Gray Area

9

Chapter 9

*Gray Thomas's POV*

I answered the door, a big smile on my face as I saw Tayler standing there. 

"Hey," he laughed softly, smiling down at me, a brown bag in one hand and a tray of drinks in the other. 

"What's all this?" I smiled as he shrugged. 

"I figured we could have a little picnic down on the beach," he smiled softly as I gasped, gesturing for him to come inside. I grabbed my sweatshirt and one of the blankets off the couch before leading Tayler outside and down the stairs to the beach. I laid the blanket down, pulling on my sweatshirt before sitting down, smiling at Tayler as he sat beside me. "Alright, I asked Jake what your Chipotle and your Starbucks order was, so if it's wrong then I'm sorry," he laughed nervously, handing me a bowl as I giggled softly, tying my hair up into a messy bun. 

"Did Jake tell you about my love for Chipotle, or was that your own doing?" I giggled as I opened the bowl, immediately starting to eat it. 

"No, Chipotle was my idea. I'm a big Chipotle guy," Tayler laughed. "So, I want to know what makes Gray Thomas, Gray Thomas," Tayler smirked as I nodded, smiling softly. 

"Well, it all started on February 29th, 2000," I smirked as Tayler looked at me with a confused look. 

"You're a leap year baby?" He smirked as I nodded, laughing softly. 

"Yeah, just turned 5," I giggled. 

"Wait, so when do you normally celebrate your birthday?" He smiled as I laughed softly,

"When I was a little kid my parents explained to me that I could choose either to celebrate it on the 28th or March 1st and I told them that I was going to celebrate it on both days. So I usually start celebrating it at noon on the 28th and end at noon on the 1st," I smiled as Tayler nodded, laughing softly. 

"I like the creativity," he smiled as I shrugged, a soft smile on my face. 

"I grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina. Out of the womb I was destined to be an athlete. We all had our roles. I was sick at soccer, so the whole family had me trained that I was supposed to go to Duke for soccer. My older brother Matt, he was supposed to go to Army Westpoint and play football. Ryan, he was supposed to go to UNC for lacrosse. He was filthy! Then, well, life happened I guess," I smiled at Tayler who just smiled back at me. 

"What happened to your older brother?" Tayler gulped as my smile faded, my head dropping as I looked at my food. "I'm sorry! You don't have to tell me," Tayler jumped as I laughed, shaking my head.

"No, don't be," I smiled up at him, clearing my throat as I looked back down at my food, poking it with my fork. "He ended up going to Army Westpoint. He played 4 years of football there, became an Army doc, then got sent overseas," I gulped, looking back up at Tayler. "A little over 2 years ago, he went MIA. He had been in Afghanistan for maybe 3 months? Both he and the colonel of his battalion went MIA while en route to find a few soldiers who had gotten into an accident. They found the hummer they took out, but neither the colonel or my brother," I gulped as Tayler nodded, clearing his throat. 

"I'm really sorry," he mumbled as I shook my head, laughing softly. 

"No, you're fine," I smiled as a smile slowly grew on Tayler's face as he looked back at me. "I usually don't like talking about it to the media. I don't need people pitying me. The only people that really know about Ryan and Matt out here are Jake and Logan, well and now you," I smiled as Tayler nodded, a soft smile on his face. 

"I won't tell a soul," he smirked as I smiled, laughing softly. 

"I'll hold you to that," I giggled.