“He slept with my sister,” I say at the same time London says, “What’s a little sharing amongst sisters?”
Aiden’s mouth drops open. “No f**king way.”
London scoffs, “She’s only telling you the bad part of the story, not the good.”
“How the hell is there a good part of the story?” I ask, crossing my arms. Aiden’s head turns back and forth, and he watches the two of us argue. A customer walks in so Aiden herds us into the backroom where we can have privacy.
“Has he been calling you?” London asks, sitting on top of the desk.
“Yeah. Non-stop.”
“See. Put him out of his misery,” she says, playing with the end of a lock of her hair. Easy for her to say. She doesn’t have to think about the love of her life with her own sister. Or the fact that he only started getting to know me because he thought I was her. That’s what hurts the most. Was their one night together so amazing and filled with passion that he wanted seconds? Was he upset when he found out I wasn’t London? He did walk out on me that night, leaving me alone and confused. I really don’t know what to think, all I know is this—it hurts. I’m not ready to forgive him or to face him just yet. I pull my phone out. Twenty-eight missed calls and ten messages. All from Grayson. I reply to him, one simple message.
I need time.
That’s all I have to offer right now.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Two weeks have passed since I last spoke to Grayson. I don’t answer his calls. I sit in a different seat in the classes we share, and I avoid him as much as I can. The few times he’s tried to talk to me or showed up at my house, I’ve excused myself or not answered the door. It’s been hell, and I’ve been walking around and living life on auto pilot. London got a place of her own, about five minutes away from my house. She’s getting on her feet and working on being independent, and I couldn’t be happier for her. She’s still selfish and self-involved, but I guess I should take whatever improvement I can get from her and not push my luck. She isn’t going to become a better person overnight; that’s for damn sure. After work, I get Aiden to drop me off at Grayson’s. I don’t know what I’m doing, but shutting him out has been hurting both of us, and I’ve had enough. I’m confused, and I don’t know what the hell to do to get over this.
“Thanks Aiden,” I tell him, kissing him on the cheek.
“No problem. You can call me anytime you know that, right?”
“I appreciate that. Best boss ever,” I tell him, sliding out of the car and closing the door. I wave bye as I turn around and walk to the house. Grayson’s car is out front, so I know he’s at home. I have a key of his but I feel weird using it after not talking to him all this time and not knowing where we stand as a couple. I knock on the door, and fidget with my hair as I wait for him to answer. He opens the door, standing there, looking surprised.
“Paris,” he says, his gaze trailing over me from head to toe.
“Hey, I thought maybe we could talk?” I say, pushing my hair behind my ear.
“I’d love that,” he says. “I do have to tell you that…”
“Grayson! Hurry up!” someone calls from inside the house. My eyes widen as I recognise the voice. Fuck. This.
“Wow,” I say, in shock.
“It’s not what you think,” Grayson quickly says, reaching out to take hold of my elbow. I wrench my arm away from him and take a step back, retreating away from his house. I pull out my phone and call Aiden.
“Hello.”
“Can you come back and pick me up? Please?” I beg him.
“Of course, give me a minute.”
We hang up. I walk to the driveway and stand there, scanning the streets for my escape. Grayson stands next to me.
“Paris, listen to me!” he growls. “Can you give me one minute to explain?”
I shake my head, sighing in relief as Aiden’s car pulls up. Grayson takes my arm again, but I pull free and jump into the passenger’s side.
“Drive, please,” I tell him, as Grayson stands by my window. I lock the door before he can try opening it. Then I stare at him as he calls out my name over and over again, his eyes pleading with mine.
But what did he expect when he had my sister at his house?
*****
An hour passes before the banging starts on my door.
“London’s here!” Anaya calls out. I make a scoffing noise and continue to type furiously on my laptop. My room door opens and London walks in, wearing a scowl.
“You’re unbelievable, you know that!” she snaps.
“Excuse me?” I growl back.
“I know I slept with him before you knew him, but what kind of person do you think I am to sleep with him now?”
“The kind of person that lets her sister strip to pay her debts?” I say in a fake sweet tone.
She gasps. “I guess I deserved that. Okay, I definitely deserved that. But even if you don’t trust me, do you really think Grayson would do that to you? The guy is pathetic over you! Between you and me, I’m pretty sure he hasn’t been eating or sleeping. Maybe not even showering either.”
“Then why the hell were you there? And how often have you seen him?”
She sits down on my bed. “Today is the first time I’ve seen him, I swear.”
“Explain,” I demand.
She sighs, and looks at me, cringing a little. “You might get angry.”