Grayson - Page 65

“Yeah, we just got in. Aaron is meeting up with some friends tonight. I was actually going to call up Drew and see if he wanted to hang out now that we’re back, I was thinking M’s Place? You can join if you want…” she said, her voice full of excitement.

Just for once, I wished I had the positivity my sister had. That I could just enjoy myself like she did, flitting from event to event like a butterfly.

I sighed, “Yeah, okay. See you there.”

CHAPTER 38

Grayson

Maybe I was holding on to wishful thinking. Hoping that life would be like a romance novel, and I would show up to M’s Place and sweep Henry off his feet. We’d kiss, and apologize for being stupid assholes, and live happily ever after.

But Henry wasn’t there.

I stared at my martini, but I hadn’t touched it, when Giselle bumped my shoulder. Drew—the famous Drew Axel who’d come back to Sweetewater and reconnected with my sister recently on his tour, and who was now dating her florist, of all people—and his beau were on their way.

“You haven’t touched your martini,” she said softly.

“Thought I wanted it, but I guess I’m not in the mood.”

Giselle twisted her lips, and then she let out a bombshell.

“Did you know Henry was engaged before?” she asked.

My gaze shot up to hers, eyes widening. “What?”

“About five years ago,” she said, stirring her drink.

I was floored. Henry never mentioned his ex, but I would have thought he would have at least mentioned being engaged, given our company, not to mention all the talk of weddings…

“No,” I said dumbfounded. “I had no idea.”

Suddenly, his being uncomfortable around the wedding party made a lot more sense. I closed my eyes as I realized I should have seen it. His fear of commitment, his apprehension to act on his attraction.

I can’t.

Not I won’t, I can’t.

Because the person who hurt Henry was someone he must have loved very, very much. Enough to want to spend the rest of his life with them.

“What happened?” I asked.

“Apparently, according to Mia, the guy had been cheating on him. From the get go.”

“For five years?” I asked dumbfounded.

Giselle nodded. “Henry found out because he came home early one night.”

I let out a shaky breath. “He found them together.”

Giselle nodded. “Broke off the wedding the day after, and he’s been a lone wolf ever since.”

Henry’s tear-streaked cheeks and the anguish on his face replayed in my brain.

You promised.

You said I was yours.

The words fell out of my mouth, vulnerable and full of emotion.