The night my best friend slept with my secret crush, I found comfort in the arms of the famous sports star brothers...

One

Hallie’s POV

Is there anything worse than watching your two friends suddenly start making out during your horror movie night?

Unfortunately yes… I hated third wheeling already as it is but it's different when one of them is the boy you’ve known since childhood and secretly loved…the other is the girl who knows all about your pathetic little crush.

That is exactly what is happening to me right now.

“Would you two at least pretend to be interested in this movie?” I grumbled as the sound of their kisses filled the room.

They didn’t acknowledge me, if anything the sound of kissing beside me only grew louder.

So much for a movie night… it was almost like I had known all along that this was going to happen.

We had picked a ninety-minute horror movie, and nearly an hour of it had passed with both of them eating each other's faces.

I pinched the bridge of my nose, trying to keep my emotions in check.

The only horror in this room was me being forced to third-wheel yet again.

Chloe giggled at something Mason whispered in her ear causing me to turn to look at them and immediately wished I didn’t.

Mason sat slouched against the couch with Chloe straddling his lap.

My chest tightened at the sight.

I know I should’ve looked away right then… I wanted to but I watched as her fingers tangled through his hair before pulling him even closer.

I forced the lump that had settled in my throat down.

And to think they hadn’t even caught me staring, it was almost like I had ceased to exist in this room.

I pushed the traitorous flash image that appeared at the back of my head down:

“You two are actually unbelievable.”

Mason finally pulled away, looking at me with an amused grin.

“What is it, Hallie?” he drawled.

At this point, it wasn’t funny anymore.

“I’m sure you both forgot, but it’s movie night and I don’t plan to spend it listening in as both of you eat each other’s faces.”

Chloe giggled, placing kisses all over his face.

“Just let us be, Hallie. We’ll be quiet this time,” she muttered before burying her face in her boyfriend’s neck.

“She’s just jealous and single,” Mason teased, wrapping his arms around Chloe’s waist.

I threw a piece of popcorn at him and watched as it bounced off his forehead causing him to laugh.

Seconds later… The sound of their exchange of saliva filled the room again and this time around, I could tell they were about to do more than just kissing.

I dropped the popcorn bowl onto the coffee table with a little more force than necessary. “Can you two seriously stop?”

“It sounds like two fish fighting over the last crumb.”

Both of them had the nerve to act all innocent, “We’d try to be quiet.”

“Thank you.”

They. Didn’t. Even. Try!

I hadn’t even gotten the chance to complain again when Chloe finally pulled away with a pout. “You’re really starting to ruin the mood.”

The mood wasn’t a romantic evening!

“I wasn’t aware there was supposed to be a mood on horror movie night!”

Mason looked between us, “We’ll just move somewhere else.”

“Great.”

I reached for another handful of popcorn.

“Enjoy.”

They both stood up and I tried my best not to look hurt that yet another event with my two favourite people was over before it started before I saw that Chloe didn’t pick up her bag…

Alarm bells started ringing in my head when neither of them headed toward the front door but rather towards my bedroom.

“Uhmmm…Where exactly are you going?”

“Your room,” Mason answered casually with a shrug.

I laughed, “You’re joking.”

He wasn’t.

“We’ll only be…”

I cut him off before he could finish, “You can’t make plans for the three of us after such a long time, then spend the entire night making out with Chloe.”

“Hallie common.”

“No.” I shook my head. “If that’s all tonight was going to be, then you shouldn’t have organized it in the first place.”

Chloe folded her arms looking annoyed, “Why are you making such a big deal out of this?”

I felt something snap inside me.

Ever since they’d started dating, I’d accepted becoming the occasional third wheel.

It sucked but I dealt with it by avoiding outings that made me one, tonight was supposed to be different.

Mason had been the one that texted, asking if we could all hang out and insisted we continue our old movie-night tradition before summer ended.

Only for me to spend the past hour watching them make out and almost go down on each other.

“You seriously don’t see anything wrong with making me cancel my own plans just to sit here and watch you guys for an hour?”

Chloe rolled her eyes, “It wasn’t that bad and you are just making it so weird… every single time Mason touches me, you suddenly have something to say.”

I stared at her, shocked that this was all she was going to say to me after all I had said, “What exactly is that supposed to mean Chloe?”

“It means you’re obviously upset and we both know that’s not why.”

Mason looked between us, completely confused, “What are you talking about?”

Chloe scoffed, “Look, I’m sorry I started dating Mason even though you said you liked him first. But that doesn’t mean you get to act this bitchy every time he touches me!”

I took a step back, staring at her in disbelief.

God, please let this be a nightmare.

For one terrifying second, everything around me went still, the only sound was coming from the movie we were supposed to be watching.

I knew I shouldn’t have, but I couldn’t stop myself from meeting Mason’s gaze.

A wince escaped my lips as I saw the smile on his face had vanished, and was now replaced by shock and confusion.

“…Hallie?”

What was I supposed to say? That she was right? That I’d been crushing on my best friend since I was six, and now, at seventeen, I still was?

My lips parted but words failed me, all I wanted right now was for the ground to swallow me whole.

I turned and could have sworn that I saw the corner of her lips lift up slightly in a smile.

It was gone before I could make sense of it…

Why had she done this to me?

I had trusted Chloe with that secret years ago.

Every time Mason came to me with stories about another girl, he’d unknowingly broken my heart and in return I always vented to her.

With time, I got used to the fact that he didn’t see me that way and when he came out to me about dating Chloe, I had taken a step back.

Until tonight…

“You… like me?” I heard Mason ask causing me to still.

I avoided his eyes as I replied coldly, “no”

The lie came out so quickly.

“And you know what, this movie night is over so please just go home!”

Nobody moved.

“I said please get the fuck out.” I repeated, this time my voice was shaky but there was no way I was going to break in front of them… of her!

“Hallie, let’s just talk it out.” she continued as though she hadn’t heard me.

