LOVER//Grayson Hawthorne [2]

Chapter 11 - Afterglow (Edited)

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"Tell me that you're still mine, tell me that we'll be just fine even when I lose my mind."

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Grayson's P.O.V

I wasn't sure what to think when I got the text that I would be doing an interview with Avery. I understood why I had to, recent events with Skye Hawthorne and Ricky Grambs had caused the need for the interview.

I hadn't done an interview since Avery had inherited the money, it felt almost weird to do one again so many months later as the first interview had mainly been me ranting about my distaste for the new situation. Not one of my proudest moments.

Now I had to do one with her as friends, which we were but ever since that day when we had found the Davenport I had made sure to keep my distance.

Now though I was sitting very close to her, not that it was a problem, she was very interested in my brother and I was sure I would marry her sister. It didn't make the awkwardness of the situation go away though.

"Grayson move a little closer to Avery. Tilt your head to her." Doing as Landon, Avery's media assistant, said I moved closer to Avery. "Good."

Landon nodded at both of us then turned her attention to me. "Remember your core message."

"This has been a difficult time for my family," I said, my voice a complete calm, every word memorized. "But some things happen for a reason."

"Good," Landon said, nodding at me. "Avery?"

"Some things happen for a reason," Avery said, her words flat. "I've never believed that, I mean, yeah, things happen for a reason, but most of the time that reason isn't fate or because it was predestined. It's because the world sucks, or someone out there's being an asshole."

I had to stop myself from laughing at Avery's statement. Landon looked very unimpressed, both me and Avery receiving a glare.

"Let's try to avoid the word asshole, shall we?" Landon said. "Avery, we need for you to project gratitude and awe. It's fine to be overwhelmed, but you need to be overwhelmed in the best possible way."

"Avery's right." I said, my voice calm and serious. "We all make decisions, and those decisions affect other people. They ripple through the world, and the more power you have, the greater the ripple. Fate didn't choose Avery. My grandfather did. We might never know his reasons, but I have no doubt that he had them. He always did."

"I wish I knew what those reasons were," Avery said, shooting me a quick glance. "Sometimes, it feels like Hawthornes always just know. Like you're all so sure of everything."

I locked my eyes on Avery's. "Not everything."

Landon clapped, a wide smile plastered across her face. "Avery, that's the most natural I've heard you sound. Very relatable! And, Grayson, you're perfection." I could see Avery trying not to roll her eyes at the compliment Landon had given me. "Just remember, both of you: short answers if they ask about the attempts on Avery's life. Grayson, don't be afraid to seem protective of her. Avery, you know the rest of your 'no' questions."