contorts with rage. I step closer to him. “You would be wrong on both counts, Clay. And I was never with anyone else while we were together.”
Clay looks puzzled. “What do you mean, while we were together? We are still a great team. We’re just going through a rough patch.”
He reaches out to touch me. I yank myself free of him. “You’re fucking delusional. We were through the moment you looked at another woman.”
“Baby—” He tries to catch my arm.
“If you so much as touch me again, I swear to god I will scream for Grayson.”
“Whoa.” He steps back and raises his hand. “What was that about not controlling your guard dog, again?” He grins. “He must be a good doggie for you to live in the woods to be near him.”
“Why are you like this?” I ask.
“Seriously. We are just a modern couple. You have that cro-magnon, I have Lucy—”
“Stop it!” I hiss.
“Not that I like having him rubbed in my face. But while I’m here, you two can stop playing around…”
“Oh!” I cry, slamming the door in his face. Frustrated tears appear in the corners of my eyes. I sit on the bed in a huff, my mind awhirl.
I wish that I hadn’t sent Grayson away, honestly. Venting never seemed so appealing as it does right now. But I did, so I just sit in the cabin for a minute and wring my hands. I feel like I have so many thoughts trying to surface all at once.
The look on Clay’s face when I caught him in my bed with that other girl.
How domineering my father is, to send Clay to check up on me.
And the feeling I had while I watched Grayson menacing Clay on my behalf.
For a fleeting moment, I felt…
Relieved?
Avenged?
Cared for?
Something more than the self-righteousness that the situation called for, that’s for sure.
Ugh. I should do something to make sure that Clay returns to New York with a clear understanding of our situation. I just don't know what.
Grayson pops into my head. More specifically, the feel of his lips pressed against mine.
It might be insane, but I can think of one way to drive the point home to Clay. It feels weird to consider using Grayson as a pawn in this fucked up game. But I can’t think of any better way to get it through Clay’s thick head.
Why not do what my body is begging me to do already? It will give me some relief. Hell, Grayson and I are both so horny that we can barely breathe for wanting it so bad.
A small smile settles on my lips. I have to sleep with Grayson and I can’t be subtle about it.
Pulling a face, I correct my thoughts.
Alright, maybe I won’t actually sleep with Grayson. Maybe I’ll just make it look like I definitely am. Enthusiastically, over and over again.
That will make Clay go away. And it will free me to continue on with my summer. I can finally make the choices that I’ve always wanted, even if it’s only until fall.
My hands tremble, just having the idea. But at the same time, my heart soars.
I can trust Grayson not to take it too far. At least I hope I can. He owes me that much for walking out of my life, at the very least.
Standing up, I feel nervous. Am I really going to do this?
When I open the door and see cocky Clay leaning against his Range Rover, looking bored, my determination musters itself. I’m doing it, no doubt about it.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Grayson
Laying in my hammock, I seethe. I can’t believe that Rachel dated that piece of wealthy trash.
Clay.
Ugh. He oozes an unlikeable quality out of every pore. And I would be willing to bet that he thinks he’s a shark, that other men aren’t supposed to like him.
There aren’t enough eye rolls in the world to express how I feel about the guy. Seeing him touch Rachel was almost enough to make me snap. I feel like that says a little more about my feelings for Rachel than about any quality of Clay’s, but I digress.
The feeling of jealousy slides through my stomach like a cold knife. It makes me realize that I’m not over Rachel. I still feel some type of way about her, no matter what I’ve been telling myself.
I hear footsteps in the woods, coming towards me. Sitting up, I wait. Although I am thousands of miles away from the desert, there is something reminiscent about waiting and watching