by Laura Pavlov
I dropped to sit down in the chair beside his bed.
“I don’t know what to say, Gray. You saved my life.”
I nodded. We could have both died, and that reality did not sit well with me. I’d stayed up the entire night after holding Gigi while she cried. I’d made her a promise that I’d never put her through that again, but I knew what that meant.
It was time for my dad to sink or swim.
He was out of options.
“Can’t go there with you anymore, Dad.” I looked up to see tears streaming down his face as the words left my mouth. “I have too much to lose. So, you’re going to have to make a decision about your own life. Those two assholes might be in jail, but there are always going to be more. This is your second chance, take it or leave it. But if you leave it, you will be standing alone in that darkness.”
“I don’t have a lot of options, Son.”
“I’m here to give you a new one,” a voice said from behind me, and I turned to see Simon walk in the room. He reached for the other chair and slid it beside mine before dropping to sit.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, stunned by his presence.
“I’m here to offer your father an out.” He turned to face my dad. “I have a private plane chartered to take you to Florida to a rehab facility for ninety days. I will fund your program for as long as you remain vigilant. If you leave once, that offer is off the table. If you complete the program, your housing and therapy will be covered for as long as you remain clean. But it will not be in the state of Texas or anywhere near your son.”
I stiffened at his words but allowed them to sink in. He was doing this for me, not for my father.
But why?
“So, I just never see my kid again? Is that what you want?” Dad hissed as he struggled to sit forward.
“If you remain sober and clean, I will fly Gray to see you as often as he wants. But no, you will not live here on my dime. You almost killed your son, Dylan. I won’t allow you to put him in that danger again. But because he loves you so damn much, I’ll do this. I’ll give you one more chance. It’s your choice.” Simon clapped his hands together and shrugged. “It’s a good one. You’d be wise to take it. Plane leaves in an hour.”
Fuck me.
What was happening?
Dad looked at me and nodded. “I’ll take it. Thank you.”
Simon pushed back and left the room.
“I’ll be right back.” I moved out the door to find him.
“Simon,” I shouted, and he turned around and walked toward me. “Why are you doing this?”
“Because you deserve it. You know, Gray, I realized something when you walked into that situation to save your father.”
“What’s that?”
“You’re a lot braver than me. I think I resented you for a long time because you never gave up hope on your dad the way that I did on mine. I thought you were being weak, but in reality, you were being strong. You’re a good kid. I’ve been too tough on you. And you know I rarely admit when I’m wrong,” he said, clapping me on the shoulder before turning to leave.
I looked up, half expecting pigs to be flying overhead.
“Thank you,” I said, and he held a hand up and waved at me as he continued toward the elevator.
I made my way back to the hospital room and my father laughed. “Well, that was unexpected. I guess the asshole likes you more than we thought.”
I rolled my eyes. Was he serious? “Fuck, Dad. He just offered you an out. Do you not get that? He’s doing a really good thing here, which is more than I can say for you. You almost got us both killed.”
Something in my chest squeezed because for the first time since I met Simon, he actually showed me a different side of himself. A human side.
And if I could forgive my father for his sins, why shouldn’t I do the same for Simon?
“You’re right, Gray. Yeah, I’m sorry, but I’m going to turn things around.”
I questioned my dad’s sincerity and wouldn’t be holding my breath. I’d lost the ability to hope when it came to my father.
The ball was in his court now.
Gigi and I drove back to school together because Cade had taken her car back for her so that he could get his jeep and head back to school. It felt like so much time had passed since my fight with Cade; yet in reality, it had only been a few days.
But everything had changed.
Cade and I were fine, and he was completely okay with Gigi and me being together. It was amazing what a traumatic experience could do to help you see things more clearly.
And I was seeing things clearer than I ever had.
My dad had boarded a plane that Simon chartered for both of them. Simon flew with my father to Florida and personally checked him into a program there. Dad was getting a second chance on my stepfather’s dime, and the distance helped me breathe easier. I didn’t have to worry about getting calls from Wren anymore about my dad being in trouble.
Wren and I had grown closer than ever, and in some ways, he had been more of a father to me than my own dad or Simon had ever been. But all of this taught me that everyone had their own shit, and everyone deserved a chance at redemption. Hell, I was all about second chances these days.
“You know what I’m looking forward to?”
“What?” I asked, my fingers intertwined with hers as I merged onto the freeway.
“Dating out in the open. Not worrying about Cade or your dad or Tiffany or anyone. Just you and me.”
I nodded. “That sounds fucking fabulous to me. You sure you don’t mind being tangled up in my mess?”
She laughed. “Gray Baldwin, I’ll get tangled up with you any day of the week.”
“You’re so cheesy, baby. And I fucking love it.”
Her head fell back in laughter, as she scooted closer. “I love you.”
“Love you, G. Always have, always will.”
And I was a man of my fucking word.
This girl was my past.
My present.
