Changing Lanes (Lake Park University Book 1)

by Christina Escue

  I keep walking until I’m out of the facility and at my car.

  “You okay, Gray?” Wes asks as he steps behind me and lays a hand on my shoulder.

  “No,” I answer and pull my keys from my pocket. “Do you mind driving? I’m not sure I should right now.”

  “Sure,” he responds, but doesn’t take the keys from my hand. Instead, he turns me and wraps his arms around me. “Let it out, Graycen. I’m right here.”

  I shake my head, but the tears I’ve been holding in start to fall and I can’t stop them.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Rico

  “How’d your visit with your mom go?” I ask Gray as I join her and Wes at a table in Mean Bean. I’d just gotten off work when they walked in, and decided to stay and have a cup of coffee with them.

  “Enlightening,” Gray answers then takes a sip of her coffee.

  I look at her questioningly then look over at Wes. “Want to fill me in?”

  “Mom told me some things that shocked the hell out of me, and shook the very core of my existence,” she says and closes her eyes. “Gavyn and I are not her biological children.”

  “What?” I ask, shocked but this announcement.

  “Mom was in an accident of some kind when she was younger and couldn’t have kids. When her and dad were ready to start a family, they paid some woman for her egg, and here I am.”

  “That’s insane,” I mutter, and she nods her agreement. “Why did she suddenly feel you needed to know that?”

  “Apparently her and dad discussed it, and they felt telling me now was a good idea,” she responds then takes another sip of her coffee. “For the first time in my life, I have no clue who I really am, and that’s not even the worst part of today’s trip to the rehab facility.”

  “What could be worse than that?” I ask. Short of being told her dad wasn’t her dad, I can’t think of anything worse. “Please tell me Davis is actually your dad.”

  “He is,” she confirms. “Mom and Mr. Sadler know each other. They even dated once upon a time.”

  “How’d you find this out?” I ask, but Gray shakes her head.

  “His company owns the rehab facility Mrs. Kelley is at,” Wes answers and I narrow my eyes. “He was there today, has been all week apparently.”

  “Why? What’s his interest in your mom?”

  “He, apparently, wants to get to know her again,” she mutters and closes her eyes as her shoulders droop. “He’s wanting to help her find a place here in Gainesville so she can be closer to me. According to him, she wants to rebuild our relationship, or some bullshit like that.”

  “Maybe she does,” I say, and she narrows her eyes at me. “Do you remember when my dad attempted suicide?”

  “Or course,” she whispers.

  “After he was out of the hospital, do you remember him being at every bowling tournament, every event? He was trying to rebuild things with me. Granted, he failed and ended up dead a couple years later, but he did try, and I think that’s what your mom wants. She faced death, granted it was by her own hand, but that’s a wakeup call for a lot of people.”

  “Was it for you?” She asks and I nod.

  “Yes,” I answer. “When I woke up in that hospital and found out Gav didn’t make it, I blamed myself. I should have been the one to die, not her. She was a good person and deserved the life she dreamed of. After I was released, I vowed to be more like her, and I am.”

  “That’s not really the same thing though,” she says. “You didn’t intentionally try ending your life.”

  “And you’re sure she did?”

  “She said she did,” Wes answers. “She said taking the pills was always her intention.”

  “Wow,” I breath out and look at Gray. “You look like you could use something stronger than coffee.”

  “I don’t drink,” she reminds me.

  “Not usually, but I think there are exceptions to every rule,” I mutter and look at Wes. “We’ll be with you, and make sure you’re okay.”

  “No pressure, Gray,” Wes says, and I nod. “But a drink or two may help calm your nerves a little.”

  “Where would we even go? Wes and I are only eighteen.”

  “Ryder’s place,” I suggest. “Micah always has a selection of wine coolers and other softer drinks for the girls there.”

  “Let’s go,” she says and rises to her feet.

  “You sure?” Wes asks as we’re walking from the coffee shop.

  “Yep,” she responds. “I’ll never be able to sleep tonight if I don’t do something.”

  “Want me to call the rest of the team and see if they want to come hang out?” I ask, but she shakes her head.

  “I don’t want to share this with everyone, and I really don’t want to see Xander and Joy yet,” she answers. “I don’t know how I feel about their dad wanting to spend time with my mom.”

  “Considering Xander still has a thing for you, it may be a little awkward at first,” I tell her. “But hey, at least you know the ones who may become your step-siblings.”

  “Not funny,” she says but I can see a hint of a smile on her face. “Where does Ryder live?”

  “Follow me,” I say then walk to my car. Before I start it, I send Ryder a text.

