Pieces Of You & Me (12 page)

Chapter 21

Grey

Whatever gave you that idea?
Her words mocked me. Seven days might not be that long, but it had been long enough for me to know that I truly wanted her. Not the beautiful face and her gorgeous smile, but the woman who was inside her. The sweet woman underneath. The one that would shyly gaze at me with desire; the passionate girl within. Her outer exterior gave off that she was aloof—a bitch with no care in the world—but once you got to see glimpses of what she was underneath… It had seriously gotten me hooked; so hooked, in fact, that for the first time, a girl got to fuck me over. It pissed me off; not to mention how fucking embarrassing it was to be dumped this quickly.

Karma was a mad bitch because she was biting my ass really hard right now. All those hearts and empty promises I had broken with countless of women were now being slapped in my face.

Rejection wasn’t an alienated feeling for me.

In fact, you could congratulate my mother for that. And now, of course, Olivia had done it, too. The only two women who I had chosen to let my guard down with, and both had fucked me over.

Yi—fucking—pee.

She was back with him, right now, in
his
hotel room. It didn’t take a wild guess what she and her boyfriend were up to. We hadn’t made promises, but somehow, I felt like I had been tricked.

“You look like shit on shit,” Jet remarked as he passed by me, beer in hand.

Well, he looked like he was having a good time. At least one of us was.

Shit on shit
. That would be right. It sure felt like it was.

“Get the fuck out,” I grumbled. The last thing I needed was
him snooping in my damn business.

“Can’t. In case you forgot, you’re in my place.” He stared at me for quite some time, subdued. “She’s only a girl, man; let it go.”

I threw him a look, one to shut him up, but he wasn’t paying attention. “I know there’s been a love-hate thing going on for years—and don’t get me wrong, she’s an awesome girl—but there’s more out there you know; like the ones that really dig you. You don’t want someone who fucks around like that.”

Fucks around like that…

The thing was, there had been no fucking involved. There could’ve been, if I’d really pushed it. There had been instances during our heated, crazy kissing session when I could’ve had her, but since she had told me that she wasn’t ready to go all the way with me, I had respected that. I made sure not to place myself in a situation where I wouldn’t see black and white; just the damn gray. Where everything could get blurry and I wouldn’t think of her wants because I was focusing on my own. I might’ve hated her in the beginning, but I respected her.

Even now, even though the hate in me boiled my blood, I still respected her.

I glanced towards Jet when he lit up his roll of weed, still staring at me like I was a weird circus show. “Give me that,” I demanded, uncaring that I was past rude. I didn’t have to explain myself to him. He was a friend; he knew what I was going through without me laying it out for him.

Jet handed it to me without a word, but with a knowing smirk. Weed was my answer when I was stressed out, which wasn’t all the damn time. I gave a quick glance at the imperfectly rolled stick before I placed it in-between my lips, sucking it with deep enthusiasm as I inhaled the smoke, held it long enough for a deeper effect, then tilted my head upwards and released the smoke through my nostrils and mouth.

The hit was the purest it could get. Cali weed was one of the best I had ever had and my crew knew just where to get the good stuff. It was smooth—expensive—just the way I liked it.

“Want more?”

Fuck yes.
“You know I do. Look for that chick that was all over me earlier. I need some tits around,” I murmured, closing my eyes as I took another hit off my joint.

Good weed. Alcohol. Pretty, willing girls. It was the perfect imperfect combination.

Tonight, I was going to savor this bitterness that was fucking with my mind. Only for tonight, though, because tomorrow, when I fucking woke up, Olivia would be dead to me.

Fuck her.

Fuck all the women in the world.

All they did was lie. Who needed liars around? I sure as hell didn’t.

Chapter 22

Liv

Saying goodbye to Liam at LAX airport was trying. His visit had reinstated our feelings for each other, but now that he wasn’t here, I was left to face the outcome of what I had done.

Last night, I spent the night in his room; however I spent the entire time reeling from my heated encounter with Greyson. What he’d said—the things that had spewed out of him—how enraged he had been and how he’d believed what he was saying, they hounded my thoughts.

It had been like poison. It lingered there, taking its time until it could seize me.

For the whole duration, I kept thinking about the “what ifs”. What had been even more disconcerting was the very fact that I wasn’t one to even consider these instances. I always stood on a solid platform, knowing what I wanted and went for it. For me to pause and ponder about what might’ve been wasn’t me.

When I came home, I wasn’t even a bit surprised that Grey’s car wasn’t there. After last night, he’d avoid me like the plague. So for the rest of the day, I spoke to Mom and Brett as if everything was normal.

Monday rolled in and still there was no Grey in school or at home. The same went for the day after.

For the rest of the week, I waited for him to show up, but each day became a letdown. He was skipping school, doing God knew what.

Though Jet and the rest of his crew—men and women alike—were all present, I didn’t have the guts to ask for Grey’s whereabouts.

