips of his fingers are a little cold but that’s great because I wholeheartedly believe I’d have burn wounds on my skin if they weren’t.
Then, after a short while of me staring at our hands, Luan slides his hand down, interlacing his fingers with mine. When my eyes snap up to meet his, he’s smiling so softly, I think that startles me more than his hand locked with mine.
Luan has smiled his fair share of times every single time we see each other, but none of them were as soft as this one. It’s like he knows how I feel about our locked hands without me having to say a single word. His smile is so soft that I feel this weird urge to run a finger over it,feelthat smile. And then the most unimaginable thing happens.
I smile right back at him.
He takes it in for a single second only, then his soft smile turns devilish all over again. “Well.”Oh, no. “If you’re in love with me, Grey Davis, you can just say it.”
I look away from Luan, licking my bottom teeth while slowly nodding. Should’ve known this was coming.
“I’m not in love with you, Luan.”
He shrugs. “That smile of yours said otherwise, but okay. I’ll give you another chance in an hour.” I don’t doubt it.
That said, Luan pulls me across the street, forcing me to follow him.