Some Way

by Tiffany Jade

  Pulling my fuzzy blanket up to my neck I rest my head back on the couch, settling in for what is sure to be a shitty night.

  Oh she's pissed. So pissed.

  The anger radiating off of her as the movie goes on. I stare straight ahead at the television but watch her out of the corner of my eye.

  She's gotten herself three more drinks and it's only been an hour. I can't really blame her, I know I'm being a dick. But it's for her own good.

  I have no clue what’s going on in the movie, but judging by how tense her body is right now it must be pretty bad. She takes another drink. Flinches as someone gets killed on the t.v. Shoots a glare in Jenna and Daxon's direction, I can't help but grin a bit.

  They started the movie just lying next to each other and now Jenna is practically on Dax's lap.

  Liv catches me before the grin has left my face and oh fuck if looks could kill I'd be on the ground right now. Shaking my head I stand up and head for the kitchen to get another drink.

  As my hand wraps around the can in the fridge I can feel her eyes on me. Grabbing it and taking a deep breath I turn around.

  "Can you hand me one?" she asks me, not meeting my eyes. She really needs to slow down. But I know if I say that to her it'll just piss her off so I go to hand her the one in my hand.

  "Holy shit Gray," her eyes widen as she yanks the beer out of my hand and sets it on the counter, grabbing my other hand she pulls me to the sink. Looking down I notice the blood dripping from my knuckles.

  Well fuck.

  She turns on the water and gently guides my bleeding knuckles under the spray.

  "How did you not notice this?! Doesn't it hurt?" Liv questions me as she washes the blood away.

  My useless ass just stands there, unsure of how I didn't notice how bad the cuts were, unsure why she was being so nice to me after I'd been a dick all night, unsure how I was supposed to respond to someone taking care of me...again.

  "I don't know," I answer her. "I've had worse, it doesn't hurt that bad."

  She shakes her head at me before focusing back on cleaning my hand. I just watch her as she gently holds my hand under the water, she had taken her makeup off when she changed into her sweats and somehow she was even more gorgeous. Her hazel eyes are leaning more towards gold as they study the broken skin of my knuckles. Her nose, sprinkled with little freckles, wiggles as she turned the water off and looks around for something to dry my hand with. Her brows furrow as she grabs paper towels and applies pressure onto the cuts to stop the bleeding completely.

  Reaching up to open a cabinet next to the sink, her eyes scan the medicine bottles until she finds a bottle of antibiotic cream and some gauze and tape. I watch in something probably barely short of awe as she quietly rubs the ointment across my knuckles and then wraps it all up.

  "Thank you," is all I can muster as she moves. She glances up at me but stays quiet as she grabs the medical tape and tapes the end of the gauze.

  As soon as she finishes she backs up. Grabbing the beer she had set on the counter she turns and heads back for the living room.

  "Queen," I say it so quietly I wasn't even sure she'd be able to hear, but she must because she freezes in place.

  "Liv..." She keeps her back turned to me as I search for words. I walk up to her, my chest inches away from her shoulders. "You didn't have to do that."

  Her back straightens even more before she turns. She looks up at me, fire in her eyes, mad as hell, and fucking hot.

  "No shit you ass-"

  I wrap my arms around her and the rest of her words become lost in the fabric of my hoodie. Her arms wrap around my waist automatically and I can feel the tension leave her body.

  "Seriously Liv, thank you." Without thinking I kiss the top of her head.

  Fuck.

  Fucking fuckity fuck.

  As I start to pull back I glance down and can't seem to continue backing away. Her sparkling golden eyes are locked on mine. The fire still in them, but a different kind.

  Her eyes flicker down to my mouth, her tongue darts out to wet her own and then she bites her bottom lip as she looks back up in my eyes.

  I'm done.

  Before I can talk myself out of it I'm bending down and my lips land on hers.

  Before I could even decide if I wanted to continue to call him names for being a dick all night, his lips landed on mine.

  In the dreams I had had of this moment, nothing could have prepared me for the gentle, almost questioning sweetness, of Grayson's kiss.

