Page 105 of Just for the Cameras
I shift my jaw, letting her words sink in.
“And I believe that,” she says as I pull in closer to our neighborhood. “I believe you’re so much more than the facade you try to hide behind.”
“It’s not a facade,” I say. “This is who I am.”
“Maybe, but there’s another side of you that I’m sure you don’t show many people.”
“What side would that be?” I ask while I pull up to the front of her apartment. I put the truck in park and turn toward her.
She smiles softly, her goddamn face so beautiful despite the cut above her eye surrounded by bruising. She undoes her seat belt and scoots closer toward me, tilting her head as her gaze matches mine.
“The side that will pick me up by the waist, put me on a counter, and touch the side of my face to make sure I’m okay when he sees my bruised eye.” She moves in even closer. “And the guy who makes sure I have medical attention when he knows how expensive it is. The guy who makes sure my apartment is comfortable and stocked full of food.” She moves in the last few inches, sitting right beside me now, stealing the air from my lungs as she brings her hand to my face. “And the guy who makes sure that I have a ride, no matter where I’m going, and makes it his personal mission to drive me himself when he can. That’s who you don’t show to everyone.”
She smiles one more time, then leans in, placing a very gentle kiss on the side of my face. “Thank you, Graydon. For everything.”
I’m so stunned.
So goddamn out of my own body that I don’t move an inch as my heart beats in my chest rapidly, pounding, thrumming with excitement as she moves away, picks up her bag, and then exits my truck.
Before she shuts the door, she looks me in the eyes and says, “See you tomorrow, Graydon.”
Then she winks and shuts the truck door before taking off up the stairs to her apartment, my eyes fixed on her ass the entire time.
Fuck.
Me.
CHAPTER 21
GRAYDON
OC:So are we going to talk about it?
Bennett:Thank fuck you texted because I didn’t want to be the first one.
OC:You know I will always be the first. I have no shame about it.
Bennett:You don’t have any shame about anything, hence why you told the entire Bay Area about sitting in giraffe dung.
OC:Hey, Gretchen said it was relatable and that it would help people like the team more.
Bennett:That or she was just trying to humiliate you.
OC:Whatever, if it helps me with jersey sales then I’ll wipe my embarrassed tears with my money.
Graydon:You didn’t have to describe the smell.
Bennett:The smell part wasn’t necessary.
OC:Might have pushed the envelope with the smell, but not ashamed of sharing the story.
Graydon:Clearly.
OC:Glad to see you’re texting back and not in prison, because the way you were snarling at Slutty Little Glasses had me concerned with your whereabouts tonight.
Bennett:I fear for Slutty Little Glasses.
OC:I know, I saw steam come out of Gray Gray’s nose.