During Friday night dinner, I asked Brett about him, playing it off as if I wasn’t noticing it on a daily basis. Basically, Grey was telling him that he’d been staying at Jet’s for a little while. What bothered me more was that he didn’t seemed concerned that his son was staying about five minutes away from his own house. Brett was a lenient parent and I could easily see why Grey got to do whatever he wanted. He simply didn’t have a parent to monitor him.

My mom would allow me to do things as long as I informed her of everything I did, and at times, like the situation with moving in with Liam once I got in Sydney, I had to ask for permission first.

After two weeks of not seeing him at all, I started to really worry. Even at school, he was a no show. Everyone was the same—acted as if nothing were different—but I knew, for Grey to be gone for this long, something was up.

During a meal, I contemplated contacting him. Even when I was in bed, ready to sleep, my conscience was eating me alive. Reaching for my phone, I decided to bite my pride and reach out to the man himself.

Me:
Where are you? Are you okay?

I stared at my phone for most of the night, hoping I’d get a response, but to no avail. I wasn’t sure if I should give him a call or pester him with text messages until I got a reply… however I wasn’t that kind of person. If Grey didn’t respond, it could only mean that he didn’t want to and couldn’t be bothered with me.

What should I do? Should I just go to sleep? Or should I do something, like call him or something even more drastic than that…? Like maybe go to Jet’s house and ask if I could talk to him?

Okay, it was a Friday night… there was going to be a party—there always was.

Texting Josie, I asked if she was doing anything tonight. Three minutes later, she told that she was in a party, with Greyson around.

Great. My friend was informative. I hadn’t had to elaborate what my intention was because my best friend had known. Josie and I communicated in a different way, a way where I didn’t have to explicitly explain everything to her, and the same went for me when she needed my help. That’s why our relationship worked. We were two of a kind.

Just when I was about to start the car, I get another text from her.

Josie:
Hey hun, I’m leaving the party, but he’s in Jet’s pool house. He’s been staying in the other bedroom. He comes out once in a while. Just saw him once, though. He looks rough. Be safe. Love you.

Grey looked rough? Define rough? Rugged rough? Or rough like he hadn’t showered in days kind of rough?

Replying to Josie’s text, I hurried my response.

Me:
Wait up. I need backup. Moral support. Please?

Gearing up my car, I shoved the phone on the side of the seat and drove off. I saw the great advantage of fast cars. Five minutes didn’t even crack for me. I made it in three.

Parking right behind the long line of cars, I rushed to gather my phone and my purse before locking the vehicle and going inside Jet’s sprawling house.

His home sat on top of a hill. It had a modern design with glass everywhere. The pool house also used the same concept with two bedrooms. Most guys in my school stayed in their pool house. Not only was it convenient, it provided just enough privacy to party away from prying eyes.

From the looks of things though, the main house was full of people, too. That could only mean one thing; Jet’s parents weren’t home.

He had one older brother, but I’d heard he was studying on the East Coast. The large mansion was dark other than a few glow-in-the-dark lights, which lit up the house in a soft glow. They differentiated from blue, yellow,
purple, green, orange—basically anything bright and colorful, it was there.

It took a full minute or so for my eyes to accommodate to the psychedelic flash of colors.

Noting the unknown crowd, no wonder the party was full. They must’ve had the entire south of the boulevard schools there. People squashed and pressed against me as I walked along. My ears were ringing from the loud thump of the bass-based house music. I was just squeezing past an overeager dry-humping couple when I saw him.

Sure he looked rough, but it only added to his sexiness. His hair was a tad longer with a little scruff on the side. His back was to me with two girls right before him. Both of his arms braced the women as they talked closely to each other. If one of the girls would say something to make him laugh, he would face to the side and release that deep-bellied laugh.

Even though I stood a few feet away from them, his laugh lingered in me. It affected me in a way I hadn’t expected it to; like something had been taken from me.

After half a month of not seeing him, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to tell him. Sure I wanted to talk, but now that I was here, I wasn’t sure what to say. Most especially after I had harshly pushed him away.

Reaching out to him would be the first step, the rest I could play along later. First I had to get his attention, though.

Stepping closer with jittery legs, I cleared my throat.

“Grey?” I called after him, and when he spun around, his easy smile vanished in a flash. “Can I have a minute?”

He looked away as if he couldn’t
bare glancing in my direction. “I’m busy,” he finally managed to say before walking away with both women chasing behind him, losing me in the crowd.

I almost jumped out of my skin when I felt someone grip the side of my arm, and when I checked who it was, it was Josie with a worried face on.

“He’s hurt—I think—but he won’t say anything. It’s Greyson we’re talking about here. Give him time.”

“But he’s been absent.”
Wherever I’m present
, I silently added.

She gave me a tight smile. “Well, at least you can give him points for not being a clingy guy, right?”

Points?
I sure as heck hadn’t been thinking about a point system. “Thanks for staying.”

She looked away before meeting me in the eye. “Well, I had another motive for staying—and I think it’s best to ask you first.”