  His lips were so much softer, so much warmer, than any dream could have made up.

  In my surprise, I had frozen up. His hands, which had found their way to my hips started to loosen as my frozenness started to probably make him think I wasn't interested.

  Not wanting to lose the moment I quickly reach up to the nape of his neck and hold him close to me. Running my tongue along the seam of his mouth I feel his grin before the kiss is no longer gentle but holding all of the power of the past weeks of tension that had been between us. Heating up in seconds he picks me up and I wrap my legs around his waist.

  My hands find the jawline I had been admiring and now I hold him as his tongue lights fires inside of me.

  He walks me over to the counter and sets me down only to slide his hand up to the base of my neck and tug at my hair to give him access to my throat. A moan escapes me as his teeth graze over a spot that makes me melt even more into his arms.

  His lips find their way back to mine and as he bites down on my bottom lip I'm officially lost. My hands reach under his hoodie and its now my turn to smile as he groans as my nails dig into his back.

  "You need to stop now Queen," his voice is barely above a growl in my ear. He scoots me closer to him on the counter, spreading my legs wider to accommodate him. Splaying his hand across my lower back he pulls me up against him, his sweatpants and my shorts barely a barrier.

  Holy hell.

  I pull back a little to look down and Grayson chuckles. But his chuckle quickly fades as I slide my hand between us and begin rubbing up and down.

  "You started it," I whisper as I use my other hand to pull him back down to me. He kisses me hard and his own hand finds its way underneath my cropped hoodie. As his hands brush over me he inhales on a hiss.

  "You weren't wearing a bra this whole fucking time?" My turn to chuckle.

  "You had this planned didn't you Queen?" he asks as his hands cup and gently squeeze. "Those fucking nonexistent shorts, your hair up and ready to be pulled," he reaches up with his other hand to prove his point with a deep pull, exposing my neck again so he can run his tongue along it.

  "And tell me Liv, what in the fuck is the point of a cropped hoodie? Other than to show off that perfect body of yours." His fingers capture a hardened nipple and with a quick squeeze I'm arching my back and pressing harder into his hand. "And this," his head dips down and before I can process what he is doing his mouth has replaced his fingers and his tongue is running lazy circles. "No bra, oh Queen, you definitely had a plan."

  Pulling my hoodie back down, his good hand gently cups my face and he turns it up to him. Pressing another soft kiss on my lips he smiles.

  "But I'm not fucking you tonight Queen," another kiss, his other hand squeezes my ass.

  Wait did he just say?!

  "Wh—" he cuts me off with a nibble on my ear lobe.

  "You've been drinking Queen," he starts to whisper in my ear, husky, and deep. Chills run down me. "When we do fuck," he pauses and bites at my neck, "and oh, we will," he presses kisses along my jawline. "I need you sober." I open my mouth to argue, but he just places a finger to my lips.

  "Sober, Queen."

  "But, you sleep with every other girl when they are drunk!"

  Oh my God I am not arguing with him about having sex with me right now. My body is vibrating with a need for release as he backs up a little bit. He wraps his arms around me loosely.

  "But you Queen, are not every other girl." He places another
kiss on top of my head.

  I don't know what to say.

  A part of me wants to punch him, in the throat, really hard, because my hell...and then another part, is melting...for him.

  Sighing, I wrap my arms loosely around him too.

  "GRAY!" Dax barges into the kitchen with a worried look on his face. I move to let go of Grayson but he keeps his arms around me, not caring that his brother just barged in on us.

  "What bro?" The annoyance in Grayson's voice clear.

  "Haven't you heard your phone going off dude?!" Jenna comes up behind Dax, a worried look on her face too.

  "I cannot explain to you the amount of fucks I do not give about my phone right now," Grayson squeezes me a little bit as the words leave his mouth.

  "Grayson," Dax's voice drops and a serious look comes over his face. "Roman's back, and," Gray's arms fall away from me and he's yanking his phone out of his pocket. "Dude, it's bad. Dad's sending a car right now. We got a red eye, we have to go."

  Grayson closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. He helps me down from the counter and wraps an arm around my shoulder. "How long?" he asks.

