And Gray realized she was crying. He frowned. Why was she crying?
He gripped the window frame and leaned closer, squinting to try to see her better through the gaps in the screen. She sunk down on the wrought iron bench where he sat to throw tennis balls for the dogs, and she dropped her face in her hands.
Gray knew next to nothing about her. They hadn’t even met, really. But his heart twisted at the sight of her sadness.
Cecilia.
Had his sister cried alone when no one was watching?
Out of the corner of his eye, he watched Vulcan approach. Sure enough, the dog had a tennis ball in his mouth. He dropped it at her feet and sat, wagging expectantly.
Meredith lifted her head and wiped her eyes on her sleeve. Her cheeks were still wet, but she smiled at Vulcan. She bent down to retrieve the ball, hesitated for a moment, and then tossed it halfway across the yard.
Vulcan bounded after it, drawing Juno from the corner of the yard to give chase along with him.
She was smiling by the time both dogs ran back to her. Vulcan dropped the ball again, and this time, Meredith turned toward the house as though to make sure the coast was clear. Gray picked up his phone again.
Gray:If you’re still here, could you play with them for me? I’m not up to exercising them today.
He sent the text, telling himself it was okay to lie about this if tossing the ball for the dogs got her to stop crying.
He watched her pick up her phone, and she typed. Gray smiled before his phone chimed.
Meredith:Already at it. Vulcan is fast!
Grinning, he texted back.
Gray:Juno is faster. Just give her a chance to warm up. Both of them need zoomy time every day or they start to wrestle in the house. My furniture can’t stand up to that.
He watched her tip her head back, and even through the closed window, he heard the percussion of her laugh. The sight of it made his abs twitch. It was the best sensation he’d had in three months.
She tossed the ball again, and this time Juno got ahead, but the tennis ball bounced off a tree root, and Vulcan caught the rebound. He watched her type again.
Meredith:How long can they go at it?
His thumbs sped over the screen.
Gray:Pretty much as long as you can. They’ll go to the door when they get tired.
The ball sailed across the yard again, and this time Juno snagged it. Gray watched Meredith clap her hands, and she said something to Juno he couldn’t hear. Both dogs returned to her, and she petted them lovingly before sending the ball flying. Then she typed. Her smile had softened, and Gray found himself counting the seconds until his phone trilled.
Meredith:You have a lovely home, and Vulcan and Juno are so sweet.
He didn’t hesitate.
Gray:You’re welcome to stay as long as you like.
Gray found he meant it. Even if he had to remain locked in his bedroom until she decided to leave. He hadn’t changed his mind; he absolutely didnotwant her to see him, but he knew the truth. As humiliating as it was, he needed someone to help him — despite what he’d told Bax. He couldn’t predict his seizures, and if he wasn’t going to take the Topiramate every day, driving did put other people in danger.
Meredith:Thank you. It’s peaceful here. And thank you for the job. It’s a big help.
Through the slit in the blinds, he could see now that her tears were gone and her smile held. Gray didn’t know how to respond to her thanks at first, so he went with the truth.
Gray:It was Bax’s idea.
He watched her type something and stare at her phone. She bit her lip, looked up at the house, and then back to her phone again.
Meredith:You sure you don’t want to come outside and join me? The fresh air might make you feel better.