Six Rules: Book Two in the SIX Series (11 page)

Chapter 16

          
I awoke with my heart pounding,
startled by Greyson's sweaty body shaking next to me.

          
"Greyson, wake up," I said
softly. "Are you okay?"

          
"I hit the water," he said
in a haze, running his hands through his thick blond messy hair. "The
cliff... I jumped, and then I..." His voice trailed off as he tried to
catch his breath. He looked warm and completely out of sorts.

          
"Can I get you some water or
something?" I asked politely.

          
He shook his head no, and then rubbed
his forehead. He looked terrible.

          
 
“I have to get to work so I can finish in time
for dinner tonight with your family,” I stated. I was a little surprised that I
wasn't even bothered by my set plans tonight to see his family since it was
Sunday. Something about it seemed comforting.
          
“I feel awful,” he said
sleepily.

          
“Why? What happened? You feel awful about dinner?” I
asked, confused.

          
“No, I mean I don’t feel well. I think I’m sick,” he
muttered. He rolled over onto his back and I felt his forehead. He actually felt
feverish.

          
“Do you think it's from the dream you were having? You’re
probably just worn down from the last few days. I shouldn’t have kept you up so
late every night on the phone while you were so busy preparing for the job,” I
said apologetically.

          
“It was worth it,” he said with a half smile.

          
“How about I make you a quick breakfast? Can you break the
rule on that?” I asked. He must’ve felt off to not be in the kitchen already
cooking for me, something he apparently loved to do.

          
“Sorry, I don’t think I can eat. I really feel sick,” he
said, resting his hand on his forehead.

          
“Well do you mind if I head into work? I’d love to stay
and keep you company, but I really do have a lot to do today,” I said
awkwardly. This was one of those girlfriend moments I usually botched, and I
wasn’t sure how this would go. Relationship-code probably stipulated that I was
supposed to stay home too and take care of him. But, if this was an honest
relationship, I really didn’t want to miss a whole day at the bakery when I had
so much to do if he was just going to be lying around and resting. I was never
good at being sensitive to this type of thing. Although technically, one of my
rules stated that he couldn’t complain about me working too much. So I had a
pass on this one, right?

          
He propped himself up on an elbow and looked at me with
sincere eyes. “Go to work. I’m fine, really. I am just going to rest and take
it easy today. Don’t even worry about it,” he said reassuringly. “I’ll call you
later if I feel better.”

          
“How about you call me later either way? I’m up for dinner
tonight in Reno if you still want to go,” I said honestly. In some way I
actually looked forward to getting to spend another Sunday night family dinner
with his relatives. I at least felt better prepared and less nervous for it
this week.

          
“Go,” Greyson said one more time, playfully shoving me out
of his bed. I turned and kissed his forehead. “Wait,” he said, reaching into
the top drawer of his nightstand. “Take this,” he said, handing me a small gold
key.

          
“What is this for?” I asked, confused by it.

          
“Don’t freak out, Mal. I know you changed the subject and
tried to distract me with your sultry eyes last night when I asked you to move
in,” he said hesitantly.

          
“Greyson, I meant what I said. Aside from it being way too
soon, and a completely psychotic gesture after just a few days together, it
will never work. I live at the bakery, figuratively and literally. I think
you’re crazy,” I said half seriously.

          
“Well just keep the key. You know, in case we’re meeting
here and I’m not home yet or something. I want you to have it Mal,” he said
sincerely. “It’s just an open gesture. It doesn’t have to mean anything.”

          
“Fine. But I’m only saying that because I’m late for work
and I’ll never win this argument with you, even if I give you twenty reasons
why you’re delusional,” I said, kissing his forehead one last time. I put the
key on my key ring, vowing to never use it out of principle. I turned and left,
and headed into work.

          
Time flew by at the bakery, which was nice. Addie and I
practiced a few new recipes, something we loved to do together. It was always
nice finding a new dessert we could add to our ever-expanding menu. Megan
stopped by with some Chinese take-out for a quick lunch, which was a welcome
break. We planned another group camping trip before the end of summer, which
was something we tried to do a few times a year. It was a great way for us to
connect with each other in the midst of our busy lives.

          
By the time I finished up at the bakery around
five-thirty, I called Greyson to see how he was feeling.

          
“I’m so sorry Mal, but I’m really sick. I already talked
to my mom and she knows we’re not going to make it to dinner tonight. It’s been
a rough day. I’m glad you haven’t been around for it, honestly. It hasn’t been
pretty,” he said shyly.

          
“Well I don’t want the specifics, trust me,” I said with a
slight, unexpected giggle. “Do you want me to come by? I can bring some movies
or something? Maybe something to eat?”

          
“I would love to see you Mallory, I really would,” he
responded. “But I’m just really out of it. I kind of just want to take a nap,
maybe eat some crackers, and crawl back in bed. Can I see you after work
tomorrow? I’ve got to feel better by then.”

          
“Sure thing,” I said sympathetically. I hung up the phone
and took a quick shower, trying to think of what I wanted for dinner tonight. I
thought about Greyson for a moment, feeling bad that he was so miserable today.
Maybe I should make an effort to cheer him up? I wasn’t sure what kind of food
he could stomach, but there was a little café near my bakery. I could get some
soup and pick up a movie and swing by just for a bit. Just so he would know
that I genuinely cared about him. It seemed like the right girlfriend thing to
do. In fact, it made me almost giddy to think about it. Just a week ago I felt
virtually nothing for this guy, and now I was trying to think of ways to heal
him and make his world a little better.