  "Until we fix it." Gray curses under his breath at D's answer. Looking over at Jenna, I see she is just as confused as I am. "We gotta go pack, the car will be here in ten." Dax grabs Jenna's hand and begins to lead her out to the living room, I'm assuming to say goodbye. "Liv, see ya soon okay," he says before heading out, not even giving me time to answer.

  "Son of a—" Gray runs his hand through his hair. "I'm so fucking sorry Liv, I have to go, I have no choice." He pulls me into a hug.

  "I don't understand," I hold onto him. "This all sounds terrifying." I look up at him, he puts on a smile even though I swear I see a twinge of worry in his eyes.

  "Na, I'll be fine," he winks. "Not getting rid of your new annoying neighbors that easy." He leans down and kisses me, lingering for a moment, like he doesn't want to walk away.

  "GRAY! NOW!" Dax shouts as we hear the front door open. And with one last hug, Grayson walks out the door.

  Chapter 10

  He had been gone all summer.

  All summer I had waited for a text, a phone call, a dm, anything to let me know he was safe, but nothing.

  Luckily Dax had at least called Jenna once to let us know they had made it to New York, and he'd answered her texts a couple of times since. But even for her it had been a couple of weeks since she'd heard anything.

  We still had no idea what had caused the crazed exit. The apartment across the hall was still theirs. A cleaning lady had been coming once a week. After a few conversations with her we could tell she knew something but she was just as tightlipped as the boys had been.

  So here I am, back in class, first day of the semester. Trying to focus, but with runaway thoughts of Grayson.

  "Liviana? Liviana Carasa?" A professor who actually took attendance, and in an 8 a.m. class. Perfection.

  Snapping myself out of my haze, I give a slight wave and smile to the tiny older lady with the booming voice at the front of the lecture hall. Jenna catches my eye sitting next to me and tilts her head in concern.

  She had been worried too but it hadn't seemed to have consumed her as much as it had me. Which made more sense honestly considering we hadn't even known the boys for that long.

  I felt like Grayson had given me a little bit more of an insight into the danger of his family though, and it was making me worry for more than just a safe trip.

  What could his family be into that was so serious the boys had to jump on a flight in the middle of the night?

  Jenna nudges me with her foot as I get lost in my own thoughts again. Pointing up to the front of the room I realize I've missed a chunk of the lecture already. Shaking my head I pull out my laptop and try to focus on taking notes.

  Two hours later and my mind is just a mess. I walk out of class with Jenna and without a word we both begin walking towards the Starbucks on the corner.

  "Jenna! Liv!" spotting us from a few feet away Sam and Hailey run up to us.

  "AH hey girls!" Hailey exclaims as she wraps us up in a hug, Sam joining her.

  "I feel like last week was just a blur and we didn’t get to catch up!" Jenna tells them with a huge smile on her face. We had hung out with them at a back to school party last weekend but between the music and games, hadn’t gotten a chance to talk much.

  "Come get coffee with us and tell us all about how meeting the parents went," with a wink Jenna grabs onto Sam's arm. I link onto Hailey and we begin walking.

  The girls had went to Idaho for their summer vacation, it had been the first time Sam had brought a girlfriend home.

  "Soooo?" I questioned, hoping things had went well.

  "Oh, they loved me of course," Hailey smirked. "What else did you expect?"

  "She was on her best behavior," Sam chimed in. "I almost thought I'd brought the wrong girlfriend." Giggles erupt from all of us as Hailey pretends to look hurt by Sam's teasing. Heading into the coffee shop we all get in line.

  "It's the Dream Team back together again!" We all turn as Liam gets up from his table in the corner and heads for us with a smile on his face. Our favorite 6' 6" basketball player, dwarfing everyone else in line. He had given us four the nickname after we beat the team in pong...multiple times.

  Making the rounds of hugs again he stands and chats with us as we wait to order and we all head over to sit at his table where a few other boys on the team wait.

  "Livi! I missed you!" Dean pulls out my chair as we walk up. While not as tall as Liam, Dean still stands taller than most around us. Probably the same height as Gray—nope, not right now. Shaking my head I smile at Dean as I sit down in the offered chair.