  ME: Emergency, bringing Gray and Wes over.

  RYDER: WTH? What’s the emergency?

  ME: Gray saw her mom today and got some news. Needs friends. Don’t text the others though.

  RYDER: Others are here already.

  ME: Shit, ok. Be there in five.

  RYDER: I’ll let everyone know.

  I shake my head and text Graycen.

  ME: Others are at Ryder’s. Still wanna go?

  GRAY: Yeah, may as well tell them all what happened.

  ME: K, follow me.

  GRAY: Lead the way

  I grin as I start my car. This encounter should be interesting.

  We make the short drive to Ryder’s and when I pull to a stop on the curb, I look at the cars in the driveway. Other than the four who live here, Joy, Wren, and Nadia are definitely here. Which means Xander probably is too.

  “Looks like the whole team is here,” Wes mutters and I nod.

  “Now that we’re here, the whole team is here,” Gray says and shakes her head.

  “Welcome to the party,” Brennon greets us as we walk across the yard. “I was just about to call you three and ask you to come over. We’re having a team meeting.”

  “About?” I ask as we step onto the porch.

  “The silent auction,” he answers, and I look at Gray. “But Ryder said something happened today, so we’ll discuss that first.”

  “I’d rather not,” Gray mutters.

  “That bad, huh?” Brennon asks, and Gray nods.

  “It was pretty bad,” Wes tells him as we step into the house.

  “Everyone’s out back,” Brennon tells us, and I nod.

  “Why don’t you show Wes where everyone else is? I want to talk to Gray for a second,” I suggest. Wes pauses and looks at Gray for a second. When she nods, he nods in return and follows Brennon through the kitchen and into the back yard.

  “What did you want to talk about?”

  “If you don’t want to be around everyone, I can take you somewhere else,” I say and touch her cheek. “I’ll even take you to Ethan’s if that’s where you’d be more comfortable.”

  “I can’t talk to Ethan about this,” she says then closes her eyes. “Not yet, anyway. Plus, he’s out of town until tomorrow.”

  “If you’re sure,” I tell her. When she nods, I lean down and press a kiss to the top of her head before I step away. “Then let’s go.”

  “Rico,” she says softly, and I stop walking. “Thank you.”

  “For what?”

  “For being here,” she answers then walks past me and into the backyard.

  I watch her for a second before I walk outside and join them.

  “Hey, Al,” Ryder greets me and hands me a beer.


  “I’m not drinking tonight,” I tell him and nod to Gray. “She may need someone sober to drive her home.”

  “You’re drinking?” Joy asks, her eyes going wide with shock.

  “After the afternoon I had, hell yeah,” Gray answers. “I’m just not sure what I’ll like, if anything.”

  “Here, try this,” Wren says and holds out her cup. “It’s my favorite.”

  “What is it?” Gray asks and sniffs it. “It smells like orange juice.”

  “It’s called an Orange Creamsicle. It’s a mix of vanilla vodka, triple sec, orange juice, and half and half,” she answers. “Taste it. If you like it, I’ll go make you one.”

  Gray sniffs it again before taking a small sip.

  “Wow, that’s good,” she says and Wren grins.

  “Keep that one,” Wren waves her off when she goes to hand it back. “I’ll go make me another.”

  “Thank you,” Gray says then takes a larger sip of the drink.

  “Wanna tell us what happened today?” Wren asks as she walks over to the built in bar.

  “I went to see my mom,” Gray answers then takes another drink. This time, she drinks down half of what’s left in the glass before she says anything else. “And found out I’m not biologically her daughter.”

  “What?” Xander asks from where he’s been sitting quietly in the corner.

  “Yep,” she says then drains the rest of the drink. “Dad’s my dad, but something happened to mom when she was younger, so they paid some woman for one of her eggs so they could have a kid. More fool them, they got two for the price of one. Then, seeing as fate is a fickle bitch, she snatched one of them away again and ripped us all apart. Oh, and I found out mom’s old high school boyfriend is Xander and Joy’s dad.”

  “Wait, what?” Joy asks. Apparently this is news to them. “Who told you this?”

  “Your dad,” she answers and looks at Wes. “He heard it too.”

  “I did,” Wes confesses and looks at Joy. “Gray’s mom is in the facility your family owns. Long story short, he ran into her and wants to get to know her again.”

  “This is insane,” Wren says as she hands Gray another drink. “Now I see why you needed a drink.”

  “Mom wants to rebuild our relationship, and Mr. Sadler seems to think he can help us do that,” she mutters then takes a drink.