What was there to talk about?

She hadn’t had anything to drink all night that meant she had said that to hurt me… all for what?

It wasn’t like I had been involved in any way with their relationship and arguments… I knew my place and stayed there.

“No! Just go… please.” I pointed toward the front door with a shaking hand. “Both of you.”

Mason took a hesitant step forward to which I shook my head.

“Please don’t.”

The silence that followed was deafening but none of them argued again.

Chloe grabbed her bag while Mason just stood looking at me as if searching for the right words.

I didn’t dare meet his gaze.

A second later, the front door clicked shut.

I stood frozen in the middle of the living room for a while before I felt the first tear slid down.

Then another until I was crying so hard I could barely breathe.

About thirty minutes later, the front door creaked open.

“I really don’t want to speak to either of you,” I yelled, not bothering to look up. “So just go home.”

Somehow, I’d found solace on the couch, finishing the horror movie alone while tears continued to stream down my face.

“Hallie?” My mothers voice called back instead.

“Mom?”

My head snapped up to find her and Dad standing by the front door, their brows knitted together in confusion.

They weren’t supposed to be back today.

Thankfully, the living room was dimly lit. I was quick to wipe my cheeks, my face burning with embarrassment.

“I… thought you were someone else.” I muttered under my voice as I pushed myself off the couch.

It wasn’t like they planned on sticking around.

They never did… they were always leaving for one business trip or another and I’d gotten used to it.

I figured they’d freshen up and head back out, just like always so I headed towards my room when Dad’s voice stopped me.

“Hallie, we need to talk.”

They hadn’t even brought any luggage inside, which only proved my point.

I sat back down and they sat at opposite ends.

Mom was the first to speak, “Your father and I will be leaving for Paris in three days and will be back in roughly six months.”

She offered me an apologetic smile as she continued, “I know we promised we’d celebrate your birthday with you this year but this trip is very important.”

I just stared blankly at them.

We had this conversation every time they wanted to travel. It always started the same way and ended with an apology.

I nodded absentmindedly once she was done, I once again moved to head upstairs when Dad spoke again.

“You’ll need to start packing too as you’ll be leaving tomorrow.”

Every hair on the back of my neck stood up and no one needed to tell me to sit my ass back down.

“Why? I have school.”

“Exactly. Which is why you won’t be staying here alone.” He replied.

I frowned but let him continue.

“The neighbors already gossip enough as it is,” he explained. “We don’t want to give them another reason to talk, so you’ll be staying with some close friends of ours.”

Relief washed over me.

At least it wasn't a boarding school.

“You should know the Graysons.” Mom said, almost gushing as she added. “They have two boys around your age.”

My stomach dropped.

Just when I thought this day wouldn’t get any worse.

Two

Hallie’s POV

I did know the Graysons brothers.

Rhett Grayson was the captain of the baseball team… rumor had it that he had dated half the girls at Westbrook High.

And his brother, Knox was the captain of the football team… unlike Rhett, apparently he might be gay or mute, I had even heard people calling him condescending.

“Nah, I’d rather stay home.”

Mom stopped talking mid-sentence in her songs of praises to face me, “What did you just say? You know we already made arrangements with the Graysons so cancelling isn’t an option.”

That was her concern, not why I didn’t want to go… or why I didn’t seem to be in a good mood.

Even though I wasn’t surprised anymore, I wished they would care.

“I don’t give a flying fuck.”

Dad finally said, “Language!”

Ignoring him, I stood up to leave but mom was soon on my heels, “When you go up to your room, pack up… we’d be dropping you at Graysons tomorrow.”

I might have wiped my eyes the moment they walked in but now she was glaring at me, couldn’t she see that I wasn’t okay?

“No!”

I watched her brows knit together into a frown.

“This isn’t up for discussion.” She replied before turning to dad for support. He was momentarily on his phone leaving her to deal with me… the problem.

“I don’t want to go. I’m not feeling…” My voice cracked as the disaster from just barely hours ago came rushing back.

The last thing I needed was to become the center of attention at school.

The Grayson brothers had unknowingly turned me into a target for bullies once. A single encounter with them had been enough for their fan girls to decide I was competition.

Back then, Chloe and Mason's social standing had shielded me from the worst of it but now… I didn’t even know where my friendship stood so it’d be social suicide for me if word got out that I was living under the same roof as the Grayson brothers…

“Donald.” Mom scolded him and he finally dropped his phone.

“You know we care about you, right? We didn’t know this meeting would come up so suddenly. If we had more time, we would’ve…”

“Would’ve what?” I cut him off. “Cancelled it?”

He hesitated before answering, “No.”

“Exactly, your work always comes first… it always has and I have grown used to it so don’t get to act like concerned parents now.”

My eyes burned, but I refused to let the tears fall and worse still it wasn’t because I was sad but rather I was burning in anger and tiredness.

“I have been alone since I turned nine… this won’t be any different.” I added softly, hoping the crack in my voice went unnoticed.

It did.

Mom’s expression hardened.

“You are such an ungrateful brat,” she snapped almost immediately, “Do you have any idea how hard your father and I work to give you this life?”

Silence filled the room, only for a second because I was quick to retort.

“You are right. I’m an ungrateful brat but what exactly do I have to be so grateful about? I barely have parents.”

A gasp rang out and at the same time the slap that had landed across my face echoed across the room.

I could feel the tears I tried holding back escape.

Mom stood with her chest rising and falling rapidly, “What has come over you?! Do you have no idea how hard we work?”

My vision blurred.

Without another word, I turned and ran.

“Hallie!” Dad called out after me.

My reply was slamming my bedroom door hard behind me.

As I crawled up in bed, the tears I’d fought so hard to keep in finally escaped… from the humiliation of Chloe telling on me and now this?

I could hear them amidst my sobs.

“What the hell was that?” Dad demanded. “You didn’t have to hit her.”

“Oh please Donald, you know she crossed the line!”

