His Worst Mistake

Flowers...

Dalles had been strange for more than two weeks now and Grayson was now very worried. More than worried, he felt bad that Dalles had not trusted him enough to tell him what was wrong.

"AM I that unreliable?" Grayson blurted out.

He and Dalles were lounging in the living room. Betha and Hendrix in the kitchen talking about the most stupid ideas.

Betha and Hendrix stopped in their tracks. Betha quickly moved to nudge Hendrix to stand and follow her, knowing her friend and Grayson were about to get into very serious talk.

Hendrix did not get the message at first, but Betha managed to get him to follow her upstairs.

Dalles was stunned and turned to face Grayson. Grayson did not shift attention from his phone but continued to talk.

"Don't bother asking me what I mean Dalles. You know what I mean. It's clear something has been bothering you, but you've tried to convince me you're fine and you choose to keep it to yourself. SO now I'm asking Dalles. AM I THAT UNRELIABLE?" Grayson ground out.

Dalles was lost for words as she realised that whilst she tried to sort her thoughts, she was also hurting Grayson by repeatedly treating him like he was stupid. If it was her, she would like for Grayson to rely on her rather than act like she was stupid whilst obviously showing signs of distress.

Dalles lowered her head and played with her fingers.

"I..." Dalles started to say but Grayson stood to his feet abruptly.

"You know what Dalles? It's fine." Grayson said as he snapped his laptop shut. Grayson then walked off, making his way upstairs. Dalles mouth opened and shut as she watched the man walk off.

Tears formed and her chest hurt. She hung her head as she cried. She knew she had to tell him, but she had now taken too long. He had a right to know but Dalles' cowardice stopped her from doing the right thing.

"I told you..." Betha's voice came as Dalles sobbed.

"I knowww...I knowww I'm just scared" Dalles sobbed to her friend.

"He has a right to know Dalles. Even if you don't tell him, you'll start to show one day and by then, he'd be livid at your secrecy" Betha told her friend calmly.

"What if he doesn't want kids? What if he rejects me and the child?" Dalles asked her friend.

"Is that the kind of person I am to you?" a deep voice ground out and Dalles' eyes widened.

'No...no...no. This wasn't how I..." Dalles thought.

"Is that the kind of person you see me as Dalles?" Grayson asked Dalles again, his voice mixed with hurt and anger.

"No" Dalles whispered.

"Then why?" Grayson asked.

"I-I just..." Dalles started to say, finally coming to a loss for words.

"You just what Dalles? 5 years! We've been together 5 years! We've been through everything those 5 years. And I still come across as someone who'd up and leave you after finding out you were pregnant. You helped me with Margot's boys for God's sake. You SAW me with them and I still came across that way to you? Haven't I shown you just how much YOU mean to me?? What more Dalles...what more??" Grayson said to Dalles, expressing his hurt.

Dalles hung her head.

"I was scared Grayson...I didn't know if all THIS was permanent for you and I..." Dalles said.

Grayson frowned. "The first week...I think I told you clearly. You weren't escaping me, and you still think this isn't something long term for me? Did our five-year relationship feel like I was trying out some long-term talking stage for you? Dalles...you've just settled into your career. If I had popped up marriage within these 5 years, do you think you could have comfortably juggled a family, school, work, and therapy?" Grayson asked Dalles.