No Strings Attached || Grayson Dolan

25. THE ONE WITH THE SISTER

April 19th
POV Lydia
I figured that I really need to talk to Lacey. I feel really bad for just leaving her and I have no idea what my parents have told her about all this. For all I know they could have told her that I ran away like a little bitch.

I walk into her school, dad agreed to let me pick her up after school and be with her for the evening. As I make my way into the school I'm surrounded by lots of kids running out of the school, happy that school is over for the day. I soon see Lacey coming out of one of the classrooms and when she looks up and sees me, her face lights up.

"Lydia!" She squeals and runs into my arms, this is one of the reasons that I love this kid. We haven't seen each for a couple of days and she acts like it's been a year.

"Hi baby" I say and hug her back. She hugs me so tight and it feels so good to know that she's not mad at me. We let go and start walking to Lacey's locker.

"So what do you wanna do today? Homework, go to the movies, eat ice cream?" I ask her and she thinks for a few seconds.

"I wanna meet Grayson" she says with the cutest smile I've ever seen and I almost melt inside.

"We can meet him tonight, he has practice after school today. What do you wanna do until then?"

"Alright, anything but homework so ice cream sounds great" She says and closes her locker, so we start walking to my car. On the way there we meet all kinds of people, but one catches my eye. A middle aged woman is walking right towards us with her eyes set on mine.

"Mrs. Hughes!" Oh no, she thinks I'm Lacey's mom.

"Oh, I'm not-" I start but the woman interrupts me immediately.

"It's been so long since I've seen you! How are you?" She says and embraces me in a hug in which I awkwardly hug back lightly.

"I'm so sorry but I'm not Emily" I say and I turn to Lacey to get some answers on who this lady is, but only to realize that Lacey isn't beside me anymore. Great.

"Come on, don't be so shy. I know the infamous Emily Hughes when I see her" the woman laughs and I know that me and mom look alike, but not that alike.

"You clearly do not, I'm Lydia, Emily's daughter" I explain and the woman shakes her head.

"No way, you're like an adult. Emily can't have adult children, she's too young" she chuckles nervously and I don't get this woman at all.

"Well believe it, because I'm her daughter. Nice to meet you though" I smile and scurry away from her, going to the car where I see Lacey waiting.

"What took you so long?" Lacey asks and I sigh as I open the car, and Lacey immediately gets in the passenger seat.

"This lady thought I was mom and she wouldn't let it go. Now, let's get you some ice cream girl"

* * *
As we're eating our ice cream in comfortable silence, Lacey decides to break it.

"Why are you never home anymore?" Oh shit, I now realize that I didn't think this completely through because I don't have an answer to that.

"Look, it's hard to explain Lacey. Mom and I had a disagreement and we need some time apart" that's an awful way to put it Lydia.

"Why? Don't you love her?"

"Of course I do, it's just complicated. Some things you can't understand"

"You've always taught me to make up with people and no I'm not too young, I'm nine years old" she says and I laugh, that kid listens to me too much.

"I know Lacey, but right now it's best if we spend some time apart. And also, don't think for a second that you'll get out of doing homework by being with me" I say to distract her from the fact that I'm not coming home.

"Come on, I don't wanna do it"

"But you will anyway, because that's life. How about this, we go to Grayson's house and do it there. That way you'll both meet him and get your homework done" I suggest and she nods enthusiastically. "Good, finish your ice cream and we'll go"

The thing with Lacey is that she's super easy to deal with, because all you need to do is offer her something she wants to make her do something that's not as fun. She'll probably grow out of that, but I'll take advantage of it for as long as I possibly can.

* * *

"Come on lace, I need to get you home. Dad is gonna be worried otherwise" I tell Lacey as she's playing cards with Grayson on his bed. Grayson is so good with kids, it's the cutest thing ever.

"No! I wanna stay here" she answers and crosses her arms over her chest, and gives me a mad look. I look at Grayson for help but he just shrugs, clearly signaling that he doesn't want to be a part of this. Thanks babe.

"You know that's not possible. Now stop being a donkey and come with me" I say but she refuses to leave the bed. I look at Grayson and plead for him to help me, and he sighs lightly.

"How about this, I drive you home. You get to sit in the passenger seat and Lydia sits in the back. How does that sound?" Grayson proposes to Lacey and her face instantly lights up. Damn, Grayson really has an impact on that girl.

"Yes yes yes!" Lacey exclaims and practically runs out of the room.

"Thank you, you're my life saver" I say to Grayson and give him a quick peck on his lips.

"That kid has a crush on me, hasn't she?" Grayson says with a chuckle as Lacey is out of the room and I nod.

"Definitely. Don't worry, she'll grow out of it"
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