“And so did you!”

Their argument soon faded and for the first time in a long time… I had never felt more alone.

The next morning…

I woke up early with mom screaming that I got dressed.

Maybe if I ignore her, she’d let this go.

She didn't.

After thirty minutes of pretending I hadn’t seen her enter my room, I stirred thinking she was gone only to see her holding my phone.

“You have less than an hour to get dressed.”

“I already told you,” I mumbled, not meeting her eyes. “I’m not going.”

She didn’t argue.

If she had cared enough to ask, she’d know I probably need time off my phone.

Throughout the night I had received texts from Mason but none from Chloe.

She was the head cheerleader and I thought she had beat the mean cheerleader allegations but now, I feared how many people she must have told this.

So it was good that I wasn’t getting my phone….

I dragged herself into the bathroom for a shower and made sure to take my time in there, hoping she’d just drop this.

My heart fell when I stepped back into my room to see my suitcase beside the bedroom door.

I strutted towards it and she pushed it out of my way.

“I have no time for these tantrums… If you aren’t staying at the Graysons you’d have to find somewhere else to stay!” She looked serious as she said it.

She waited for me to protest and when I didn’t she picked up my suitcase.“Now, meet me downstairs in twenty minutes.”

Was this really happening?

I got my voice just as she stepped out the door, “Mom you can’t do this.”

No response.

“Mom!”

I hurriedly put on the crop top and short she had left on the bed before hurrying after her.

“I could stay with Aunt Denise or Petra.”

“Aunt Denise is in Canada and I’d be damned to let you stay with Petra” she replied opening the passenger door, “Now if I have to physically put you in this car, I will.”

“You wouldn’t.”

She raised one eyebrow.

That was all the warning I got and before I knew it, I was at the passenger side while mom drove off to the Graysons..

“The Graysons called to say they wouldn’t be there to receive you… and that only because you decided to be late.” She turned to face me as she added, “What even is your problem?”

I scoffed.

If she had asked me this yesterday then maybe I would have had an answer but not anymore.

“Your dad said he’d send you some money, he would have tagged along but he had to go to the office very early.”

I ignored her.

“Hallie, if there is something…”

Before she could complete that rhetorical question I interrupted, “I hate this stupid arrangement but I hate you more for forcing this down my throat.”

A flicker of hurt crossed her face before she looked away.

“I know.”

The rest of the drive was quiet.

I spent most of it glaring out the window while Mom hummed to whatever was playing on the radio.

Forty minutes later, the car slowed to a stop outside black gates.

“We’re here,” Mom announced.

I huffed in response.

She reached into her handbag and pulled out an envelope, “Give this to Mrs. Grayson.”

Then she pressed a stack of bills and my phone in my hand, “And here’s some money, just in case you need anything.”

I stared at it before meeting her eye through the rear view mirror, “So… that’s it?”

“I’ll call you tonight.”

I almost laughed. We both knew that was a lie and this was probably the last I’d see or hear from her… the next will be when they show up unannounced and expect me to jump in delight.

“I love you,” she called as I climbed out of the car.

I had barely turned around when the engine rumbled to life and a second later, her car disappeared down the road, leaving me standing there with my suitcase without so much as another glance.

My phone buzzed.

Mason: Hallie, please talk to me.

Another vibration.

Mason: Can Chloe and I come over?

Another.

Mason: Hallie?

I locked my phone without replying. This was trouble already brewing because what did he want to talk about?

It was already embarrassing that I had a crush on my best friend…

And with everything from last night, I wasn’t ready to have any pity conversation nor was I even sure I ever would be.

Three

Hallie’s POV

Taking a deep breath, I dragged my suitcase past the gate and towards the door.

The Grayson mansion looked even bigger up close with perfect hedges and a stone fountain.

They were certainly the type of rich, mom and dad craved to be.

I pressed the doorbell and a few seconds later, the front door opened.

“You must be Hallie.” The woman with a very wide smile greeted me, to which I forced a polite smile as I nodded.

“Come in, dear. We’ve been expecting you… Mrs Grayson apologizes for not being able to wait for you.”

I wheeled my suitcase inside.

“Thank you.”

The moment I stepped inside, the scent of freshly baked bread and a sense of warmth greeted me.

Over the years, I have met plenty of Mom’s rich friends, and their houses all had the same cold feel but this was different.

It felt… like a home.

“Master Rhett!” the housekeeper called toward the back of the house. “Your guest is here!”

I shifted awkwardly on my feet, as I heard heavy footsteps from the hallway.

“HEADS UP!” I heard him shout, just in time to see something blur toward me from across the hallway.

My eyes widened as I ducked, causing the baseball to whiz past my head and slam into the wall behind me.

What the actual hell?

“Are you…” My voice trailed off as he came around the corner. Oh.

The cuss words that had been sitting on the tip of my tongue suddenly vanished, leaving my mouth hanging open as I stared at Rhett Grayson who had a baseball glove hung from one hand while the other held another ball.

My eyes traveled from his dirty-blond hair, damp with sweat, to the messy strands falling over his forehead. It didn’t help that he was shirtless, wearing dark athletic shorts that hung low on his hips.

I swallowed hard, trying and failing not to stare at his broad chest and the defined muscles of his abs, or the way his skin glistened with sweat.

Good Lord…

“Oh shit! I’m so fucking sorry!”

His baritone voice drew my gaze back to his face… and I had almost forgotten that he’d nearly knocked my brains out.

I had never been this close to playboy Rhett Grayson before. My greedy ass just couldn’t look away as I took in the faint freckles scattered across his cheeks and the bridge of his nose.

He was still saying something, but I barely heard a word. His lips had me in a trance, and I just couldn’t seem to drag my eyes away from them.

I hated to admit it but Rhett… was annoyingly attractive.

He suddenly stopped talking. His gaze shifted toward the baseball lying near the wall, and his frown deepened even more.

“Mum is going to kill me!”

