Only Forever by Cristin Harber Read Free Book Online Page A

but now that real life is settling in for Gray and me as a couple, is he having doubts?
    “Everything okay?” It’s the thousandth time I’ve asked him that today. Maybe he’s not over the Emerald’s thing. Maybe he is upset that Mazie took off back south, and I wasn’t overly interested in hearing about it. I rolled my eyes when he called her this morning. He said something about her checking out of the hotel room for him, I think. Maybe, maybe, maybe. My mind spirals as I let the camera hang on my neck.
    Are you mad at me now? Hurt or bored or antsy?
    No matter how I’ve asked, all of his answers are the same. He isn’t mad, angry, or holding a deep grudge because I shook my booty for cash at Emerald’s. Honestly, I’m surprised he let me off the hook for that, but then again, he made it perfectly clear we’ve both made our choices and we should move forward. I like that. Except my sixth sense is going berserk.
    He flips a burger. “Yeah, I’m good.”
    I bite my lip, scared to ask the only question I have left. But it has to happen, especially with him staying here. I walk closer, even though I’m already way out of earshot of our girl. “If you’re not ready to do this, we don’t need to talk to Cally.”
    His spatula-holding hand drops, and his eyes go wide. “What? Why?”
    “Because something is off, and I don’t want to rush this.” I go back to biting my lip. “I don’t want to ruin us because we rushed. Everything is really perfect right now, and I know that doesn’t last forever, but I don’t want it to stop so soon.”
    “Baby.” He drops the lid on the grill, puts down the utensil, and pulls me into his arms. “It’s not like that. I promise. This isn’t rushed. Hell, it’s far past due.”
    “But there is something.”
    He doesn’t answer, and my gut drops all the way to the floor. “Please, just tell me.”
    He’s holding me, but mentally, he’s drifting. “It’s really nothing.”
    “You’re killing me.”
    His chest expands with a giant breath in, making the tight T-shirt stretch over his sculpted body. I watch as he holds it in, dropping his head back to look at the sunset sky, then lets it out. As he does, I feel as if he goes with that lost breath.
    “Just tell me,” I whisper, hoping my words will somehow bring him back to me.
    “Pops died.”
    “What?” That’s not what I expected to hear, and I have no idea what to say. Good riddance? Are you okay? I’m not sorry. Really, I don’t know what I am, so I stare up at the orange-pink sky and lean onto his chest.
    Finally, he pulls back, opens the grill, and pulls the burgers onto a waiting platter. When he’s done, he tosses the spatula down with a clatter and lowers the lid. I still don’t know what to say, so I walk behind him and wrap my arms around him. My hands clasp against his chest, and my chin rests on his shoulder blade. Under my backward hug, his body relaxes, and he turns, letting my hands drop to his side, though I refuse to let go. I can see a thousand emotions warring for prominence on his face.
    “See?” His lips twist into… not really a frown, but definitely a furrow. “Confusing, right?”
    “Grayson…” I release my hold on him and run my palms over his stomach, up his chest, and down his shoulders, finally stopping on his biceps. “Your dad died. He was awful, but still, he was… your dad.”
    His face skews even more. “Yeah, about that. Turns out, he wasn’t.”
    My eyes peel back. “What? What do you mean?”
    “That Mazie-diner night? I saw him earlier, and it clicked.” He spins me around and nods to Cally. “How could I feel something so deep for her in a matter of seconds, but he… never once did he care.” Grayson turns me back to face him then pushes my hair off my face. “Anyway, I called him on it. He didn’t disagree. Randall’s not my dad.”
    “Well…” I lean against him as he lays his arm over my shoulder. “God, Gray. I’m not sure what to