Spectrum 2

12

Grayson's POV

"No. Let's do a different style." I say, looking at every single pool plan that the builders hand me. 

"Do you have an idea of what you're wanting?" The man asks me.

"No. I just know I want something unique. I for sure want a swim up bar at the far end facing the hills. We can put seats and table in and everything. I'm thinking three in a row." I explain.

"I'll see what I can get written up for you." He nods with a tight smile.

"Thanks." I nod. "I've got to take this." I say, motioning to my phone.

"Hello?" I answer.

"Gray! Where the fuck are you, man?" Shane speaks into the phone.

"The house. I'm working with these pool guys. I need to contact the contractor next. I just want his done. I want to be able to actually move into my house and get rid of that apartment." I sigh.

"I feel that. Come out front. I'm at the house." 

"Right now? How did you know I was here?" 

"I have your location on. I knew you were here, I just need help carrying the food in." He laughs.

"Hold on." I reply, hanging up the phone.

I walk around to the front of the house and grin at Shane trying to juggle two bags and two drinks in my hand.

"I've got it." I say, grabbing the drinks in his hand.

"I got El Pollo Loco." He informs me.

"Don't tell Nat." I laugh.

"Or Sofia." He adds. "Speaking of those two...where are they?" He asks.

"Sofia said she was taking Nat to run errands or something." I mutter. "Hey, look at this and tell me what you think." 

I hand the pool plan to him and he cocks his head to the side, looking it over carefully.

"Looks...not like something you would like." He says.

"Yeah, didn't think so." I sigh. "This is why I need Natalia here too. I hate making these decisions without her." 

"I still can't believe you bought a seven bedroom home." He laughs. "Still have no idea what you plan on doing with all of this space."

"Well, I plan on making some guest bedrooms for sure. Then doing a badass office space for the two of us." I reply, walking us into the kitchen where thankfully, I did put two barstools in for moments like this.

"Is Natalia still doing anything with computer engineering? I know that she was going to go and work with Brian for a bit, but then we all just stoped talking about it." He replies.

"She's doing some freelance stuff. More so with startup companies who have gone completely digital. She's doing pretty well, from what I recall." I say, pulling my food from the bag.

"Well, that's good. I still think she should have just come back to GRIP but I kind of get why she didn't. I think it was probably in all of our best intentions." He sighs. "I'm just glad that things between us have all gotten better."

"I am too." I nod in agreement.

"So I was thinking." Shane says, spinning anxiously back and forth on his bar stool.

"About?" 

"Me and Sofia. And this whole...getting married thing." He mutters.

"You're not having like...second thoughts, are you?" I ask slowly. 

I know that I have my own opinions about Shane and Sofia at times. But no matter how weird it makes me feel at times, I would never want for the two to break up. Especially not now.

"No!" He exclaims quickly. "God, no. Shit Gray, I just bought that ring for fifty thousand. There's no way in hell that girl is going far from me." 

"Okay. Good." I say with a nod.

"I just...don't think that I want to have a wedding." He admits.

"Really? Why?" I ask.

"Well, you know my parents. They get so...weird. They don't really like that I started dating someone who is so much younger than me. Let alone a girl who doesn't really have a job other than dancing right now. Doesn't matter if it's for the NBA or not. They don't care." He sighs.

"Oh." I nod.

"Plus...I kinda want to just go on like, a destination wedding or something. Maybe just get married here and then then take a two month long vacation." He smirks.

"Two month long vacation?" I laugh in reply.

"Well, probably won't be that long...but it will at least be three weeks." He adds.

"And have you told Sofia this?" I ask. "I don't imagine her being the type that is okay with just not having a wedding.

"That's what I'm afraid of." He sighs. "I don't know, we just don't have that many friends, you know? I have you and like, three others. She has Natalia and maybe four or five others. Who the hell are we going to invite?" He asks with a laugh.

"You have a valid point." I shrug. "Everyone we see outside of each other are work related." 

"Yea, and I don't think Bill from Financing is really interested in going to my wedding." He laughs.

"I'm sure whatever you want to do, she'll be fine with. She just wants to marry you. She has shut up about that in like ten years." I chuckle.

"God, that's cute." He smiles. "Wow."

"Her eleven year old dreams finally came true." I reply. "I'm happy for her."

"I love the hell out of her, Gray. I swear, I would die for this girl. I would anything in the entire world for Sofia. I just want to be good enough for her, you know? I can be such a fucking asshole at times, and she always forgives me. She never questions anything about it. Everything is so easy with her. You know what I mean?" He asks.

"Yeah, I know exactly what you mean." 

"Hold on, there. You have to wait to marry Natalia until after me and Sofia get married. I'm putting my foot down on that one." He says in a stern voice. I turn and see him smirking at me, though. 

"Don't worry." I laugh. "That's a next year goal, at best. We have way too much going on this year. With the house and everything." 

"Look at us. Who would have guessed that this is what we'd be doing at our age." He smirks.

"I would have never guessed this much." I reply.

"I'm proud of us." He laughs. 

"Me too." I smirk. "Hold on, Nat's calling.

I answer and hear sniffling on the other side. 

"Nat?" I question.

"Hey, Grayson." She says quietly.

"Where are you? I'm over at the house. Swing by and see this pool plan." I tell her.

"Grayson, I need you to come home." She says.

"Okay...are you alright?" I question, giving Shane a look of concern.

"Yeah." She replies. "But I need you right now. So come home. Please." 

"Uhm, okay." I mutter. "It's going to be like an hour until I get there. Is that okay?" 

"Yeah, that's fine." She sighs.

"Okay...I'll see you in a bit. I love you." 

"Love you." She mutters before hanging up.