Her question sent alarm bells.
Was it about Grey?
“What is it?” I rushed out, frowning.

Josie suddenly looked awkward. “You see—the other night…
I, uh… ended up kissing Gavin. I just want to ask if it’s okay to go out with him.”

Gavin?
“What? Of course it’s fine! At one point there I thought you were talking about Grey.” Steady my beating heart. All was safe. “He’s a nice guy. You have more than my blessing, babe.”

She grinned, hugging me tight. “God, you’re awesome. Okay, he’s waiting for me outside, but I suggest you go home. I don’t trust these people here; they’re too crazy for my taste.” She bunched up her nose as if she smelled something foul.

The crowd did look it. Crazy that was…

“I’m going home soon.” I paused, looking around. “I’m just going to try one more time.” The blinding lights made me dizzy. How the heck did they manage to dance around with it like this, like they were getting lost in the music, jumping around as if nothing mattered? I would always wonder.

Josie’s smiling face started to worry again. “If you can’t manage to make him listen, get out of here fast, okay?”

I crossed my heart. “Promise.”

After another round of hugs and sweet goodbyes, I watched after a retreating Josie. I knew my way around here, so it didn’t take me long to find Jet’s mini, adjacent residence.

The “it” crowd came to mind as I watched the women that went in and out of the place. Hot, scantily clad women were coming and going as if owning the place. Jet’s room was on the left, so Grey’s would be on the opposite side, to the right.

It was no better in the lighting department, but at least the dimmed lighting and the “space-like” ambiance made it cozy. The music was different, too. Trip-hop was more like it; it had the heavy beat of bass with the ethereal-esque sound, instead of the hectic trance-like music. There was a projector placed somewhere that had shooting stars and the rest of the universe thrown all over the room.

I was so busy taking everything in that I didn’t realize I’d bumped into someone’s chest until my nose hit the hardness of it. The scent was different.

I didn’t manage to look up until the male in question cleared his throat, as if trying to get my attention.

Jet’s curious eyes met mine. Questioning.

He probably was wondering what in God’s name I was doing here. He was Greyson’s best friend, I was sure he probably knew about, or maybe had a great idea about, —what was going on.

“Great party,” I mumbled, guilt and confusion washing over me. Apart from the lamest line I could come up with, Jet didn’t seem all that convinced at why he was seeing me here.

This guy was too good… too smart for his own good. After all, hadn’t Josie mentioned that his family was packed with lawyers? Oh, yeah, he could probably spot a huge liar in the darkened crowd. I was guilty as charged.

“Can I help you with something, Olivia?” his voice was hard, but there was an edge to it that spoke heavily of suspicion.

I just wanted to talk; that was all. “Is Greyson around?” I nervously asked without meeting his eyes.

“Maybe, but I have a feeling that he won’t be all that happy to see you.”

Finally meeting his eyes, I saw that he was dead serious. What else did he know? I wasn’t sure how their relationship worked. Grey and I hadn’t discussed much.

“Is he busy?” I asked, fully aware of how “busy” he’d looked earlier.

“Go check it out for yourself. Don’t say I didn’t warn you, though.” He cocked his head to the side towards where Grey had been staying.

The door was closed, but for some odd reason, it was as if it called to me. I glided towards it with clammy hands. In the back of my mind, I was certain that I would deserve it if I went in there to find him busy with the females that had been in his company earlier. A longing side of me was hoping to find him alone, though. Maybe then I could get his attention.

After not seeing him for such a long time, I felt like it was my fault that he hadn’t been home for this long. Greyson was notorious for a lot of things, but that one week with him had showed me that there was more to him than all those rumors. There was a sweet guy underneath it all.

I hoped it was not too late to patch things up. Not in the romantic sense since Liam and I had made a promise to each other, but I wanted to be close to Grey. I couldn’t explain it without sounding irrational. He made me smile without applying any effort. It just made no sense, and yet when he was around, everything did.

It was hard to explain, but at this point, all I wanted was to bring him back home. I wanted to see him safe. In our home.

Lightly knocking on the door, I tried it a few times, but I wasn’t sure my knocks could be heard amidst the music and noise from out here.

“Grey?” I knocked again, but when I pressed my ear against the door and didn’t hear anything, I decided to turn the knob, letting myself in.

There was a small welcome settee inside, in contrast of black and white. A white lamp was switched on, the only lighting available. To my right, which I was assuming to be the bedroom, there was a door ajar, and from the loud noise I still couldn’t hear anything.

I stood in place, not knowing what to do. It was at that point that the bedroom door swung open and one of the women I had seen him with earlier came out dressed in boxers, which I was assuming were his, and a lace bra. She and I jumped at the same time, shocked to bump into each other. Well, from the looks of things, she saw me like I was an intruder.

“Can I help you?
Are you lost?
This is a private party.” Her smoky eyes gathered in my short jean shorts and my loose white shirt.