by Wendy Louise
She throws her gorgeous head back and laughs, causing her long silky hair to fall around her shoulders and down to her breasts. “You’re incorrigible Grayson.”
She re-opens her menu, so I follow suit, and the douchebag waiter is back to take our orders and bring back our beers. After ordering a feast of tacos, enchiladas, and burritos, we hand over our menus and turn back to one another.
“Shall we talk about the details?” I ask, folding my hands on the table top between us.
“What details?” she queries.
“You know, amount of rent you want me to pay, how we’ll split groceries, bills, that kind of thing. Oh and we’ll need a signal for each other in case we have a date in our rooms and we don’t want the other to interrupt.” I say teasingly.
She raises her eyebrows at that comment. “Well, firstly, the Studio pays my rent Gray, so you don’t need to contribute anything to that. Let’s just get our own groceries, it’ll make life easier, and we can split the bills fifty-fifty.”
“Sounds good.” I reply.
Bloody perfect actually….
“As for your other comment, well let’s cross that bridge when we come to it. I’m not sure that you’ll need to worry about interrupting me with anyone in the next few weeks, I mean Ryan and I only broke up recently. I’m not ready to move on just yet.” She winces slightly as she prepares what she is about to say. “If you feel the need to bring home a date,” she says, using her fingers to emphasize the word date in inverted commas, “then I’m sure I can make myself scarce.”
In all honesty, the thought of bringing home a date while I’m living under the same roof as Liv, seems crazy. I can’t imagine that I would want to be with anyone else when she is there. However, I like sex. I have a healthy appetite for it and Liv will have me in a permanent state of arousal. Just thinking about seeing her in the morning in her pyjamas, hair all mussed up and groggy from sleep, causes me to get hard. I adjust myself under the table, glad that she can’t see my body’s reaction to that thought.
The waiter arrives with our food and we both start to tuck in, glad for the momentary distraction. Liv and I have always gotten along great; there has always been a level of comfort there that I haven’t had with anyone else. Tonight however, there is an undercurrent that is making both of us uneasy. I don’t want moving in with her to upset the easy going friendship that we have, so I need to clarify that with her.
“Liv, are you sure about this. I don’t want to be in the way or upset the way you live.”
“Gray, I like having company and I’m excited for you to move in, I just feel like we need to clarify the boundaries so that we don’t mess up our friendship.”
Great, we are on the same wavelength. It makes me feel good that I can read her so well. I know her better than I thought I did. I agree with her, “I don’t want anything to mess up our friendship either. Let’s agree to talk things out if anything gets weird okay? If you get sick of me leaving my dirty laundry on the floor, or not making my bed, just tell me.” I wink at her.
“Grayson, you will not be leaving dirty washing on the floor, I have a hamper just for that in the laundry room. I am strict about making my bed and keeping the apartment clean so I expect that you will do the same, or keep your door shut so I can’t see the mess. I love to cook, so I’m happy to whip up meals for us when you’re home, otherwise we can both continue to live our lives as we do now. Sound good?”
“Sounds perfect.” I smile.
She’s so damn cute when she’s trying to be authoritative!
Olivia picks up her knife and fork and starts to cut into an enchilada. Changing the subject, she asks, “Are you all set to head out to Fiji for the wedding?”
I nod. “I can’t wait; a week in paradise sounds amazing.”
Ethan and Ava have chosen a private resort location in Fiji for their wedding. They only want family and close friends, and Fiji is a great location for guests coming from either Australia or the States. We’re staying in bures directly over the water; I can’t imagine how amazing it will be to wake up every morning and look straight out at the Pacific Ocean.
“Did you know that we’re all flying into Nadi airport and then hopping on a private helicopter to take us directly to the resort? Ava says it is really exclusive and couples-only. It sounds beautiful.” Olivia says.
I put on my best frown and give her my puppy-dog eyes.
“What?” she says amused.
“Well I’m not part of a couple Liv, so if this place is couples-only then I better change that fast.”
She laughs. “Gray, I’m sure you can still come even though you aren’t part of a couple. I mean I don’t have a significant other either.”
“Maybe we can change that?” I suggest, giving Olivia my brightest smile.
“Grayson,” she admonishes, “…this is exactly what I’m talking about. No flirting!” I can tell she’s trying to be mad at me, but she doesn’t stand a chance. I don’t miss the way her mouth curves up into a sexy half-smile.
“Do you want to move in before we head off or when we get back?” she asks, as she sips from her Corona. I’m momentarily mesmerised by her lips on the neck of the bottle, but I blink and turn my attention to my own beer to distract myself.
Liv continues, “Ava has pretty much moved in with Ethan and they’ll be heading straight to their new home once they return, so you can move in anytime.”
“Great. Would this weekend be too soon?” I can’t wait to spend time with her.
“This weekend works for me. Ethan was going to help Ava move the rest of her items out on Saturday, so maybe he could help you move yours in at the same time,” she suggests.
“That’s all settled then.” I pick up my beer, “A toast… to us Liv, to being great roommates and friends.”
Olivia grabs her bottle and clinks it against mine, “…to being great roommates and friends.” She agrees.