“Hallie right?” He muttered as he rushed over, rubbing the back of his neck, “This wasn’t the kind of reception I had in mind.”

It took me a second to remember that I didn’t like him…

“It’s fine,” I muttered, even though it really wasn’t.

He flashed me a wide grin, “I’m Rhett.”

“I figured.” I said dismissively.

Who was he giving that smile anyway?

If he thought that was going to get a chance to mess around with me because he had a nice face and a body that looked like… ahem! I wasn’t one of his little girlfriends.

Whatever they were called.

Bunnies? Groupies?

Most importantly he wasn’t my type.

“Mrs. Hargrove, can you make sure her room is all set?” He turned to me and added with a wink, “You get the one with the balcony overlooking the pool.”

Lucky me!

“It’s been ready for hours, now let her breathe, Rhett,” Mrs. Hargrove said as she returned to the hallway, she gave me an apologetic smile. “I’ll take your suitcase upstairs, dear.”

“Thank you,” I murmured, handing it over even though part of me wanted to grab it and bolt back out the door.

Rhett looked back at me.

“You’re gonna love it here.”

I highly doubted that.

“We’ve got a pool, a game room, a home theater, and the kitchen is basically open twenty-four seven.”

“So,” he said, clapping his hands together. “How about a grand tour?”

Before I could answer, another set of footsteps sounded from the opposite hallway causing Rhett’s head to turn, mine followed.

And that was when I saw him.

Knox Grayson.

Unlike his brother, Knox had a colder aura about him, and he was noticeably taller, too.

Not that I was staring at him or anything… Okay, maybe I was but I just couldn’t help it, Knox was just as handsome as his brother if not even more.

He was tall, broad-shouldered, and built in a way that the hoodie fit a little too snugly around his arms…

I know I shouldn’t but my gaze lingered, moving to his dark brown hair was tousled, with a few strands falling over his forehead, and his expression was… my thoughts disappeared as his blue eyes turned to mine.

Ba-thump.

He was close… my heart gave another embarrassing thump.

Ba-thump.

So fucking close.

Time seemed to slow as he walked past, his cologne filling my nose as it did.

I shouldn’t have waved… I mean I didn’t know what I was expecting but it certainly wasn’t for him to look away, without so much as a nod, pretending I didn’t exist as he walked straight past us.

I stood there with my hand awkwardly suspended in the air, feeling like an absolute idiot.

Seriously?

I stared after him in shock until he disappeared down the hallway, my lips pressing into a thin line and just as he did, Rhett turned back to me.

“That’s Knox, don’t worry, he doesn’t like everyone.”

Well I don’t like him either! Jerk!

I could already tell how this was going to play out… prior to my thoughts on coming here, this was going to be interesting!

Rhett’s voice interrupted my thoughts, “Don’t mind him.”

“Oh, I wasn’t.” I replied, trying to act cool.

“The death threats in your eyes says otherwise,” he joked before adding, “he’s usually grumpy in the morning.”

Grumpy? That was just straight up rude.

I scoffed but didn’t push.

“Well we had start off downstairs, we didn’t really have much here… just the kitchen.” He pointed towards where Knox had been.

Then he continued, “Then the living area, and a few other rooms.”

He said it in a way that meant he didn’t want to talk about it.

“Upstairs is more of our fort.” he clarified with a grin. “Where we spend most of our time… now you are here you will also.”

As we walked up the stairs, pictures of his family lined the walls. My eyes caught the picture of their mom, she was beautiful and clearly where the boys had gotten their looks from.

Mom was right though, about their achievements… A few baseballs sat inside glass cases, and there were framed newspaper articles with both brothers' names splashed across the headlines.

Show offs!

He stopped in front of the first door before pushing it open.

“This is yours.”

The room was BIG, literally twice the size of my room and pink.

You could tell a lot of thoughts went into the decor which was weird because the Graysons had no girl except…

I shook my head, there was no way they did all this for a guest.

A queen-sized bed sat beneath the window, bookshelves lined one wall, a study desk tucked beside floor-to-ceiling windows…glass doors that led onto a balcony.

“I wasn’t expecting this.”

He was juggling the ball in his hands as he chuckled, “Mom might have gone a little overboard with the arrangements.”

“A little? This is a whole lot!”

But why?

“I’m just a guest,” I murmured.

He looked thrown back, “Don’t say this to her… she is quite a girl child fanatic so while you are here you are family.”

“You’re kidding.”

“Nope.”

He grinned proudly, “Welcome home Hallie.”

I refused to let my subconscious thoughts dwell on that word.

Rhett waited while I dumped my backpack onto the bed before continuing the tour.

If I didn’t know any better, I would’ve thought he was actually happy that I was here.

“That’s mine.” He said, pointing to the door opposite mine.

I nodded before he pointed to the one beside mine, “And that’s Knox’s.”

Oh great.

“The game room and theater are at the other end of the hallway.”

I laughed, “I probably won’t need either. I don’t even know how to play most games.”

And I was staying off movies for now.

“Perfect, I get to teach you.”

Rhett had this air of personality around him that had me relaxed and by the time he finished showing me around, the heaviness I’d carried since last night had eased a little.

Maybe staying here wouldn’t be completely awful.

As if reading my mind, he nudged my shoulder, “Now you have me wondering why you avoid me in school.”

I was taken off guard.

There was no way the popular golden boy knew that I had avoided looking his way.

Heat rushed to my cheeks, “I don’t…”

The look on his face showed me that he didn’t believe me, “Goodluck ignoring me after today though.”

“I wouldn’t dare.”

Seeing him being so open wasn’t what I was expecting. Most of Mason's circle were standoffish and when coming here, a part of me was convinced they would too.

We stopped at my bedroom door once again, “There is one rule, though.”

“Oh?”

He leaned in, lowering his voice dramatically as he replied, “Stay away from Knox’s room.”

That threw me off.

