That has me turning fully his way, intrigued. “I don’t. But I’ve often wondered.”
“It wasn’t something I ever had aspirations for. I don’t care about the fame. I wasn’t even sure if I’d be any good at it. But I had to try… Because of you.”
“Wait, what?” I ask, my heart beating fast.
Grayson’s gaze meets mine, unflinching. “I saw one of your movies at the theater. It was your big break, as they like to call it, but I didn’t know that at the time. You were young. Twenty-two, I think. I saw you up on that screen, and I had to know you.”
“Gray…”
“It doesn’t make any sense. I know that. I just…I felt you. In here.” He taps his chest, and I draw in a shaky breath, my eyes burning. “So I came and found you.”
“Jesus Christ, Grayson. In all the years we’ve known each other, you never told me that.”
“Because it would sound a little nuts, don’t you think?”
“And now?” I ask, my voice hoarse, even as a soft smile spreads across my face.
He shrugs. “Now I know you’d understand.”
I blow out a breath, blinking back tears. “You’ve turned me into a sap, Fox.”
“You’ve always been a sap for me.”
I bark a laugh, and Grayson grins, going on.
“It’s true. You’ve always treated me as the most important person in your life. Me and Madison.”
“Because she’s family.”
“See? Most people wouldn’t feel that way.” He lets out a gentle huff. “But you’re not most people, are you?”
“Careful,” I tease. “You’ll give me a big head.”
“I’m positive there’s no way it could get bigger.”
“Hey,” I faux-grouse, making a grab for him. He deftly evades me, skirting around the pool as I follow. “Grayson.”
“Ezra,” he parrots, continuing to back away.
“Get over here.”
“So you can put me in a headlock? Pass.”
“You don’t have your phone on you, do you?”
“No… Why?”
I lunge, grabbing Grayson around the middle and pulling him with me into the pool. The water rushes over us, sound cut off for mere seconds before Grayson kicks upwards and we break the surface.
He laughs. “You dick.”
“It’s heated,” I defend.
“As if that’s the point. You’re a menace.”
“And you’re stuck with me.”
Grayson shakes his head, but there’s a smile on his face as we wade in the water, the surface rippling around us. The soft glow of the lights makes him look almost ethereal.
