Hello Stranger

Chapter 15

~Grayson's POV~

I watched as she left with Ellie and I knew I was being selfish with her. Kissing her was selfish. Bringing her here was selfish. But there's something about her. I can't help myself. Being around her infuriates me but brings me peace. I barely know her, yet I trust her. She trusts no one, yet she found a way to trust me. I hate not knowing things, yet she's the biggest mystery of all and I don't even mind.

When Natalie had her temper tantrum because she thought I slept with Andrea, I told her that she was just mad I'm more interested in Andrea than I am in her. She flew into a rage and she left. Most likely to go find Andrea, but I couldn't let her. So, I went to her house, and I brought her here. She didn't need to be here, but every part of me wanted her here with me. Though she was stubborn, she never actually tried to leave. Why would she stay?

Right now, it doesn't matter. I can tell opening up isn't easy for her. So, her opening up about having an older brother was hard for her. But she did it, and that matters to me. I told her I'd help her find answers, and that is exactly what I intend to do.

I immediately start looking into her parents. It was easy finding them, but finding anything important out was going to be harder. They seem relatively protected. Way more protected than normal business owners should be. They were definitely hiding something.

2 hours later...

I found him. Bennet Thompson. Son of Bailey and Robert Thompson. The only issue is that Asher and Andrea's last name is Davis. Bailey and Robert Thompson were also Bailey and Robert Davis. Except, Bailey and Robert Davis weren't real. If they weren't real, then where did Andrea and Asher get their last name?

The answer is simple really. And with a certain amount of digging, I can prove it. I don't think Bailey and Robert are their real parents. I think their real parents were named Dominic and Jennifer Davis. There was a picture online with the four adults together. Asher and Andrea share little to no resemblance with their parents. They have nothing in common with Bailey but slight similarities to Robert. But with Jennifer and Dominic, they're a spitting image of them. The only problem is, there are no other traces of Dominic and Jennifer after the picture was taken. I'm thinking Bailey and Robert are actually Asher and Andrea's aunt and uncle. Robert and Jennifer must be related based on characteristics.

But it doesn't explain why Bailey and Robert are claiming Asher and Andrea when they have their own son in another state. It also doesn't explain what happened to Jennifer and Dominic Davis or why I can't find anything. No part of me wants to give the information to Andrea when I know she'll have more questions than answers. Yes, I found her brother. But how will she take it if I say her brother is actually her cousin because her parents might not be her parents? I can't. But not knowing will destroy her.

I hear the door open downstairs and I know they're back. Just in time, because finding these answers isn't a one-person job. I need Aaron. I head downstairs to see Ethan and Cameron carrying bags inside while Ellie and Andrea laughed at them. Aaron walked in unfazed by any of it. I clear my throat making them all look up at me. Ethan and Cameron noticed me looking at Aaron and decided to finish carrying the bags into the kitchen before going to get the rest. Ellie looked at me with threatening eyes while Andrea looked almost happy to see me.

"Hey," Andrea said directed at me. Damn, she looked good. She was good. And I'm completely and utterly bad for her.

Instead of responding, I turn away and look at Aaron. "You need to see this."

Aaron looked from me to the now annoyed Andrea, then back at me. I turned and walked up the stairs. I heard Aaron sigh before following me into the office. When he enters behind me, I shut the door and lock it. I sit on one of the couches with my elbows on my knees. Aaron sat on the couch across from it and waited for an answer. He wasn't waiting to know what I wanted, he wanted to know why I ignored Andrea.

Without wasting any time, I told him what I found out. I didn't tell him about Jackson because it took Aaron a while to finally trust him. I didn't wanna destroy what we built. As I told him, I could see the shock on his face. Aaron's just as good as me at masking his emotions, but he wasn't prepared for this one at all. When I finished, I waited for a response from Aaron who was sitting there in shock.

"Shit," Is all Aaron said. "Should we tell them?"

"There's no point. We don't have evidence. All of it is theoretical," I shrug. "And even if they do believe it, it'll just lead to more questions than answers."

"Why'd you help her?" Aaron asks.

"I do background checks on everyone," I say as casually as I could.

"Not me," Aaron points out.

"We were six," I defend.

"You like her," Aaron states.

"No," I answer. "I don't like people. It's not what I do."

Aaron sits back and I could already tell I wasn't going to like what he said next. "Good."

"Why?" I ask clenching my jaw.

"If you don't like her, I'm going to ask her out," Aaron states. "She's different from other females. If she was like others, I wouldn't bother wasting my time. But she's worth it. We all like her. Except you, of course. But I think it's safe to say we can trust her at least some. So, I think I'm going to take a chance."

He knew I wasn't happy about it. He wanted me to say no. Saying no would prove his point though. "I don't care," I say lying through my teeth. I didn't want anyone going on a date with her if it wasn't me.

"Okay," Aaron chuckles heading toward the door. He opened it and looked back to say one more thing. "So, if she doesn't spend the night in your room tomorrow night, don't be surprised. She'll be with me."

I don't know what came over me, but I lost it. I lunged at him. He grabbed me and threw me down in the hallway. But I was quick to get up and punch him in his jaw. And what started as him pushing me to admit my feelings, turned into us fighting. Somehow as we were fighting we moved down slightly. We were in front of the stairs, but neither of us realized it until we went tumbling down them.