Did he think I was some desperate creep? Or one of their fan girls?

“I can assure you,” I said dryly, “I have absolutely no interest in either your brother or you.”

Silence.

Then he let out a chuckle, “No offense taken but it isn’t that… Knox is quite particular about his space and I would hate for you to be on the receiving end of one of his moods.”

“Ohhh,” I tilted my head, feeling immediately guilty. “That bad?”

“He wouldn’t hurt you or anything.” Rhett scratched the back of his neck. “He just… doesn’t react well.”

I nodded.

Rhett was about walking away when I thought out loud.

“So… does that mean he’s not gay then?”

Rhett stopped then burst into laughter and only when he had gotten himself did he finally reply, “I honestly don’t know.”

It really shouldn’t be our business but now I’m curious.

The sound of footsteps behind us cut me shut.

We both turned for him to walk past wearing black swim shorts, a towel draped around his neck which meant he was heading for the pool.

My eyes betrayed me, drifting over the broad planes of his back before I quickly looked away as his eyes briefly met mine.

Then I mentally slapped myself… Get a grip, Hallie

But seriously, did these boys ever wear shirts?

And why were they both so unfairly ripped?

I had managed to be shown around without once looking at Rhett’s abs and now a shirtless Knox just had to walk past.

“See?” Rhett sighed dramatically. “I barely even exist to him. He just walks around here… completely undiagnosed.”

My lips twitched before I could stop them then unable to hold it in, I burst out laughing. It was the first one I’d managed since everything with Chloe and Mason.

He soon left me and I had managed to freshen up. I was almost done unpacking when Rhett called me downstairs for lunch.

Mrs. Hargrove had prepared sandwiches, grilled chicken and fries, but Knox never showed up.

“Would Knox be joining us?” I asked.

“Nahh. He eats whenever he feels like it.” Rhett replied, before I watched him inhale half a sandwich in two bites.

I chuckled as he tried speaking mouth full.

His ridiculousness reminded me of Mason.

Except in that scene, Chloe would have been beside him trying to rationalize his food and then someone that would turn to food play… one that I would zone out of.

“You’ve been staring at that fry for a full minute.” I looked up to see him pointing at my plate before saying, “if you don’t want to eat now then you could do it later.”

I shook my head.

“It’s not that, I was lost in thoughts.” I replied and he nodded, waiting for me to continue. “I miss my friends but I… It’s kinda complicated.”

He leaned back.

“I’ve got time.”

I stared at him and he nodded, urging me to continue before adding, “Your secret is safe with me… it’s not like I’m a chatterbox.”

Was it much of a secret if Mason knew?

I heaved a breath before telling him about Mason and Chloe… basically all about last night and how I’d never wanted to step foot inside Westbrook High ever again.

When I finished, Rhett was quiet for a few seconds before he smirked, “You know, there are literally hundreds of guys at Westbrook that would kill to date you.”

I snorted.

“I’m serious.” He then added, “And I think your friend definitely saw you as a threat and wants you to feel exactly as you feel now.”

Plain old me… a competition to Chloe?

I laughed awkwardly.

“Rhett, Have you exactly seen Chloe? She’s gorgeous.”

“So are you but judging by that look on your face, you don’t see it.”

I looked away.

There was no way she saw me as a threat. Chloe was pretty, blonde and very slim.

“I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t want someone like me, I’m pretty boring…”

He shushed me immediately and proposed, “How about, if you can figure out whether Knox likes guys or girls…I’ll introduce you to the hottest player at Westbrook.”

I stared at him.

“What do I get out of this besides potentially getting murdered by your brother?”

Rhett chuckled, “A distraction, we both know you badly need one.”

He wasn’t wrong.

“And…” he added with a mischievous grin, “wouldn’t you like to know if Mason ever liked you back? Or if I’m right that your best friend sees you as a threat?”

I needed something, anything to help me stop thinking about Chloe and Mason every second of the day.

“Fine.” I let out an exaggerated sigh.

“Yesss!” Rhett fist-pumped the air, he then paused to look at me, “Wait, are you serious?”

I nodded as I held out my hand, “Deal?”

“Deal.” His hand met mine with a wide grin still on his face.

I swallowed the lump in my throat as my eyes trailed to Knox who had just walked into the kitchen with a towel around his body.

Rhett was right, what exactly did I have to lose?

And besides how hard would it be to figure out if Knox was gay or straight?

Four

Hallie’s POV

Trying to figure out anything about someone who seemed to love staying in the shadows was a nightmare.

Shortly after Rhett left for practice after breakfast, I had seen Knox head toward the pool while talking excitedly to someone on the phone and decided to follow… hoping I might catch a name.

It has been thirty minutes now and I still couldn’t hear what he was saying but he had a smile on his face, which was a very weird sight.

“Ow!” I slapped at the tiny ant crawling up my forearm before glaring at the patch of grass beneath me.

This was the cost of being nosy.

I had ended up blocking Mason, so if this didn’t work, I would have to deal with whatever was waiting for me when school resumed myself. But for now… I was still crouched in the grass.

Pushing those thoughts behind me with a dramatic sigh, I peeked through the hedge again.

Knox Grayson was now in the pool, swimming laps.

Didn’t he ever get tired? Or bored?

I heard the shrill sound of his phone and peeked over to eavesdrop, only to see that he was completely ignoring his call.

I rested my chin on my palms.

“Great. He likes swimming,” I muttered to myself. “That’s definitely going to help me figure out if he likes guys or girls.”

I stayed staring as he completed another lap to reach the edge before gripping the tiles to pull himself out of the water in one motion.

My mouth fell open as I watched water stream down his shoulders, tracing his abs before dripping onto his black swim shorts.

That should have prompted me to look away but I caught sight of the tattoos trailing along his hip before disappearing beneath the waistband… leaving just enough to my imagination to make me intensely curious.

Then again he might be gay, I reminded myself.

