You were still friends with Avery.

Avery told Grayson that there was one drawer in your closet that always stayed empty, the one that he used to keep his clothes in.

Why won’t you try moving on for once? he thinks, on nights when he’s feeling angry. Angry at you, angry at himself, angry at the world for taking you away from him. That might make it easy.

You’d dated for five years. Half a decade, faded. When you’d met, you were just two stupid sixteen year olds.

Grayson knew he wasn’t enough. Not worth the time and breath he knew you were saving. It was complicated, really.

When he’d left, he knew you weren’t really listening. He hated that you felt different to him. You saw it as a serious thing, something that would blossom into forever. And he couldn’t.

But even now, three months later? Part of him still wanted you back, even if he knew it wouldn’t work.

He tried not to show it. But everyone in Hawthorne House could see he was miserable. He would go off food for a few weeks here and there. Bury himself in work for Avery’s foundation. Stay in his room for days at a time. All three of his brothers and Avery were getting increasingly worried. And when Xander Hawthorne wanted to cheer someone up? A party was in order.

A few quick calls with Grayson’s sister, Gigi, and Operation Cheer Grayson Up! was a go.

Guest list. Maybe he’d just texted everyone in his, Jameson’s, Nash’s, and Avery’s contacts. And maybe that included you.

You arrived on the doorstep of Hawthorne House. The gates of the estate were open and people were all over the front yard.

If you were completely honest, you weren’t completely sure why you were even here. Maybe you just wanted to see your good friend Avery. Or maybe… you wanted to get a glimpse of Grayson. See if he was doing okay. See if he maybe got a new girlfriend.

Before you got a chance to knock on the door, it opened. There stood none other than Grayson Hawthorne, looking stoic as ever in his signature suit. That was before he locked eyes with you.