in the past half hour.
But I’m not about to create some work drama prematurely. Plus, Greyson getting involved would probably just make things worse.
Our meals are served a few minutes later, and we eat in silence. It’s deliciously spicy Mexican food, but if Greyson’s enjoying it, he’s giving no sign. The three furrows in his forehead and two staring eyes indicate he’s deep in thought. Finally, he says, “Don’t worry about it. I’ll talk to them.”
“Please don’t.”
“Trust me, Harley. I know how to handle this.”
“I don’t doubt that. But I don’t think there’s anything you can do to help. You really think the other employees will be receptive to you calling them out on it?”
“Yeah, I do. My dad and I hired them not just because they’re good, but because they’re willing to grow.”
I nod dully, and almost don’t say it until I do: “I think that, whatever their beef is, it has to do with us. Don’t you?”
Greyson swirls his fork around his plate uselessly, takes a sip of water. Until he can’t avoid it anymore. “It might be.”
His mouth has become a snarl, his eyes frustrated and narrow. “I haven’t told anyone, though. My brothers guessed, but that’s it, and they wouldn’t spread it around.”
“I haven’t told anyone either,” I say. “Except for my cousin Hannah, who wouldn’t tell anyone and doesn’t know anyone from the office anyway.”
“Probably was Samantha,” Greyson growls. Then he sighs. “What’s done is done, though. If only there was a way… Maybe if we cooled things off for a bit, waited it out.”
“Yeah, that might be best,” I say simply.
I should leave it at that, but I can’t. “Might be best to cool things off for good.”
Greyson’s look at me is abrupt. “What?”
“I’m a detriment to your company, your image, your employees. We don’t even know what this is—is it really worth risking everything for it? Maybe it’s best if I stay away from the office, and you call me up next time you go to shoot another episode. Or you can even find another cinematographer if you think that’d be easier.”
I can’t believe I’m saying this, virtually giving up my dream job. But it’s the right thing to do. I can feel it.
The last thing I want in the world is to hurt Greyson.
At the end of the day, I’ll still have Storm Inc. on my resume. And as for Greyson and I…
“Why are you saying this?” he asks hoarsely.
I find that I’m rising to leave, done with my dinner, done with tonight.
“I’m tired of pretending like we’re a normal couple one minute, then hiding away the next. I’m tired of you putting off the inevitable. I think you have some hard decisions to make, Greyson. And me being here isn’t making them any easier for you.”
Our eyes catch. I could kiss him now, so easily. Let him kiss me back. I could let the kiss make everything OK. Turn logic into feeling, impossible into possible, make everything right—for now at least. But it would only be a temporary distraction from the shadow hanging over all this.
“Goodbye Greyson,” I say, as I leave.
The next second, he’s by my side. “Harley. Don’t go. We can figure this out. I can figure this out.”
Don’t look at him, don’t you dare look at him… or notice how good he smells… or how much you want him…
As I tear myself away a second time, I choke back my next words: “I’m sorry.”
And then I’m hurrying through the restaurant, down the stairs, down the street to get away. Until I spot a cab, and then I’m in there, going home, and it all feels unreal. So unreal. Like this is something I’ve concocted in my mind back there at the restaurant. Like Greyson may lean over and kiss away the trouble any second now.
Chapter 27
Greyson
I sit there for a minute, maybe more. Wait for her to come back, to change her mind. To sweep towards me and change this all with a smile, a kiss.
She never comes back.
I call her, but it goes straight to voicemail.
The worst part is that she’s right. The company will probably be vulnerable for another year, at least. Can we really lie low that entire time?
And people aren’t so easily swayed by what their boss tells them to do, especially if they’ve lost respect for that boss based on his actions. While I’m sure talking to my staff will get them to straighten up, part of me wonders if it will be