And my future.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Gigi
EIGHTEEN MONTHS LATER
“Gray Dylan Baldwin,” the dean called out, and Gray made his way across the stage. He was graduating with honors and had already been accepted into The Texas University School of Law. We were both thrilled because I had two more years of classes, and now we’d be able to stay at the same school.
The past eighteen months had been amazing, because we had no more secrets and no more dark clouds hovering above us. And when it was just Gray and me… it was magic.
I’d found my forever in the boy I’d despised most of my life. Don’t get me wrong, Gray still liked to push my buttons, he was jealous and bossy—and I wouldn’t change a damn thing. I loved everything about this boy. Cade still gave us a hard time about any PDA, because we couldn’t seem to keep our hands away from one another when we were together, and I made no apologies for it.
We cheered and screamed as he crossed the stage. My parents had come to see him receive his diploma, and Cade and Camilla were there as well, as they were both graduating the following weekend and we’d be there for that special moment too. Gray’s mom and Simon sat on the other side of me with Bea and Penn.
Simon had stepped up, which had surprised the heck out of my boyfriend. Once Dylan made it through the ninety-day program, Simon found him a job and a place to live. He flew Gray and me out there several times, but Dylan had experienced a relapse two months ago and was back in rehab. Simon had stepped up once again and covered the cost, even though he’d said it was a one-time offer, and I knew he’d done it because he loved Gray. Simon and Gray had formed an unexpected friendship. Gray acted like it wasn’t a big deal, but he’d broken down to me a few times about how much it meant to him.
Because behind all t
hat tough exterior was a teddy bear.
Gray was all bark and no bite—unless you wanted him to.
I digress.
I had a hard time keeping my mind out of the gutter when it came to Gray. He was romantic and sweet and would move the sun and the earth if I asked him to. But if someone looked at me wrong, he was the first one to take their head off.
My gentle giant.
When Gray walked over, he moved past everyone and lifted me off my feet. “Love you, G. Couldn’t have done it without you.”
I laughed. He was ridiculously charming. “You did this all on your own, fool.”
“Well, I wouldn’t have wanted to do it without you. Is that better?”
“Get a room, for God’s sake. No one needs to see you two gushing all over one another,” Cade hissed before he pulled my boyfriend in for a hug. “Proud of you, brother.”
Gray made his way through the group thanking everyone for coming.
Gray and Simon shared a hug that lasted much longer than usual. Their relationship had changed since the night Gray had gone to save his father.
Turned out that sometimes tragedies brought people together.
I was just thankful that we’d made it through and come out on the other side stronger than ever.
I couldn’t wait to see what the future held.
Because as long as I was with Gray—I was happy.
He’d been with me my whole life, and I hadn’t even known that I loved him back then.
He’d been my nemesis.
My friend.
My lover.
But most importantly—my happily ever after.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Gigi
EIGHTEEN MONTHS LATER
We were home for winter break, and all of us were heading to Addy’s house for a Magic Willows meeting. I’d just left Gray at my house with Cade, and he was pouting because he didn’t want me to leave.
He knew spending time with my best friends was important to me, but it didn’t stop him from pulling out all the stops to make me late.
He’d tackled me on the bed and tried to make me stay. Kissing my neck and teasing me, knowing exactly what I liked.
What I needed.
But girl time was also important to me, and he’d laughed when he’d finally let me up to leave and made his way to the living room to hang out with Cade.
I jogged when I saw Coco just up ahead, and we both complained about how ridiculously cold it was outside. I pulled my coat tighter around my neck before we walked into Addy’s basement together. Maura and Ivy were already there. We all dropped down in our usual spots, just like we always did.
Maura and I were on the shaggy rug across from Coco, Addy, and Ivy who sat on the couch. Addy had a tray of Christmas cookies sitting on the coffee table and hot cocoas set out for each of us.
“Okay, let’s get down to business.” Ivy flipped the leather-bound book open.
“Well, I have news,” Maura said, giving us that look as if we needed to prepare ourselves.
“What? You’re finally breaking up with that dud of a boyfriend, Will?” Coco said, holding her hands together as if she were praying and closing her eyes.
We all burst out in laughter and then righted ourselves when we realized that Maura wasn’t laughing.
“Stop hating on Will. He’s fine,” she huffed.
“People do not write romance novels about fine,” Coco said with a knowing look. “The dude is boring AF. You are settling. I’m just the only one who has the balls to admit it.”
“I have balls too,” Ivy said with irritation and we all laughed.
“Of course, you do. But can we please not talk about your balls or my boring boyfriend.” Maura shook her head. “This isn’t about Will.”
“Oh my gosh. You hooked up with that hot Italian guy and finally had good sex for the first time in your life.” Coco clapped her hands together before leaning forward to study Maura as if this was the most exciting news in the world.
“Are you drunk? The hot Italian guy is my thirty-year-old professor. I did not hook up with him.”
“You do seem to be a bit sauced.” Addy smirked at Coco and made no attempt to hide her laughter. “Did you pour some Baileys in that chocolate?”