My thoughts trailed off as his muscles flexed while he reached for the towel hanging over a nearby chair.

What was I even doing?

I looked away to get a grip. This was supposed to be official investigative business, not… whatever that had just been.

When I glanced back, he wasn’t there anymore.

Oh, come on!

Just then the heavens seemed to smile down on me as his phone rang again.

I scurried out from behind the hedges, hoping to catch a glimpse of the caller ID… so focused on the phone that I barely noticed the tiles around the pool were still damp.

My slipper slid.

“Shit…!”

I flailed my arms, desperately trying to regain my balance, but my body was already tipping sideways toward the pool.

A scream lodged at my throat before an arm suddenly locked around my waist and yanked me backwards to collide against his still damp chest.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” His rough voice came from right behind me, causing a shiver to run down my spine.

I slowly lifted my head to meet his dark blue eyes pulled into a frown as he stared down at me.

My heart slammed against my ribs so hard I was certain he could hear it. His arm was still wrapped around my body, just resting beneath the curve of my breast.

Of all the people who could have caught me, why did it have to be the person I had been spying on?

Still half-draped against his chest, “Hi,” I squeaked.

His eyebrows rose.

Hi?

That was what I had come up with?

I swallowed, “Well, you know. Hello. Good afternoon. Nice weather we are having.”

Something unreadable passed through his expression… irritation? suspicion? I really didn’t care, I just wanted to get the hell out of here.

The silence was uncomfortable.

I forced a small, awkward chuckle as I carefully slipped out of his hold, suddenly overly aware of how close we had been and how little he was wearing.

Without meeting his eyes again, I turned and walked back toward the house as casually as I could manage, every step feeling too fucking loud.

Only once I was safely inside did I finally remember how to breathe… Surely tailing a man in his own house should be as easy as movies made it look.

Shortly after, Knox entered the kitchen and settled down for brunch while I used the opportunity to play games on my phone.

Despite still reeling in embarrassment, I still had no choice but to continue playing. Whoever had called him was surely going to call again, and I didn’t want to miss it.

Once he was done, I kept an eye on him as he washed his plate before heading upstairs just as his phone rang again.

I was immediately up on my feet and right behind him.

The first time he seemed to sense me, I suddenly stopped to admire a vase and the second, I became strangely fascinated by a family portrait and a shelf full of trophies.

Just as he reached the far end of the upstairs hallway, I tried closing the distance between us, only to stop when he did and pretended to study a potted plant.

I was so dumb. I mean what was this game of hide and seek that I was playing?

Now I thought of it, what if the person that had called was just a friend and not someone special? Meaning I spent my mid-morning doing nothing.

Unlike before, Knox didn’t move and I remained frozen.

After what felt like minutes, I could practically feel his gaze on me but he broke the silence, “You’ve been following me, Hallie.”

It wasn’t a question.

This was the second time Knox was acknowledging my existence since yesterday, and I had absolutely no idea how to react.

Not because I liked him but because of the way he rubbed off on people… He always looked like he was trying to intimidate everyone around him.

I forced myself to meet his eyes and oddly enough… I couldn’t find the hostility I had sensed in his house.

“I wasn’t… I wasn’t following you.”

Suprised at my newly found confidence as I folded my arms and lifted my chin, “What makes you think you are special enough to be followed?”

I mentally facepalmed.

What the hell was that awkward phrasing?

“Right…” The dripping sarcasm in his voice had my face burning with embarrassment.

“I just… I was just walking.”

“In the exact same direction as me?” he pressed.

I shrugged.

“Well, the hallway only goes one way, and my room is in that direction too,” I replied, somehow managing to find my voice.

He stared at me for another second before turning and continuing upstairs.

I finally let out the breath I’d been holding.

Real smooth, Hallie.

There was no way I would overhear anything now he had his eyes on me so I decided to finish unpacking the rest of my clothes before convincing myself that a shower might wash away the embarrassment.

It didn’t and only made me hungry.

I put on a baggy top and shorts before heading out for dinner. The sound of a muffled voice drifting from behind Knox’s bedroom door has me stopping in my steps.

Curiosity got the better of me, and despite every warning bell ringing in my head, I stepped closer to listen.

There were more voices now and laughter. A movie… or maybe a video call?

Thankfully, the door wasn’t fully closed.

So I leaned forward planning to take only a peek but the universe had it in for me because the door swung wider.

Knox was sitting on the edge of his bed, completely naked while porn played on his laptop screen.

Oh…

I couldn’t move as my eyes trailed down his body to meet his hand still wrapped around his… oh my gosh.

My gaze stayed rooted there. It seemed like he hadn’t noticed me as the video was still playing… well until his hand moved and a very loud, involuntary gasp escaped my lips.

His eyes snapped open. He turned sharply, gaze locking onto mine before hardening.

His eyes snapped open and turned sharply to meet my gaze before hardening.

“What do you think you are doing here?”

“I…” My brain completely stopped working.

“I fell?”

Five

Hallie’s POV

Oh Hallie, what have you done?

I looked away almost immediately as he stood up. Maybe if I closed my eyes and slowly backed away… this would all go away.

“I didn’t see anything I promise.” I blurted out, silently hoping he’d forget this had ever happened and go back to ignoring me.

If only wishes come true…

He hasn’t said anything yet so I apologised once again, “I’m so so sorry!”

Why wasn’t he saying anything again?

Also why hasn’t I thought of taking a peek at the type of film he was watching to know his preference?

I had heard both a man and a woman’s voices so that wasn't helpful so maybe I… I mean there was no way he was still naked… right?

He sounded closer as he asked, “Why are you spying on me?”

Did he already know? And just want me to confess to it?

“I wasn’t spying!”

My cheeks were burning hot in embarrassment.

“You were standing outside my room after spending the whole after sniffing around.” He said guestering to my pose to which I still doubled down.

I opened my eyes, staring straight at where I had seen the video only for me to let out a scream upon realizing he was standing directly in front with a very annoyed expression on his face.

