With Grayson's sudden absence from her life, Mia tries her hardest to carry on as normal; to continue as though she had never met the man who turned her world upside down in only a short amount of time.
With the help of her best friend Hailey, and...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Standing in the reception of Cortleigh Manor, I can barely believe how today has turned out.
I stare to the reception desk. The odd yet late arrival of guests makes me feel ashamed. Couples arriving to spend the night together. Friends arriving for a short break. It breaks my heart because only hours ago Grayson and I were checking in too.
Now he's checked out and I've no idea what to do.
Grasping the key in my hand, I wipe the endless tears from my cheek and head to room 305, praying that I don't bump into Julian along the way because I don't want the agro of having to explain why I'm upset, and why I've upset someone he seems to care about.
Relieved when I make it to the room without being seen, I unlock the door and step inside, my tears seemingly replenished at the sight of rose petals sprinkled across the king sized poster bed.
Oh Mia you've really messed this up.
Lying across the bed, all I do is cry. Out the bay window that fills the whole right wall the lake comes back into view, and my heart dims at the recollection of how Grayson and I shared a boat ride over there.
I really shouldn't have said what I said. All this time I've been looking for reasons why Grayson isn't the man I think he is because I'm insecure in the fact that he's too good for me. All this time I've been giving myself an excuse to play Grayson down because I'm too damn selfish to admit that he's not the one who's the monster here, I am. Why do I have to convince myself I'm this perfect human being with the perfect past? I'm far from it. I have insecurities that go deep down to my core. I use them as a weapon and push people away who care about me the most. I put so much pressure on myself to be this successful, liked, flawless and innocent woman that I don't realise the damage that I'm doing to myself and other people in the process. I'm far from flawless. If Grayson has taught me anything it's that we can always improve ourselves and there is always something to improve. My glass is always half empty but Grayson's is always half full and I should admire him for that. Grayson is not the one in the wrong here, I am. Hell, if Grayson had uncovered that I was an ex-convict I know for sure he wouldn't blink an eye. He sees the best in me and who am I to not do the same for him?
Wiping my eyes again, I look around the room. Our suitcases have already been brought up, so I waste no time in digging out a hoodie, jeans and a pair of trainers because I'd rather spend the night looking for Grayson than lying in the rose petal covered bed that we should have shared together.
With limited options, and with little regret, I dial Chloe's number. It's already nearing 11pm and so I've no doubt the family have returned to the barn. But I have no other options. If I were to dial a taxi I wouldn't even know where to tell them where to go. Chloe won't mind though; she's the most understanding human being I've met and she'll be worried for her brother too, wherever the hell he is.
Maybe he already went home. Maybe Chloe has already seen him and is asking what happened. Oh god. Maybe he's told them all about how I acted like a stupid, insecure girl. If so, I haven't come off all too well.
