Toxic Girl

Chapter Twenty-Five

The next day at uni, I walk straight into someone I’d rather never see again. Jake. We’ve seen each other around, of course, but we haven’t said anything to each other. Until now.

“Paris, can I talk to you for a second?” he says, glancing around the hallway.

“Umm, okay,” I say, shifting on my feet and feeling awkward.

“I want to apologise. I didn’t tell anyone besides Grayson, I swear. No one knows.”

I look down at the ground. “Okay, well thanks. It’s definitely made my life here easier without people giving me shit,” I say.

“I’ve never seen Grayson so mad,” he says. “He won’t even talk to me now.”

“I’ll see if I can talk to him,” I say. After all, Jake didn’t actually do anything wrong. He saw me, and he reported it to Grayson and Grayson only. Really, he could have told the whole uni if he wanted to be an asshole, but he didn’t. On the other hand, I used to dance on a regular basis for his dad. If that isn’t awkward, I don’t know what is.

“I don’t know if that will work, but thanks for offering,” he says, waving bye as he goes on his way. I stand there for a moment before continuing to class.

Anaya, Paul, Leah, London, and I are all at Grayson’s house having a movie night. I invited Aiden, but he kindly declined. I don’t think he likes Grayson very much. Okay—I know he doesn’t.

“Whose choice is next?” I ask the group, after we finish mine, which was the first Harry Potter. I wanted to watch all the movies but was told hell no.

“Mine is!” London calls out, walking over to the DVD player and putting the disc in. When Mean Girls starts to play, I don’t know why I’m surprised. Grayson groans and buries his face in my hair.

“What?” London asks. “This movie is a classic.”

Paul grunts, shaking his head. “I’d rather watch Harry Potter again.”

“Ha! See,” I say, nodding my head in approval. “What did you choose, Paul?”

He wiggles his eyebrows and winks. “It’s a secret.”

“It better not be porn,” London mutters, causing Anaya to erupt in a fit of giggles.

“Do you want some more popcorn?” Grayson asks, ever the attentive boyfriend.

“Yes please.”

Anaya slaps Paul on the back of his head. “Ouch! What the hell did I do?” he complains, rubbing his head.

“You didn’t ask me if I wanted anything! I had to go get my own drink,” she says, scowling.

“Shit, woman, you have hands. I don’t have to do everything for you,” he says, now looking amused.

“You could be a gentleman,” she says. “Try it sometime and you may get rewarded.”

His eyebrows rise. “If I got rewarded any more, my dick would fall off.”

Anaya starts laughing again, and London gives me a look that clearly says, ‘your friends are crazy.’

Grayson comes back with popcorn and a drink for me, smirking at Anaya and Paul’s antics. The two of them always do this whenever they get together, but I know they don’t take anything to heart, because two seconds later, their tongues are down each other’s throats.

“Thanks,” I say, snuggling back into him as he sits next to me and possessively wraps an arm around me.

I fall asleep through Grayson’s choice, Lord of the Rings. He carries me to bed and tucks me in, sliding in beside me. The others continue to watch the movies, while Grayson holds me in his arms and whispers ‘goodnight’ before falling asleep.

“Good morning to you too,” I say through a smile. Grayson draws my lips into another soft kiss.

“Mornin’ beautiful,” he says, his voice thick with sleep.

“What are your plans for the day?” I ask, placing my lips on his chest.

“My mum wants me to drop by, so I guess I’ll head there before work. You?” he asks.

“I have to study for Monday’s exam. Then I have work at five.”

“Until eleven? I’ll pick you up when you’re done,” he says, bringing my palm to his mouth.

“Yeah, sounds good,” I say. Grayson puts on the TV while I head into the kitchen and grab us something to eat for breakfast. I’m about to take the plates into my room when I get a text from London.

London: Guess what I’m doing right now?

What? I reply.

London: The walk of shame!

A familiar path for you. I type back, laughing to myself.

London: Ha ha, very funny.

I walk into the room and hand Grayson his plate.

“Thanks, babe,” he says, grabbing the piece of toast and taking a huge bite.

My phone beeps again.

London: I need to be more careful who I sleep with just in case you end up dating them after.

I shake my head at her; the girl has no shame.

London: Too early to joke??!?!

“London?” Grayson asks, nodding at my phone.

“Yeah,” I reply, putting my phone down on the bed and sitting down. “She said she’s doing the walk of shame. I wonder if she slept with Aiden.”

Grayson stills. “Would that bother you?”

“Why would it bother me?” I ask, even though it kind of does. Not because I have any feelings for Aiden, at least not in that way. I care about him a lot as a friend, like a big brother. I don’t want him to get hurt, because he really is one of the best men I’ve ever met in my life.

Grayson shrugs and dusts the crumbs off his fingers. “I don’t know. I know the two of you are close.”

I nod slowly. “We are. He’s a good friend.”

“As long as that’s all he wants to be,” he replies in a cautious tone. I stare at him, lying on his white bed sheets in nothing but a pair of black boxer shorts.

“Of course that’s all he wants to be. Besides, everyone knows how crazy I am about you.”

His dimples let me know he likes that comment. “They better.”

“So…” I begin. “You and Jake aren’t friends anymore?”

He cuts his eyes to me, his face losing any of its joy.

“Babe, he didn’t even tell anyone. He could have made my life a living hell if he wanted to,” I say.

Grayson grunts. “Yeah, then he would have got his ass kicked by me, and he knows it. Trust me it wasn’t out of the kindness of his heart.”

“Fine, but I don’t know, he spoke to me and he looked sad.”

He sits up straighter. “He spoke to you?” he asks, his voice low.

“Yeah, just for a minute or so…”

“Looks like he and I will be having another talk,” he says, cracking his knuckles.

“Oh, come on, Gray,” I snap, not wanting him to get into another fight over me. It’s in the past, and I want to leave it there. Time to look forward now. “Don’t start shit for no reason.”

He makes a non-committal noise and then takes me in his arms. “I won’t let anyone talk badly about you.”

“He didn’t,” I say, but he cuts me off with a kiss.

“Open your mouth,” he whispers against my lips.

“No, I haven’t even brushed my teeth yet!” I say, my face going red.

He grins. “I don’t care.”

By the minty taste of him, I can tell he did brush his teeth, probably when I was making breakfast. I squirm out of his hold. “Where do you think you’re going?” he asks.

“Shower.” And to brush my teeth.

“I’m coming,” he calls out as I leave the room.

I wouldn’t expect any less.