Knox sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose, “Please just go.”

My feet finally remembered how to function. “Right.” And without looking back I hurried out… only for my heel to be caught in the hallway rug.

“Whoa…” my words were cut off as I slipped and landed squarely on my backside.

Okay… Owww.

Knox stared at me blankly and I stared back.

“I’m leaving now.” I muttered underneath my breath before helping myself up and without waiting for a reply, I scrambled to my feet and fled downstairs.

What was I even thinking?

I am never showing my face to him again.

I shut my eyes as Rhett’s voice echoed through the house, and the image of Knox sitting at the edge of his bed with his hands in between his laps.

Fuck my life.

“Hey, Cupcake.”

Rhett’s voice suddenly whispered right beside my ear as he leaned in, making me jump about a foot into the air.

“How did it go?” he asked, grinning as we walked toward the couch.

First he needed a bath.

But I let out a long, defeated sigh before answering, “I think I would be transferring schools.”

Rhett burst into laughter.

“I’m serious.”

“I know,” he replied as dropped his duffel bag by the side of the couch, still chuckling. “But after one day? That’s got to be a new record. Moreover whatever happened couldn’t have been that bad.”

The flashback haunted me again with that view and I shot him a deadpan look, “Trust me… it was.”

I was about to give him a hint when…

“Oh! You must be Hallie.”

I turned to find a beautiful blonde woman walking toward me with a bright smile that looked almost identical to Rhett’s.

She was dressed like she had just walked out of a magazine and to top that, she didn’t have that stuck-up, untouchable air about her unlike most of Mom’s rich friends.

“I’m Amelia Grayson.” She closed the distance between us before wrapping me in a gentle hug. “Oh it’s so nice to finally put a face to the name.”

I froze for a second.

She…seemed happy I was here, I couldn’t remember the last time I had seen mom happy to see me.

“I’ve heard so much about you,” she continued, pulling away to study my face. “You’re even prettier than your mother described.”

I blushed before muttering, “Thank you.”

She smiled warmly at me, “Oh, sweetheart, there’s no need to be nervous. As far as I’m concerned, you’re family while you’re here.”

Family?

The concept still confused me, here she was happy that her friend's daughter was spending weeks in her house… she had even rearranged her room to look like a teen girl's own and there is my mom who hadn’t even called me yesterday.

It felt… nice to be wanted.

“Dinner’s ready!” Mrs. Hargrove called from the dining room, finally breaking the silence.

“Perfect timing,” Mrs. Grayson said. “Come, you must be starving.”

Dinner was far more chattier than I had expected.

I was used to simply sitting at the table while my parents stayed glued to their phones, only looking up every now and then to discuss work with each other.

The Graysons were the complete opposite.

Conversation flowed effortlessly from one topic to another, with laughter filling the room too… even Knox had something to say only to his mom.

She turned to me with that smile still on her face, “Hallie dear, I hope these two haven’t scared you away yet.”

I looked between the brothers and was about to shake my head when Rhett answered in my place, “One of them has tried.”

Rhett pointed dramatically at Knox, “I told you he’s the problem child.”

Knox ignored what could have been a sibling banger… he didn’t even bother looking up from his plate.

Mrs. Grayson sighed. “Ignore them.”

I’ve been trying, I thought.

And watched in surprise as everyone around the table laughed out loud, well almost everyone, Knox barely paid us any heed.

Mrs. Grayson suddenly looked at the clock, “Oh dear.”

Rhett frowned, “Already?”

“Unfortunately, baby,” Mrs. Grayson replied with an apologetic nod.

Turning to me, she reached across the table and gently squeezed my hand.

“I’m sorry I won’t be able to make you feel at home but I trust my boys will be good.”

I nodded and tried to get to my feet when she stopped me, “Oh no, sweetheart. Sit and finish your dinner.”

She leaned over and kissed Knox on the forehead before doing the same to Rhett… it seemed like a very normal thing because they didn’t react like any normal teen would.

I was shocked when she walked over and placed a gentle kiss on my forehead too.

“I’ll video call all of you,” she said just by the door and a second later, she was gone.

Knox gave a single nod, and for some reason, that tiny gesture made me glance toward him… At the exact same moment, he looked up and our eyes met.

Neither of us looked away.

“What are you two staring at?” Rhett’s voice shattered the silence causing us both to jerk our heads away at exactly the same time.

“N-Nothing,” I answered far too quickly.

Rhett narrowed his eyes at us suspiciously and asked, “Did something happen upstairs?”

We answered almost at the same time, “No.”

SIX

Hallie’s POV

I could feel my heart pounding so hard against my chest as Rhett looked between the two of us suspiciously… I feared he heard.

Could he tell?

Because I was one question away from confessing every embarrassing thing that had happened upstairs.

Thankfully, after a long second, he just shrugged and whispered, “Weirdos.”

I quietly let out the breath I’d been holding and just as I reached for my fork to continue eating… I felt someone’s gaze lingering on me.

His.

I didn’t have to look up to know but I did anyway and just like I thought, Knox’s eyes were on me.

But the moment our eyes met, he looked away almost immediately.

Okay? That was awkward.

The rest of dinner felt unbearable.

Every now and then, I’d accidentally glance in Knox’s direction when I felt his gaze on me, only to find him now looking somewhere else.

Maybe I was imagining things or was overthinking everything but I was sure that I had successfully ruined any chance of acting normal around him ever again.

Not like he was making it easier.

By the time dinner ended, the tension had become too much to bear.

“I think I’m going to call it a night,” I said, cutting off Rhett’s chatter with a forced smile on my face.

“Oh, are you good?” Rhett asked, his eyes searching mine worriedly.

I shook my head, “I’m fine, just a little tired.”

Even now I was trying to sneak out of here before I broke character and ask Knox why he was staring… I could still feel his eyes on me.