“Girls, I am drunk on life, as we all should be. We’re hot. We’re graduating from college in six months. I already have a fabulous job offer in Houston and I’ll never need to move back to this godforsaken town. No offense. I know you guys plan on coming home at some point. I’ll visit.” Coco winked.
“Focus, Co. What’s going on, Maura?” Ivy asked, pen in hand, ready to play scribe and write down whatever she said.
“Remember I told you that my counselor said they were going to place a few students for certain internships this last semester?”
“Don’t be humble. They were placing the top one percent of your class. You are freaking brilliant, and I knew you’d get picked,” I said, smiling at her because she never gave herself enough credit.
She waved her hand in front of her face. “Well, it turns out the most coveted internship in the program is shadowing the assistant to the president at the largest advertising agency in Dallas. And I was selected. It’s an amazing opportunity and turning it down would be completely disrespectful. My counselor was so excited. She just called to let me know that I was nominated by all of my professors. It’s the highest honor.” She shook her head in disbelief.
“So why aren’t we celebrating with a little something-something in this hot chocolate? Scratch that. Grab the tequila, let’s do some shots.” Coco raised a brow. “What’s the problem?”
“My father. He’s going to lose his shit,” Maura explained.
“Why?” Ivy asked.
“I would think he would be so proud that you were selected. He’s always pushing you so hard to study and be prepared. This is what he’s wanted for you.” Addy did not hide the confusion in her gaze.
“The internship is with the Carlisle Ad Agency. I will be the assistant to that freaking cocky asshole, Crew Carlisle. He’s the president of the company. Apparently his grandfather retired two years ago, and he’s running the show now.”
“Oh my. I’m sweating. That guy is so hot. He’s got that arrogant, I-know-my-shit-don’t-stink, let me give you all the orgasms thing going on. Oh, what that man could do with those hands. I saw him chopping down a Christmas tree for his family last week out at Evergreen Farms and I couldn’t stop staring at his hands. They’re almost as big as his feet.” Coco winked before falling back in laughter. “You know what they say about big hands and big feet. Can you just imagine what else that man is packing?”
“The last thing I’m doing is thinking about what he’s packing. He is such a jerk. Remember when he called the cops on me for that fender bender? I can’t stand him. And my father absolutely despises the Carlisles. I’m just terrified that once Crew realizes that I’m the candidate from the school, he’s going to tell them he doesn’t want me, and then I won’t have anything lined up. But I can’t even imagine working for him. What am I going to do?”
“You are going to do nothing. You probably won’t have to see him much. You’ll be shadowing his assistant. You can stay under the radar,” I said.
“Maybe. I don’t even know. My dad keeps asking if I have anything lined up yet. I told him my counselor was working on something for me. But what am I going to tell him?”
“You just tell him you landed a gig at a local advertising company. Your dad doesn’t know anything about that business and he just wants to know that you got a position. He doesn’t have to know the details. It’s six months. You’ll be coming home after graduation and he’ll be none the wiser.” Addy reached for a cookie.
“That’s true. And you can continue hating Crew when you work for him.” I raised my mug. “I think we sh
ould toast to that. It’s amazing that your professors chose you, even if you hate the guy you work for.”
“Or you can have hot, angry office sex on his desk. I’ll drink to that,” Coco said, and we all laughed some more.
What can I say, the girl had a way with words.
“Okay, it’s all in the book. You don’t tell your father unless you absolutely have to. He’s not that great of a listener anyway. He just wants to know you got a gig so he can brag to all his friends at the club,” Ivy said as she scribbled on the lined white paper.
“Thanks.” Maura chuckled, even though we all knew it was true. Maura was the baby of the family with two older brothers, and those were tough shoes to fill. Her father was a bit of an intimidating guy, and he barked more than he listened.
“I can’t wait to see what we all do after graduation,” I said. Gray and I would be staying one more year in Austin until he graduated from law school. We both wanted to come back to Willow Springs, where I hoped to open an art studio and Gray wanted to practice law. We’d been together for three years now, and it didn’t really matter as long as we were together.
“Me either. Jett’s gotten a couple offers at accounting firms in Austin, but he knows I want to come back and write for the Willow Springs paper. Hell, they already offered me the on-air news anchor gig, so we’re still talking about what we want to do.”
“That’s because that reporter, Judy Jones, is older than dirt. I was watching the news last night and I swear she forgot to put her dentures back in. Ratings would pick up quite a bit if they put your fine self on air, and they all know it.” Coco ate the head off of a reindeer cookie and chewed dramatically.
“I agree. And I have news.” Ivy set her pen down.
“What is it?” I asked.
“Loraine Applebee phoned me this morning. She wants me to take over her event planning business. My dad said he would front me the money to buy her out.” Ivy shrugged as if this wasn’t her absolute dream to be living back in Willow Springs after graduation and planning weddings and parties for everyone in town. She was born to be an event planner, and I was so happy for her that she was chasing her dreams.
