Baby Girl //Dolan Twins |✅

👶 F O R T Y

Chapter Forty: "Hawaii(Part Two)

"WHAT'S UP WITH YOU?" Grayson asks while lightly stroking his fingers against my arm. The nightly glow shines through the window, perfectly illuminating his face. He looked good like this, but that was just him. He looked good all the time.

"Nothing," I lie through my teeth, attempting to believe it. I was stuck, dazed. I couldn't figure out what the hell I wanted. Who I wanted. If only I could just start over. A reset.

"There's obviously something going on with you, Baby Girl. Talk to me," Gray continues. He turns his body inward some more, and I bury myself into his bare chest. I felt warm and safe, but awkward.

"Are we together?"

The question seemed to make him think and sent a spread of shock over his face.

"Of course we're together," he answers. "Do you think that we aren't?"

"It doesn't feel like it anymore," I admitt. I sit up to where my back meets the bed frame. He does so too.

"What do you mean it doesn't feel like it? I thought we were happy?"

"We are it's just... I love you, Grayson-"

"But?" he encourages me to go on.

"I don't think that I'm in love with you."

He takes a minute to let it sink in. His face was expressionless. I begin to feel guilty which I somehow always managed to do. Everything was my fault lately; I couldn't help but think that.

"So it's just like that?" he asks. "What about the kids...Our kids?" His voice increased as he says the word 'our'.

"I don't know Gray. We'll figure something out. Somehow," I say way quieter than him.

The air had become unpleasant and cold. Grayson didn't utter a single word for the rest of the night, and I didn't dare make a noise for fear of provoking him. He wasn't happy at all, and words weren't needed to express that feeling.

The next morning was an absolute dread. I awoke to multiple voices coming from the living room, chanting in whispers. As soon as I turn the corner to reveal my sheepish face caked with redness, they stop.

"Good Morning sweetie," Mom says sitting on the couch in her newly bought vacation dress. Dad, who was smothering the pillows that supported his back, gives a silent salute as if I were one of his military buddies.

Everyone was here except Perri and Jermaine. When Mel and Grant were here. Beside them sat Ethan, who was staring down at the screen of his phone as if it had hypnotized him. My eyes dance away to the kitchen bar. Grayson was sitting on the stool eating a bowl of cereal, his jaw clenching to every chew in a violent manner. The sound grew louder and louder until my eardrums couldn't handle it anymore. I instantly urge myself to focus on something else.

"So what's the plan for today?" I ask in an attempt to distract myself. Mom waves her beach hat in the air. "We're gonna go soak in the sun!"

"Amen to that," Mel responds. She stretches her hand out in front of her, carefully studying her nails. They were bright yellow, and it didn't look good on her at all.

"The guys and I were thinking about trying out the jet skis," Grant tells me as he sips orange juice from a champagne glass. It looked beautiful and was making my throat feel slightly parched.

"Where are the kids?" I ask, remembering that the house was way too quiet for my liking. "Are they still asleep?"

"Oh, no," Dad answers not looking up from his Men's Health magazine. He waves his hand behind him, pointing his finger. "They're outside."

Panic overcomes me as I see that everyone was present in the room. Perri and Jermaine were still in their room,  so it couldn't possibly be them. " With no adult? Are you cra-" I rush over to the window but stop as my eyes settle upon a certain sight.

The kids were sitting in the grass and watching Malcolm as he does push-ups. They even laugh and clap, urging him to do more. Despite the fact that he was tired, he continues to do more to keep the one-year-olds amused. But why was he out there? There was still no explanation.

"Why is he here?" I turn around and ask, hoping for an answer that was logical.

"Him? Oh, that's Malcolm," Ethan answers.

Duh, I thought. What's he doing here?

"Do you know him?"

"Yeah. He used to hang out with Grayson and me back in middle school. That was before we moved," he explains.

"Oh," I whisper to myself softly. "Small world."

I hear a loud clink in the sink. Grayson had placed his bowl in and broken it. No one says anything about it, and he doesn't bother to explain his action. Something in me wanted to ask what the hell was wrong with him, but I knew damn well what was wrong.

This was going to be a long day, and I was already done with it.

An hour later everyone was ready to go to the beach. Ethan had insisted that Malcolm come along, despite my small protest. He holds Winter on his lap. The girl knew a cute guy when she saw one, and I couldn't blame her. Malcolm was gorgeous.

"Perri and Jermaine are gonna meet us at the beach," Mom says, holding her phone up to her ear.

"Okay," was the only answer I could give. I felt uncomfortable. Here Malcolm was, glowing and beside him in anger was Grayson. He hadn't spoken to me all morning, but when he did, I was annoyed.

"Have you seen the sunscreen?" He asks. We had just gotten out of a packed elevator, so I was already on edge.

"It's in the bag where it always is," I snap. Is that all that he can say to me? I was lucky he even engaged in conversation at all.

"You're mad at me?" He laughs. "After last night, you're mad...at me?"

I keep my arms folded. Everyone had gone on down to the beach chairs. I didn't want a perfect day ruined.

"We're not doing this right now Grayson," I speak in a low voice. He obviously didn't care. He continued to go on.

"Well, we sure didn't finish last night."

"And we're not going to now," I growl. A couple of people had walked passed us, noticing the tension. I shoot them a small smile. One of the guys in the group stops to talk.

"Is he bothering you miss?" He asks.

I keep my arms folded and look at Grayson. "No, I'm fine," I answer.

"Are you sure?"

"I'm positive."

"Okay, you have a nice day now," he responds before walking off. He kept looking back a couple of times, making sure that I was really okay.

After the group was out of sight, I look back at Grayson. His face was hot, red with anger, embarrassment, and some other unrecognizable emotions. I put my sunglasses on.

"Let's just go enjoy our day at the fucking beach."

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10.17.18