I stilled. “Who’s ruling my life?”
“Greyson.” She frowned, looking sad. “After him—after that visit from Liam—you’re not the same. If you’re so broken without him, wouldn’t it better if you won him back? I know you have this whole plan with Liam, but doesn’tright nowmatter? Look at yourself. You don’t look happy anymore.” She held my hand, giving me strength. “Think about it. He might just be what you need to live again.”
Think of right now… as in Greyson. How the fuck did I manage to think of him without shriveling from his hate-filled glances?
My thoughts halted when I saw the guys had started to stroll towards us, Jet included. Grey wore dark shades, geared in black from head to foot. Even from afar, my body was wired to respond to him.
It was the most frustrating thing in the world.
I was holding my breath as I watched him round the driver’s side, sending out thank you prayers for having tinted windows as he and the rest hopped on board. If I could stick my face on the window I would because I didn’t want to make any eye contact, especially with the driver.
“You guys set?” I heard him ask and everyone chimed in their excitement.
I was the only one dying here. It was only a weekend. I could easily survive it… that was until I accidently looked into the rearview mirror and my eyes clashed with his fiery golden ones. It was only a second before I broke away from his penetrating stare.
I couldn’t breathe.
He knew I was here, in his car, and I didn’t know what to think, what to do. The only thing I could always count on was him being busy with women once the party started. Hopefully, by then, he’d forget that I was part of this trip.
Where was Edith or Tiffany? How come I hadn’t seen either one?
* * *
The two-hour drive seemed like it was going to go forever due to, for whatever reason, the fact that he was having a silent battle with me. It was as if he was daring me to look into the rearview mirror, and each and every time I succumbed, he’d be there… waiting.
This happenedfive times, and each time our eyes clashed, he would just stare until I broke contact. He was fucking with me, and it was working.
I didn’t think my heart settled from being dislodged in my throat for that entire drive to that rustic cabin, which would accommodate all fifteen of us.
“Where’s Jet?” I asked Gavin the second I had the chance when he was unloading the bags out of the trunk. Josie was right next to us, busily texting her parents, and Grey was inside the cabin, turning on the heat and making sure everything was working fine.
He shrugged as he handed me my bag. “He’s coming afterwards. He went to go and get a couple of his cousins that are visiting from New York.”
“Cool. Thanks.” There was nothing weird between Gavin and I, and thank goodness for that. I think he would be better off with Josie. Their personalities meshed with each other.
Josie decided to hang around downstairs with Gavin as I hunted down for our bedroom together. I was told that all the rooms were available; all except the master bedroom. That room was reserved for Greyson.
I had no idea where his bedroom was located in this massive log cabin. Since his was going to be huge and well equipped with all the bells and whistles, I had to follow my gut and scout for the simplest room, knowing it would be the total opposite of his. The room consisted of two full-sized beds, a shower and a decent size sitting area. It also overlooked the mountains covered with powdery snow, which glimmered like white crystals contrasting the pine trees.
It’s so beautiful here, I thought as I released a melancholy sigh. Loneliness wasn’t a common occurrence, but as of late, I got a tinge of deep yearning for company from time to time. The only thing I could blame it on was relying so much on Liam during the summer season, and of course, that one-week stint I’d had with Greyson.
It truly was heart-warming to see Josie happy with her newly blossoming relationship with Gavin, but I had to admit, I did miss my friend sometimes. I thought Gavin would treat her so much better than her ex-boyfriend. Who needed a double-timing, piece of shit scumbag anyway?
From the sound of things, it looked like everyone was downstairs, catching up and unwinding. I wanted to join in on the fun, though I somehow felt left out. Apart from Josie, the rest were just school friends; there was nothing real there other than a bunch of people I studied with and partied with on occasion. Since everyone was probably drinking and lounging, I decided to take a nap. Maybe when I woke up later, I’d feel much better and would be able to stomach some alcohol in my system.
I slept like a baby, and when it was time to wake up, at first I was startled at my foreign surroundings. It took a while to dawn on me that I was in the cabin; it was hardnotto recall after I heard shrills of laughter coming from downstairs.
Sighing, I decided to take a quick shower and join the rest of the gang. My reading could start tomorrow. Tonight, I planned to enjoy and take full advantage of getting drunk and partying until the break of dawn. That was why we were here after all.
Dressed in cashmere leggings as well as a black, cable sweater paired with my black, flat boots, I headed for downstairs.
Fifteen people in one place could get rowdy, however the moment I entered the living room, all eyes were on me.
“Ah, you must be Olivia!” a tall, dark-haired man, roughly in his early twenties greeted me.
The first thing I thought was,who the hell was he? Second,damn, was he single? Liam and I had been having a little tiff for a few days now. He’d said that I was becoming insensitive. Could this be a prime example? Looked like it.
Giving him a friendly smile, I greeted him. Everyone was basically lounging around, some talking while the others played pool and video games. Grey was at the pool table, playing with Jet. From here, I had a great view of him. He’d changed his clothing, from dark to light. I was enjoying a carefree chat amongst everyone, including Gavin, when the dark-haired man again approached me, sitting himself right in between Josie and I.