To Infiniti & Beyond

Chapter Thirty-Seven

I find myself at my dad's house for dinner. My brothers are here as well. Dad sends us out to pick up the food he ordered.

When we arrive back at home he has my cousin's race pulled up on the big screen so we can watch while we eat.

Our dinner gets interrupted multiple times due to us practically jumping out of our seats and cheering each time he makes a pass. He ended up finishing 2nd from starting 18th in the 30 lap event.

After dinner we all settle down on the couch and continue to shoot the shit with each other. Jake and Beau are practically laying on each other and cuddling on a singular cushion on the couch while I occupy one of the two other cushion's. Dad is in his recliner chair ignoring all of our shenanigans.

My phone lights up and my heart feels like it stopped beating before rapidly increasing as I read "are you around tonight?"

Having no self control, I reply to Grayson's text letting him know I'm at my dads house with the boys.

"On my way."

As I hear his car pull up about ten minutes later, my dad asks me who is here. He knows of Grayson but hasn't met him. I just shrugged it off by saying we had plans and here was the closest place to meet. I thank my dad for dinner and say my goodbyes before excusing myself for the night.

The warm august air hits my face as I pull open the door, but I'm cold with anxiety. I practically have goosebumps. I hustle down the stairs with a little pep in my step to try to shrug it off.

As I approach Grayson's idling car he gets out. He walks towards me and we meet by his driver's side tail lights.

"Hi," I exhale. "Is everything okay?" I question looking up at him.

He drops his shoulders in relief and tilts his head back before taking a deep breath. This has me concerned. He brings his head back up, locks his eyes on mine, takes one step forward and engulfs me in a hug.

His scent now surrounds me and I'm hit with instant relief. I wrap my arms around his waist, as he is around my shoulders. "Grayson?"

His chin rests on my head. I missed how perfectly we fit together - I still believe he's my missing puzzle piece mentally and physically. I start to rub his back, trying to encourage him to talk, he finally does.

"I just realized that I've got to hold onto people longer, things change so fast."

"Yeah, they do." I know that better than anyone.

He gives me a quick squeeze before releasing me. "Can we talk?"

"Of course we can, turn your car off, we can take a walk down the road." I suggest.

The first couple of minutes are spent in silence, I can't take it anymore. "So what's up? Why the sudden urge to reach out?"

"Well, I met someone." I want to roll my eyes, I don't want to hear about his ex but I let him continue to talk. Everyone needs an outlet, I appreciate him trusting me enough to be his. He carries on, "she's awesome. She's kind, and funny in a weird but good way, and I enjoy every moment I spend with her no matter what we're doing." He looks at me and raises his eyebrows with an amused smile on his face.

"That's great, Gray. I'm happy for you." I really am, I've gotten over him.

He nudges me, "she's you."

Wait, what?

"Say that again?" I can't hide the shock in my voice, it caught me completely off guard.

He grabs my hand, "Kie I regret letting you go."

I stopped us dead in our tracks, not caring that we're in the middle of the road. "Grayson..." I draw out trying to decide how honest I want to be.

"Thank you for giving me the freedom to make my own choices despite you having your own opinions."

"Well, yeah. I couldn't change your mind so why make it harder than it had to be, you know? As long as you were happy I knew I'd turn out okay." I shrug.

"At the beginning I was happy, but things went really bad really quick. About a month in we had an argument. Went on a break, and I caught her out walking out of a bar in town. She looked like a deer in the headlights when I pulled up." He sees the surprise on my face and continues, "yeah. She didn't even tell me she was going out, let alone with a guy. I just happened to be at the right place at the right time."

"I'm sorry, that sucks."

"It did suck, but then I got to thinking." he picks up my other hand. "She's not you."

My heart swells. "Listen, I know as much as I could've told you going back to her wouldn't have worked out, you needed to figure that out for yourself. For you to come here and say all these things though is just a lot."

"I understand."

"I moved on Grayson. I've missed your friendship. You have to take time to yourself. We can be friends, I just can't give you any more." Not right now at least, but I keep that thought to myself.

He pulls me into a hug, "okay."