We both hold each other’s gaze as we sip from our bottles. Each assessing the other. Her deep brown eyes staring into my green.
My level of resistance towards this girl is almost at a zero level so I hope that she has the willpower to resist the pull between us, otherwise the toast we just shared will be forgotten within the first week of living together.
Grayson moves in
I peer around my living area, which is littered with boxes, clothing on hangers and duffle bags. There are two guitar cases and an electronic keyboard sitting on my sectional sofa.
Who would have thought that Grayson would come with so much baggage?
I have no idea where we are going to put it all.
Grayson strides into the room in his faded Levi’s that hug every length of his strong legs, and a black t-shirt that is so tight, I can see the ripples of his abs. If he is trying to make resisting him difficult, then it’s working.
Ethan and Ava follow behind him, each carrying pillows and bedding. “I’ll go make up the bed for you Grayson,” Ava calls.
“Thanks Ava.” Grayson replies.
I give him a stare. “What?” he asks playfully, shrugging his shoulders in innocence.
“You’re really going to stand there while my sister makes up the bed for you?” I ask.
He throws his hands up in defence. “Hey, sorry Liv, did you want to do that? I would be more than happy for you to help me with my bed,” he says devilishly.
I ignore him. He really can’t help but flirt with me, so I’m going to need to be the strong one, the one who resists the pull. I’m not about to ruin a great friendship with meaningless sex.
Sex that would more than likely be amazing, but I can’t go there…
I turn and head to the kitchen to grab cold sodas for all of us. I called by the deli earlier and had them make up platters of cold meats and salads for lunch. I grab the drinks, food and fresh bread rolls and head out to the balcony to set it all up.
“Lunch is up,” I call. We all settle around the outdoor table and tuck in. We’ve all worked u
p a thirst after hauling all of Grayson’s things up here.
“I’ve got a lasagne cooking for dinner if you guys want to stay tonight,” I offer to Ethan and Ava.
“Thanks Sis but we have to be at Ethan’s dad’s for dinner tonight, he’s cooking and we’re catching up with Ethan’s Mum and Madeline.”
Ethan had a rough time while we were filming.
He lost Nanny Grace, the woman who raised him from birth, and the only person he has ever loved and felt loved by, prior to Ava. Prior to passing away she revealed to him that she was really his paternal grandmother, and that his father was very much alive and was her son.
Prior to then it had always only been Ethan and his mother, Elizabeth. Ethan also discovered that he had a sister, who happened to also be working on the movie with us. They’re all working hard to build relationships and become a family, just like Nanny Grace would have wanted.
“I’m in,” Grayson chimes up around a mouthful, “I love your lasagne.”
“Looks like it will just be us then,” I respond.
A small thrill runs through my veins at the thought, but as always I push it away. I look to Grayson and see him swallow roughly before turning his gaze away from mine. He is as affected as I am. We’re really going to need to work on this resistance issue.
Ava and I clear the table as the boys start to move all of Grayson’s things into his room. It’s amazing how much fits in the walk-in robe, as they manage to get mostly everything put away. Grayson places his guitars in the corner of the living room.
Despite my fetish to have everything neat, I don’t mind the instruments being around. I’m quite excited about living with a musician. Music has always been a huge passion of mine. I love listening to lyrics, I love how music can make you feel so happy, or accompany you when you are feeling down. I love how it evokes memories.
I’m excited to see Grayson write a song from start to finish. I can’t wait to be sitting around listening to him strum the guitar or hum lyrics while I learn dialogue for the movie.
“Well that’s pretty much everything put away,” Ethan says.
He and Grayson share some weird handshake as Ava moves to give me a hug. “I’m going to miss you Sis,” she says with tears in her eyes. I squeeze her back hard.
“Ava, you’ve been living with Ethan for a few weeks now, nothing’s going to change now that Gray is in your old room. We’ll still be together at work and you only live ten minutes away.”
She swipes a finger under her eye to catch a stray tear. “I know. I’m just going to miss being here with you. We’ve had really good times here.”
“We have, but there are lots of fun times still to come. The wedding for one,” I say, trying to brighten the mood.
Ethan moves behind Ava and puts his arms around her waist. “No tears babe,” he says quietly in her ear before placing a kiss on the soft skin beneath her lobe. Ava melts back into his arms blissfully.
I really want what they have.
I want to find the one.
My one.
I want someone to come home to.
I want someone to fall asleep with every night and wake to every morning.
I want that sated feeling that comes with being with the one person that you can trust, who will always be faithful to you and love you with such a fierceness that you can’t breathe without them.
I want that foot-popping moment when I kiss someone; you know the one that’s in all the movies? That’s the feeling I crave…
All of that will have to wait though, as my career is my only focus right now.
Grayson and I wave goodbye to Ethan and Ava as they pull away from the curb and make our way back inside to what is now our apartment.
I wake to my alarm buzzing at me. It’s ridiculously early, but I want to go for a run this morning before breakfast. I have a meeting with my Manager and Agent today about some potential movie scripts that I’ve been sent. Now that Forever is Mine has been a success, the scripts are pouring in, some better than others, and we need to decide which ones to pursue.
