I grin and look at him from over my shoulder. “That was Dom’s idea.”
Grayson smiles. “Then I must remember to thank him later.’
I stop in my tracks and softly hit him on the shoulder. “Don’t you dare.”
His response is to chuckle, before he growls, chasing me up the rest of the way, threatening to tickle me.
I rush out into the main living space with Grayson chasing me and Sophie looks up, smiling at us both. She’s busy whipping up something delicious for tea.
Grayson inhales and groans. “That smells so good, Mrs M. What are we having?”
Sophie smiles at him. “I’m doing your favourite Grayson. We’re having meatballs.”
Grayson grins. “You spoil me, Soph.”
She bats away his comment with her hand. “Nonsense. Beside, you deserve spoiling. Your dad’s going to be late home, he’s having to work late,” Sophie tells me.
“Where’s Ems?” Grayson asks as he wraps his arms around my waist from behind me and rests his head on my shoulder.
“She’s in the study catching up on some homework,” Sophie tells him. “Dinner will be ready in an hour, so make sure your showered.”
Grayson gives her a salute, and he disappears off upstairs to my ensuite to get cleaned up. I watch him go and when I pull my gaze back into the room, Sophie is watching me with a smile on her face.
“You’re so smitten with him, aren’t you?”
I blush, resting my chin on my hands. “Is it that obvious?”
Sophie chuckles and nods. She hands me a knife. “Chop these will you.”
I take the knife from her and move to stand beside her whilst I chop the herbs.
“It scares your dad sometimes how serious you both are about each other.”
I nod. “I can understand that, after all we’re young, but when you know, you know. I mean, we’re not going to run off and get married at eighteen or anything, but, yeah, it’s the real deal.”
Sophie hands me some more herbs to chop. “How is he holding up with everything with his dad?”
I shrug. “All things considered, I think he’s doing okay, but you know Grayson, he’s not great at telling you how he feels. I just had to share with him that his dad’s knocked up seventeen-year-old girlfriend is moving in with them. As you can imagine, that didn’t go down well.”
“Poor guy.” Sophie places her hand on my arm. “I’m glad he has you and Dom. I’ve spoken with Andy and he can stay as long as he likes.”
I smile at her appreciatively. “I know and he’s honestly so grateful, but he has to go home or his dad will make his life difficult for him.” I place all the chopped herbs into a bowl and hand it to her. “He’s going to get his own place as soon as his mum’s money comes through in three months’ time.”
“Who’s getting his own place?” My dad asks as he comes through the front door.
Sophie looks up, surprised to see him. “I thought you were working late?”
He comes up beside her and kisses her cheek. “I was, but we got it done quicker than we thought.”
“Hi honey.” He smiles over at me. “So, who’s getting their own place?”
I shrug casually. “Grayson is going to get his own place as soon as his mum’s money comes through.”
My dad frowns as he sits down and loosens his tie. “I see. Don’t get any ideas about moving in together, you’re too young.”
I exchange a glance with Sophie and we both smile at each other.
“What?” My dad asks. “I saw that non-verbal exchange their between you two.”
Sophie holds her hands up. “Nothing.”
I place a hand on my dad’s arm. “Don’t worry, Dad, I’m not going anywhere just yet.”
He ruffles my hair and drops a kiss on my forehead. “Good, because we have eighteen years to catch up on. I’m not ready for you to grow up yet and fly the nest.”
My heart warms. It means so much that he wants me around. I know he carries guilt that he wasn’t around for me when I was little, but he is too hard on himself. He didn’t even know I existed. My phone rings pulling me from my thoughts and I grin when I see its Courtney.
“Hey you,” I say, answering her call.
“Hey Miss Taylor. I miss your tiny arse. When are you visiting again?”
I laugh, gripping the phone between my cheek and my shoulder as I help Sophie set the table. “Aw, I miss you too. It’s your turn to come visit me, although not just yet. We have a house full right now. How’s things?”
“That’s actually why I’m calling. Tyler’s been beaten up”
My smile drops. “Why what’s happened?”
Courtney sighs, “It’s the Doyle’s, Ev. He’s in some kind of trouble. They beat him up outside his house.”
I move away from the table, not wanting Sophie to hear any more of the conversation.
“Like owes money kind of trouble?” I whisper.
“Possibly. I don’t know Ev. He won’t talk to me or Jake but we’re worried for him,” she pauses, “do you think you could call him and see if he’ll talk to you?”
I scoff. “Why would he talk to me?”
Courtney tuts at me. “Because he likes you, stupid.”
“I don’t know Court,” I reply, taking a seat on the sofa and curling my legs underneath me. “I don’t want to give him the wrong idea here.”
“Please,” she pleads. “Can you at least try?”
Damn Courtney, she knew I would give in. I am too nice sometimes for my own good.
“Fine. I’ll ring him now.”
“Thank you, thank you. You’re the best!”
“Yeah, yeah,” I reply, rolling my eyes. “I’ll call you back later.”
I dial Tyler’s number, and he answers on the third ring. “Well, hello stranger.”
“Hi. So a little bird just called me and told me what happened,” I tell him.
He chuckles, “Let me guess the little bird was Courtney?”
“Maybe,” I reply, smiling. “On a serious note though, Ty, are you okay? What kind of trouble are you in here?”
“I’m fine, just