          
I quickly dried my hair and put on a little make-up. I
walked down to the corner café and got two kinds of soup and some fresh bread.
I made the ten minute drive to his condo, surprised to see a car I didn’t
recognize in his driveway. Perhaps his mom drove up to bring him some food? Or
perhaps it was just someone who stopped by to see his roommate Ben, although I
didn’t see his car parked in its usual spot either.

          
I walked up to the door, my arms weighed down by the bag
of food I was carrying in. I gently knocked in case he was asleep. There was no
answer. I genuinely didn’t want to wake him if he was out of it, but I also
didn’t know what to do with all the soup in my arms. I thought for a moment
about the key. I figured I could just open the door, set it in his kitchen, and
leave him a note. Just a nice little gesture that I stopped by. But then again,
I vowed not to use the key. I didn’t want to give into any of his ideas. I
knocked softly one more time, but there was still no answer.

          
Reluctantly I turned the key in his door and unlocked it,
quietly making my way in. As I walked down the hall towards the kitchen, I
could hear voices out on the patio. Suddenly Greyson made eye contact with me.
He walked back in the house towards me. He was still shirtless with messy hair
like I had left him this morning. Although instead of a happy greeting, he
looked angry and annoyed.

          
“Hi. Sorry. Maybe I should have called,” I said, hearing
another voice coming from outside.

          
“Mal, this is really bad timing,” he said, shaking his
head.

          
“What’s going on?” I asked, as a tall pretty blonde girl
walked up behind him. She had on tight jeans and a low cut shirt.

          
“Who’s this, Greyson?” the woman asked skeptically.

          
Who’s this? Shouldn’t I be asking that question?

          
“Look Mal, I
don’t… I just…” Greyson’s voice trailed off and he looked defeated.

          
“I’m sorry, I thought you were sleeping so I used the key.
This is exactly why I shouldn’t have a key,” I said, setting the bag of food
down on the counter. I angrily grabbed my keys back out of my purse and fumbled
to pull his key off the key ring. I tossed the key onto his kitchen counter,
shaking my head.

          
“Wow, she has a key Greyson?” the blonde woman asked snidely.
She glared at me, her blue eyes full of judgment.

          
“Mallory, look. I… She, I mean I…” Greyson stammered.

          
“I’m sorry to interrupt you. I should have called first,”
I said with a shaky voice. “I thought you were sick. I just brought you some
food.” I turned and began walking back down the hall towards the front door,
fighting back burning tears that began to well up in the corners of my eyes. I
couldn’t comprehend what I had just walked in on.

          
“Mallory, wait,” Greyson said, still trying to get his
words right. “It’s not what you think,” he said sincerely.

          
“Well maybe I’m not thinking anything at the moment,” I
said angrily, turning to face him. I really was so caught off guard by this
beautiful woman in his condo, I wasn’t sure I had any rational thoughts at all.

          
Suddenly a small child, probably around two or so, walked
up towards us and grabbed on to the woman’s leg.

          
“Mal, just let me explain,” Greyson pleaded, gazing down
at the boy.

          
“Come on Grey, let’s give them a minute,” the woman said,
picking up the child.

          
Grey?!

          
The woman stepped back a few feet, but was still very much
within conversation range.

          
“I think I’ll go. I really just came by to drop off the
soup. Maybe you can call me tomorrow or something,” I said, my voice wavering.

          
“Mallory, this is Brianna,” he said cautiously.

          
“Brianna? As in your dead fiancé?” I exclaimed.

          
“You told her I was dead?” the woman said angrily to
Greyson.

          
“No. Who said anything about her being dead?” Greyson
asked, confused. "How do you even know about Brianna?"

          
“Ben told me about her,” I huffed. “You never mentioned
her, but Ben did.”

          
“Ben is telling people you have a dead fiancé? Is that
some weird wingman thing to help you get the girl?” Brianna asked angrily.

          
“Look, Mal,” he said apologetically.

          
“I thought she was out of your life a couple years ago,” I
said sternly, staring directly at Greyson.

          
“She was. I mean she is,” Greyson responded. “She just
showed up here. I didn’t know she was coming.”

          
“Why is there a two year old boy with her, Greyson? I
suppose there is an explanation for that as well? You know I suck at math and
all, but if this has been over for two years…” My voice trailed off. My body
felt hot and I didn’t even feel present in this moment. I felt so disconnected
from whatever was happening in front of me that my limbs felt numb. I carefully
turned to walk back down his front steps. He followed after me.

          
“I swear it’s not what you think, Mal. I haven’t seen her
for years,” Greyson said as I headed outside and climbed in my car.

          
“You never even mentioned her, Greyson. All that time we
spent talking, getting to know each other. You never mentioned one word about
her,” I said, starting up my car.

          
“If you knew about her why didn’t you ask me?” he said
angrily.

          
“Oh no. You don’t get to put this on me, Greyson. I
thought she was dead. Why would I want to bring that up? Had that actually been
true, that would be pretty insensitive of me to make you talk about something
traumatic you hadn’t even told me about in the first place. Goodbye, Greyson. I
wish I could say this has been fun, but I’m pretty sure this is a worse ending
than any other sunken relationship I ever had.” I backed my car out of the
driveway and headed back home.