I throw back the covers and make my way out to the kitchen to grab a glass of fresh juice, before putting on my exercise gear. As I round the corner I’m startled to see Grayson sitting at the dining table, drinking coffee and reading the paper. He looks freshly showered and gorgeous, in stark contrast to my messy mop of hair, smeared make-up and boxer short, singlet-top combo. Feeling more than self-conscious, I run my hands over my hair trying to smooth it into submission.
“What are you doing up so early Gray?”
He turns and subtly runs his green eyes over my legs, up my body, until they land on my eyes. I feel like he has just touched me in every place that his eyes covered.
“Good Morning to you Liv. I always get up early, sorry I should’ve mentioned that. I didn’t wake you did I?”
I shake my head as I move towards the freshly brewed coffee. “No, I wanted to head out for a run before a meeting I have this morning.”
I can feel Grayson’s eyes on me as I move about my kitchen. I try to distract myself from his gaze and grab a mug to fill it with coffee; I need that more than juice right now. I lift my head to walk back to the table where Grayson is sitting and my eyes lock onto his.
For a moment I can’t look away and nor can he.
We just continue to stare at one another, electricity pulsing like a current from one side of the room to the other.
In that instant I remember that I’m not wearing a bra under my singlet-top and my nipples are reacting to the way he is staring at me, pebbling under the fabric. I want to cross my arms over my chest, but that would just draw attention to my situation; so I casually place my cup down on the breakfast bar without taking a sip, and announce that I’m going to take a shower, walking briskly out of the room. I hear Grayson chuckle as I pass him.
Dammit he noticed!
Following my shower, I feel more prepared to face the god in my living room. I’ve foregone my morning run but the adrenaline is already pumping through my veins after my early morning interaction with Gray.
I’ve dressed in a smart pair of skinny pants and a fitted shell top with a small peplum at the waist. I’ve pulled my hair back into a sleek ponytail. I grab my phone and purse off my bedside table before heading back towards the living area.
As I make my way out to the hallway I can hear Grayson’s soulful voice wafting through the space, along with his talented fingers strumming his guitar. I stop in my tracks just to listen and take him in for a moment. I knew I was going to love this part of living with him. His voice wraps around my bones and heat sears through me. He sounds incredible. He stops and re-starts the song a number of times so I can only assume that he is writing something new.
I lean against the open doorway to the living area and just watch.
I watch the way his long fingers move across the strings.
I watch the way a small frown plays between his eyebrows while he concentrates.
I watch how he licks those luscious lips of his before he starts to softly sing.
Sensing my attention, he raises his head and gives me a smile. One that takes my breath away for the second time today.
“Are you writing?” I ask.
“Yeah. Something new,” he responds as he scribbles something down on the notepad in front of him.
“What’s it about?” I query. I’m so intrigued to know what his motivation and inspiration for new songs is.
“It’s about new beginnings, and finding that place in life where you’re meant to fit.”
“That sounds beautiful Grayson.”
“Thanks,” he says with a shrug, as if he hasn’t just opened my heart up to him even more.
“I love hearing you sing. I love having music fill my home.” I smile at him from my stance in the doorway and plant my feet on the floor, ensuring that the urge to run to him and kiss him stupid, is squashed.
“Well I will be more than happy to fill your home with music for
as long as you want me Liv.”
Forever please!
Placing my bag on my shoulder I say, “Well I’m off to a meeting. I’ll be back around four.” I turn and head towards the front door to grab my car keys.
“Liv, do you want to head out tonight? Celebrate our first full day together as roomies?” he calls.
“Why not,” I reply. “We can head out once I get back. See you then.”
I shut the front door behind me and fill my lungs with much needed air. My reaction around Grayson is just ridiculous, but I can’t seem to get my body to cooperate with my mind. I push those thoughts aside as I wait for the elevator to take me down to the basement to my car.
Far away from the distraction that is Grayson beautiful Adams.
We weave our way through a sea of bodies. We’ve just finished an exquisite dinner of Japanese food and have decided to come to our favourite local club for a drink or two before heading home. I may as well make the most of it while I can. Once filming recommences, my life will be totally focused on that, and that alone.
After ordering some tequila shots, we head to a nearby table that lines the large dance floor. People are leaving us alone tonight, and I think we will be able to blend in without anyone paying us too much attention. The benefits of being part of a crowd I guess.
Grayson being the gentleman that he is, pulls back the bar stool for me and takes my hand as I climb onto it. He places a kiss on the back of my hand and walks around the table to his stool, placing our drinks down in front of us. We both prepare our shots and in unison we lick, sip and suck on the lemons provided, wincing at the sour taste.
“Another one?” Gray suggests.
“Can we dance first?” I query.
Grayson’s face lights up and he is immediately off his stool, holding his hand out to me. I follow his lead until we are situated in the middle of the bodies engulfing the dance space.
Grayson pulls me close and wraps his hands around my hips. He moves against me and I feel his lips at my ear, his warm breath against my overheated skin. “I’m holding on tight Liv, I don’t want anyone to trample on you.”