  "You just saw me last week." The boys had put on said huge back to school party last weekend.

  Much alcohol.

  Much fun.

  Much hangover.

  "Well yeah," he winks at me as he takes a seat next to me, "but you were kinda blurry."

  "Just kinda? You were standing on the counter singing Justin Bieber for like thirty minutes," as I remind him of his drunk actions his eyes widen in horror.

  "Oh. My. God. Can I just undo that?" Tears fall from mine and the other girls' faces as we all reminisce on the moment.

  "Oh no honey," Sam pipes up.

  "But for sure," Hailey tries to speak through her laughter, "the best part was when you ripped your shirt off and sang-"

  "BABY, OOOOOOH," all of us girls stand up and start dancing and singing around Dean as he buries his face in his hands, bright red from embarrassment, but laughing just as hard as the rest of us.

  After a few more minutes of our own renditions of Dean's dance moves we all collapse in our chairs as the barista brings by our drinks.

  "On the house, that show was so worth it," he chuckles as he walks back behind the counter.

  "Thanks Dean!" I smile at him as I take a sip from my iced latte. Running his hands through his hair he shoots me a grin.

  "Well I was gonna invite you girls to our party tonight but if you're just gonna make fun of my dance moves," he shrugs and looks around at the rest of the guys who are still cracking up.

  "Oh hell no, they are coming!" Liam joins in and the rest of the guys nod.

  "Picking these girls over your own teammate," Dean looks at the team in mock disappointment. "I'm hurt boys, real hurt." Clutching his chest he turns back to me.

  "So you girls in?"

  I look over at Jenna who nods her agreement along with Sam and Hailey.

  "Looks like we will be there!"

  We all stand up, noticing it’s about time to head to our next classes.

  "I fully expect another concert tonight though," I point at Dean and shake my hips a little bit as we head out the door, busting up as his cheeks flare bright red again.

  "Hey ass clown, can you focus and help me pack?" D yells at me from across his bedroom as he throws our bags onto his bed. Shaking my head clear from the thoughts of Liv I head ov
er to help.

  I had been gone all summer and she was still all I could think about. Even through everything that had happened. Glancing over I see the stitches on D's upper arm are healing well.

  Fucking Roman coming back had messed up everything. Luckily Dax and I were still standing, thanks in part to his men being really shitty shots, and Roman wouldn't be stupid enough to come around trying to take out our cousins again anytime soon.

  "Grayson, Dax, you guys need a ride to the airport?" Luca pauses in our doorway with his bag slung up on his shoulder. The bruise on his jaw starting to turn a real pretty shade of yellow. Noticing we haven't even started packing yet he walks into the room.

  "You guys good?" he asks throwing his bag down and sitting on the bed. He was only a couple of years older than us but he always had acted like he had to take care of us. More like an older brother than a cousin.

  "Always Luc," I tell him, grinning as I begin to throw shit into my bag. "How's that jaw?" I ask, knowing he will downplay it but he got one hell of a knock from one of Roman's boys.

  "All good, pretty sure Nate has done worse to me once or twice," as he mentions his brother, Nate shows up in the room too.

  "You know this," Nate jokes as he punches Luca in the shoulder. "What's up bro, why aren't you guys packed? Thought you'd wanna get the fuck up outta here before your Dad found you something else to do. Thank you for coming out to help us though, you boys saved our asses." Both D and I shrug off his thanks as Nate starts helping us grab the stuff we'd laid out to pack and shoves it into bags.

  "Gray's scared of a girl," D spouts off then quickly covers his head as I throw his shoes I had been about to pack at his head.

  "Fuck off dude," I avoid the eyes of the guys but I know they are all staring at me. They had been there for the aftermath, and they'd seen how I had treated girls after that.

  We all stayed silent as we finished getting the bags ready. I was trying to figure out a way to explain what was going on with Liv without sounding like a total bitch, when my thoughts were interrupted by Dad arriving in the doorway. Adding to the fucking party we were apparently having in the room.