Perfect by Design

15: Grayson James

Olivia

I hear Grayson's fork clank against his plate as he eats his pasta while we enjoy the world's most awkward dinner.

My phone vibrates, and I glance down at my lap.

Trouble 🖤: You sure?

Me: Yes, babe. She is wearing his clothes comfy in his apartment. He's screwing his coach's daughter.

Trouble 🖤: Like his head football coach?

Me: No, Spencer. His life coach.

Trouble 🖤: Okay, so what are you going to do?

Me: What am I going to do??? You're his dad!

Trouble 🖤: I'm unsure if this is news to you, baby, but you're his mom.

I begin typing as Grayson clears his throat.

"Really, mom. You couldn't wait to snitch on me until you left?"

"You don't even know who I'm talking to?"

"So you aren't talking to dad?"

"Okay, so you do know who I'm talking to." I shrug and take a bite of pasta.

"I can't even imagine how this looks, Mrs. James, but it's innocent. I promise." Tatyana tries to appeal to me, and she seems believable, but this is also my son we're talking about.

"Does your dad know you're involved with my son?"

"I–um, Grayson and I aren't involved. We just, uh, we worked out together today, and he let me shower here."

"Oh, your home doesn't have a shower? Sorry to hear that."

Her eyes widen, and Grayson kicks me under the table, but if these kids want to play in my face, I may as well have a little fun.

"I–well. My apartment has a shower, but we were having dinner here."

"I see." The girl is a nervous wreck. It sort of reminds me of when I met Spencer's mom. I was also a nervous wreck, but for very different reasons.

"Dad didn't come with you?"

"Oh, your dad is here. He's just out grabbing drinks with her dad." I smile as the kids exchange looks.

"But I thought he said..."

"He did. He's not trying to talk your coach into giving you your spot back. He's just hanging out."

Honestly, I'm sure Grayson not being the starter will probably come up, but if my husband says he's going to let Grayson handle this, I trust him.

I, on the other hand, would've been trying every which way to change the coach's mind. I'm a mama bear in every sense of the word.

"So, Tatyana. What has you spending your time with my son?"

"Oh, well, I actually–"