Page 50 of Grizz

I bypassed the jokes, ignored the temptation to scrawl some boy’s initials, and instead wrote a single line:Someday, I want a love that feels like coming home.

I’d forgotten Elias saw that.

He touches my arm.“You think I didn’t notice how embarrassed you were after?Like you’d revealed too much?But Daisy, that’s you.You’re a romantic, even when you try not to be.You believe in big love… deep love.You always have.”

Emotion stings behind my eyes.

“And yes,” he continues softly, “a fling can be fun.Healthy.Therapeutic even.But don’t pretend that’s all you’re wired for.”

I fight back a rush of more emotions.

“I just don’t want you to end up heartbroken,” he says, voice quiet and earnest beneath the thump of the music.“Not because you slept with someone but because you let yourself settle for a person who isn’t worthy of the way you love.”

My breath catches.Elias sees me too well.And a part of me knows he’s right.

“Daisy.”He squeezes my hand.“Whatever you choose, I’m on your side.I’ll always be on your side.But don’t lie to yourself about what you’re capable of feeling.And don’t lie about what you want.”

Elias pulls me into a hug that reminds me I have roots in this city, even when everything else feels unstable.If I’m honest, the way Elias insists I should be, I have to admit that I want my heart to wrap itself up with Grizz.I’ve seen enough of him to know that I’m willing to risk the possibility of getting hurt.

“You know I love you, right?”Elias says into my hair.

“Unfortunately for you,” I mumble, “it’s mutual.”

He laughs softly and squeezes once more before pulling back.

Before he can say anything else, a cluster of his friends erupts from across the lounge:

“ELIAS!COME OPEN THE REST OF YOUR PRESENTS!”

He sighs dramatically.“A star’s work is never done.”

But before he heads off, he turns back to me, expression serious beneath the reddish lights.

“Daisy… one more thing.”

“Hmm?”

“You know how my uncle is,” he begins.“Julian doesn’t do gray areas.If something looks like an HR violation, he treats it like a federal crime.”

My stomach sinks.

“And dating a player—or even something that couldlooklike dating a player—could be a flirtation with disaster,” he finishes gently.

I blink, processing that.The music blares around us, but suddenly it feels like I’m inside a mind-numbing hangover.

“I’m just saying… be careful.It’s a delicate situation.”

I nod slowly.“I know.”

He touches my arm.“I just don’t want you to get blindsided.”

Then someone drags him away by the elbow, and he flashes me a parting smile over his shoulder.“Come cheer for me when I open my extremely expensive gifts!”

And he’s swallowed back into the crowd—red sash, gray scarf, all charisma.

I stand there for a moment, letting his warning settle in my mind.

The room feels louder now.Hotter.