He couldn’t do it. Grayson couldn’t do it.

He couldn’t let someone in again. That only ever led to consequences. He couldn’t let someone in or be vulnerable. But she was making it hard to keep this rule alive.

But, he was Grayson Hawthorne, and he excelled at pushing down his feelings and shutting people out. Even if it was his girlfriend.

So when he gets a text from her, he ignores it.

When she comes by to say hi, he sends her away.

When he thinks about her, he pushes it down.

Because there was no way he was letting someone in again. He couldn’t hurt her. Not this time. Not her.

One night, she finally gets him alone. Out on the roof of Hawthorne House.

“What are you doing here.” he says flatly. It’s not even a question. He’s dismissing her with his voice.