His phone was already in his hand as he nodded. “Yeah, he needs to know where you are.”
“Because he said so, or because he gives a damn?” I couldn’t stop the snappy retort. I would have thought after last night, things between Brock and me would be clearer to me, but everything was so fucking muddled in my head.
Grayson grinned. “Both.”
I took the clothes from him and walked my soggy ass into the bathroom. Alone, I gave myself a moment to just breathe, to allow myself to feel safe. I didn’t know how long I’d be able to stay here or where I’d go for the night, but for now, I wouldn’t think about it. I’d deal with it when the time came.
Peeling off the wet clothes plastered to my body, I picked through the few pieces of clothes. They smelled of laundry soap with a hint of vanilla. I held up a pair of purple jogging pants and a white knitted top with a floral print in the logo. These were Kenna’s. Her style was different than mine, cute and super girly. I didn’t mind purple, but floral… not my thing.
Slipping into the cozy joggers, I opted for a plain V-neck T-shirt in cream instead of the white floral. They fit perfectly. But as my triplet, it shouldn’t have come as a surprise that we were similar in stature. It was a weird feeling, wearing something that belonged to a sister I’d never met. In a way, it made me feel close to her.
Grayson just ended his call to Brock as I came out of the bathroom. He sat on the edge of his bed and glanced up at my approach. “Let me guess, he demanded to come get me,” I said.
The look on his face told me I was right before he even spoke. “More or less. I convinced him it wasn’t a good idea. You’ll stay here for the night.”
I sat on the bed beside him, leaving plenty of space between us. I would have thought being alone in Grayson’s room would be awkward. It wasn’t. Just the opposite. Being at his house felt right. For the first time since I’d left my old house on the other side of town, I felt as if I belonged. “What about your parents?”
He shrugged. “They’ll be cool with it.”
I let him see my gratitude. “Thank you.”
Setting his phone aside on the nightstand, he replied, “I figured you came here for a reason.”
I tugged on the end of a damp strand of my hair. “I got into a fight with Angie. Carter was there.”
“Did they hurt you?” His brandy-colored eyes darkened as he scanned over my face looking for new marks.
Here went nothing. “No, but I told her I knew what she had done. I couldn’t pretend anymore. I couldn’t let her or Carter control me further.”
Grayson ran his fingers through his hair. “You didn’t have a choice, Josie. It’s okay.”
“Mikayla.”
Grayson’s dark eyes flickered. “What?”
I frowned slightly. “She told me my name was Mikayla.”
Grayson's voice dropped. “Yeah.” Silence followed for a moment, as we were both absorbed in the past and the deception that brought us here. “We need to tell my parents before Angie tries to pull the harboring a runaway bullshit. It’s the only way to keep you safe.”
I agreed, but the idea of telling them filled me with trepidation. It was stupid to think they would reject me, but the fear was there, like a little thorn stuck in my heart. They didn’t know me, and I didn’t know them, but that bead doubt wondered if they would even want to know me. Nearly eighteen years later. Perhaps they were happy with the two children they had.
I picked at my nails, needing something to do with my hands. “Carter was there when it all came out.”
“All the more reason that you and I take control of the situation. We don’t need your… hell, I don’t know what to call her, your kidnapper?” he tested, and then shook his head. “Whatever, what is important is that we have a legal leg to stand on if she tries to pull the cops into this again. She tried that shit with your, uh, dad because she knows he doesn’t have the financial means to fight. That isn’t true here. My parents will fight her.”
I chewed on the inside of my cheek. “How can you be so sure?”
“I don’t think my mom ever really let you go. Call it motherly instinct or whatever, but she’s never forgotten you. Then of course there is the fact that you look so much like Kenna. It won’t be hard for them to believe you’re their daughter.”
“Is your dad here?”
“Our dad,” he corrected, a concept my mind still was learning to accept. “And he won’t be back until late tonight. We’ll tell them tomorrow. Together. Tonight just try and get some sleep.”
I flung back on the bed, staring up at his ceiling. “I can’t believe this is happening. I’m not sure I’m ready now.”
He nudged one of my legs hanging over the bed with his foot. “Everything will work out. You’re back where you belong, with us.”
I wasn’t sure if he was talking about his family or the Elite. It didn’t matter. I wanted both. Turning on my side, I propped my head upon my hand, looking up at Grayson. “How did you feel when you found out me?”