I turned to Mrs. Hargrove, “Is there anything I could do to help…”

She immediately shooed me away, an amused smile spreading across her face, “Oh no, dear. Off to bed with you. Sleep well.”

“Goodnight,” I called, already making my way toward the stairs.

“Night, Cupcake!” Rhett shouted after me. I was already halfway up the stairs when his voice dropped to a whisper.

“What the fuck did you do to her now?”

I didn’t stick around long enough to hear Knox’s answer. Today had taught me a very important lesson… Sometimes, being overly curious had a way of making you discover things you had absolutely no business finding in the first place.

And from now on, I fully intend to mind my own business… I’d have to figure out another way to find out if Knox was gay.

I sank onto my bed the moment I shut my bedroom door behind me.

Only then did I finally let out a long, exhausted sigh.

My life was starting to look like a fucking circus.

I squeezed my eyes shut, only to snap them open again as that image came back to haunt me.

“What is wrong with me?” I groaned, burying my face in my pillow. “It wasn't like I hadn’t seen someone without pants… I mean fated movies had it so why was his taunting me.”

It wasn’t like I had even seen more… not like I wanted to but I was just curious as to why this image was stuck up in my head.

One stupid decision.

That was all it had taken to make living under the same roof as Knox ten times more awkward.

My phone buzzed pulling me out of my raging thoughts.

Expecting another message from Mason, I reluctantly reached for it and instead, I saw a message from Mrs. Grayson.

Hey sweetheart,

I’m sure you have already settled in for bed and I’m so sorry I couldn’t call anymore. Things have been hectic since we landed, but I promise I’ll make it up to you tomorrow.

Goodnight baby.

I don’t know how long I just stared at that message, lost for words and only when I felt a tear slid down my cheeks did I send back in response.

It’s no problem. Thank you and hope you have a good night, Mrs. Grayson

Her very simple message showed more concern than I had received from my own parents in months. Most times I didn’t even hear from them until they returned back.

I quickly wiped my cheek before another tear could follow and shut my eyes.

This time, sleep came so easily and without images of Knox.

The next morning, I woke to the sound of the boys getting ready to head out… I had known that for sure from the shouts Rhett was hurling at his brother through the hallway.

Still the thoughts of running into Knox after yesterday made my stomach twist into knots so I stayed cooped in bed.

Around noon, I was scrolling through social media when a knock sounded on the door before Mrs. Hargrove peeked inside.

“There you are.”

I sat up almost immediately, “Morning.”

She chuckled, “It’s almost afternoon, dear. I was beginning to wonder if you were feeling unwell…”

She gave me a look over as she added, “Also wanted to be certain you were allergic to anything you ate yesterday.”

“I’m okay,” I assured her with a small smile.

She gave me a skeptical look.

“You don’t look okay though and it isn’t the food, do you struggle to sleep? I think I have a tea that…”

I stopped her almost immediately.

“It’s not that,” I lied through my teeth. “I think I just overslept.”

She studied me for a brief moment before nodding, “The boys left early this morning to run an errand for Mrs. Grayson.” she informed me.

I nodded like I wasn’t aware.

“Come downstairs and have something to eat.” She cooed to which I nodded.

After brunch, I wandered back upstairs.

I didn’t want to be caught unawares downstairs. Now that I thought about it, it wasn’t just Knox I had to worry about anymore.

School started tomorrow.

And I still didn’t think I was ready to face I knew anyone…logically, that nothing serious would happen if I stayed close to Rhett and Knox.

People were already intimidated by them, even so… I couldn’t shake the feeling that something bad was waiting around the corner.

Maybe I was just being paranoid or maybe Chloe’s silence bothered me more than I wanted to admit.

She still hadn’t apologized nor had I received a single text from her.

Which meant she didn’t think she’d done anything wrong… Or worse, she was sitting around waiting for me to apologize.

To make matters even messier, Mason had been calling and texting me nonstop and if Chloe found out, it would definitely cause problems between them.

For all I knew, he might have already gone over to the house after I blocked him.

Just a mess waiting to topple over.

I lay back on the bed with a groan.

Maybe keeping my entire social life limited to Mason and Chloe hadn’t been my brightest idea after all.

Another knock pulled me from my thoughts.

Before I could answer, the door opened and Rhett peeked inside. “There you are.”

“You guys are back already?”

Without waiting for permission, he walked in and flopped onto the other side of my bed.

I stared at him before teasing, “Comfortable?”

“As a matter of fact… Very.” He turned his head to look at me. “You sick?”

“No.”

“Cramps?” He pressed to which I stifled a chuckle.

If I didn’t know any better, I’d think he cared.

“Rhett?”

“What? I have had one of my sisters say that’s usually why girls hide in their rooms whenever they are around guys.”

The seriousness on his face as he said that nonsense had me bursting into laughter.

“First you don’t have a sister.”

“You know what I mean.” He was quick to reply.

Still laughing, I shook my head. “I’m fine.”

He didn’t look convinced.“But something has been wrong since yesterday… what is it?”

My heart skipped a beat as the image from yesterday flashed through my head.

I hesitated.

“I…I don’t really want to talk about it because it’s embarrassing.”

To my surprise, he stopped and didn’t push anymore.

“Fair enough.” And then he changed the subject. “Nervous about tomorrow?”

I let out a sigh. “Maybe but just a little.”

“I figured but you don’t have to worry because I won’t be letting anyone mess with you.” The certainty in his voice had me convinced that he wasn’t teasing.

“Why are you being so nice to me? I mean…” I laughed awkwardly. “It’s not like we were friends before this.”

He stayed quiet.

“What’s the catch?” I added.

My eyes caught the brief sight of something unreadable that crossed his face before it disappeared behind his usual grin.

“No catch.” He said standing up and before I could ask anything else, he was already walking out the door.

A moment later, my phone buzzed.

Rhett… how were they getting my number?

Get some sleep, Cupcake, You’ll need all the energy you can get to survive the clowns.