more than this | grayson dolan (book one)

thirty eight

My eyes scan through music notes that are displayed on my phone. I have been studying songs for fun since my lesson with Lisa. It makes me feel really happy to know that I'm actually attending college in the fall.

When I told Jake the news we both cried. I was always told by my father that I would never make it in life. I'm a Monroe, that means I was destined for failure. A weight is taken off my shoulders knowing that I beat the odds. Lately I've been thinking of my mother. I wonder if she would be happy that I reconnected with my passion for playing the piano.

I pick up the pencil that is placed in front of me and jot down the music notes. I only look up hard chords, giving me a challenge. My entire house is silent, even though it's Friday night.

Jake is probably sleeping in his room because I don't hear any noise. This is helping me concentrate. Biting on my lower lip, I put down my pencil and type in more songs that I want to learn to play.

As I'm scrolling through the options, a sound catches my attention. I begin to hear my favorite Rolling Stones song, Beast of Burden, play. I furrow my eyebrows as I stare at my phone, knowing the music isn't coming from it. My stomach turns as I slowly stand up and walk over to my window. The song gets louder as I move my blinds to the side.

A gasp leaves my lips once my eyes land on Grayson. He's holding a large silver boombox over his head as he stares directly at me. The song sends chills down my spine as I open my window and slightly lean out of it.

"Dolan." I call out to him.

"Monroe." He smirks up at me.

"What the hell are you doing?" I giggle as I stare at him.

"It's something Ethan likes to call a big romantic gesture." He nods in my direction.

"You're crazy." I shake my head with a lighthearted laugh.

"Isn't this what they did in the 1980's? This is how you win the girl, right?"

My jaw hangs low as I stare at him. The loud music is taking over my block as he looks at me with a smile. "How did you know this is my favorite song?"

"I didn't." He shrugs while letting out a laugh. "It's mine, though. I figured it was worth a shot."

"How do you have that?" I nod toward the boombox. "I thought those were extinct."

"I found it in my garage, along with this 1978 album by your favorite band." He blushes as he tilts his head.

"Wow, this is all for me?" I slowly ask with a smirk.

"Of course, no other girl would get this privilege." He bites down on his lower lip.

"And why exactly are you doing this?" I cross my arms while torturing him more.

"I figured this would be my last shot to tell you that I mean it when I say I love you." His usual annoying smirk stays on his face as he places the boombox on the ground. He cups his hands around his mouth and looks up at me.

"Stella Monroe, I love you. I want everyone on this shitty south side to know that I am in love with Stella Monroe. Yup, I look like an asshole right now but I don't give a fuck." He turns his body around in circles as he yells his words as loud as he can. "I love you, okay? This scares me but it's the truth. At this point, I don't even care if you love me back or not, you just need to see that somebody actually does care about you and that person is me. I don't care if-"

I immediately turn away from my window and rush out of my room. My heart is pounding as I run down the stairs and head for the front door. Once the locks are undone, I swing it open with force. My stomach drops when Grayson's face is directly in front of mine. I part my lips while staring into his eyes.