  “Back up a second. How do our parents know each other?” Xander asks as he moves closer to the group.

  “They went to high school together. Your dad is a couple years older than my mom, but they dated his senior year. They broke up when he went to college, and she married my dad a few years later,” she explains and Xander nods. “He offered to pay for her stay at the rehab facility and help her find a place here once she’s out.”

  “Why?” Xander asks and looks at Joy.

  “He said he wants to get to know her again,” Gray repeats then downs the last of her drink.

  “Want another?” Wren asks and Gray shakes her head.

  “I want my life to be back the way it was before Gavyn was murdered,” she says, and I drop my gaze to the floor. “I know that’s never going to happen, but that’s all I’ve wanted for the past four years.”

  “Gray,” Wes says and looks at me.

  “What else did our dad say?” Joy asks before I can say anything.

  “Just that he’d respect it if I didn’t want the two of them seeing each other,” she answers and looks at Joy. “That’s all I know. I didn’t really let him say anything else.”

  “I think we need to go home and have a talk with him,” Joy says and looks at Xander. “You okay?”

  “Dad hasn’t dated,” he says and shakes his head. “I mean, he’s went on dates, but he’s never wanted to take the time to get to know someone.”

  “I know,” Joy says and looks at Gray. “Did your mom say anything about dad?”

  “Just that he’s visited with her a few times this past week, and that she knew him in high school. She didn’t even mention them dating before she started dating dad,” she answers and looks at her hands. “Why are parents so complicated?”

  “Maybe they’ll be good for each other,” Joy comments and both Gray and Xander look at her. “What? Both have been alone for far too long already. Shouldn’t we want them to be happy?”

  “I want my mom to be happy,” Gray tells her. “It’s what I’ve wanted for the past four years. I’m just not sure she’s in a stable enough place to start something with someone. Especially someone who owns the rehab facility she’s recovering in.”

  “Gray, you told Mr. Sadler that if he felt he could make her happy then he should,” Wes reminds me.

  “Yeah, I remember,” she says and looks at Joy and Xander. “Your dad really pissed me off.”

  “He has a habit of doing that,” Joy says and smiles at Gray. “Wouldn’t it be wild if they started dating though?”

  “Unless wild is a synonym for awkward, then no,” Xander says and looks at Gray. “But, I guess there’s nothing we can really do about it if they do.”

  “At least if they get married, we know we like our step-sister,” Joy says, and I bust out laughing.

  “What’s so funny?” Brennon asks, looking between the four of us.

  “Rico said nearly the same thing before we came over here,” Gray answers and starts to chuckle.

  Pretty soon, we’re all laughing, and the tension of the conversation starts to fade.

  No matter what happens between Mrs. Kelley and Mr. Sadler, this group right here will stand together.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Graycen

  A loud pounding wakes me from a restless sleep. I crack my eyes open and look at the clock beside my bed. It’s just after six in the morning, and I have no idea who could be beating on my door. I glance over, and see that Brittany isn’t in her bed, and I frown. Where could she be?

  “Coming,” I call out as I get out of bed.

  “Graycen,” I hear Ethan’s voice call out, and I frown.

  “What’s wrong?” I ask as soon as I open the door. Instead of answering, he steps closer and takes me into his arms. When his face buries in my neck, I wrap my arms around him and press against him.

  We stand there for a few minutes, just holding each other, before I lead him into the room and close the door. “What’s wrong, Ethan?” I ask quietly as we sit on the bed. We’ve been together for nearly two months now, and I’ve never seen him this upset.

  “I messed up,” he says softly.

  “Tell me what happened,” I tell him and look into his eyes. “No secrets, remember?”

  He inhales slowly and closes his eyes. “I went to a party last night with a few friends. We were drinking and just hanging out, but then something happened. I was so drunk, Graycen. More drunk than I’ve ever been in my life, and I did something.”

  He stops talking and looks at his hands. “Tell me, Ethan,” I say as fear grips me.

  “I love you, Graycen. No matter what, that hasn’t changed. I love you so much, baby,” he rushes to say, and I know what he’s going to say next is very bad. “I was drunk, you have to remember that.”

  “Just tell me, Ethan.”

  “I nearly slept with another girl,” he confesses and looks at the floor again. “I stopped it before it went that far, but we did some things that I’ll never forgive myself for.”

  I sit there in silence as he continues to look at the floor. I can’t believe what he just told me. I can’t believe my sweet, loving, considerate boyfriend would do something like that.

  “Say something,” he pleads after a few minutes pass.

  “What all did you do with her?” I ask softly. I don’t really want to know, but I feel as though I need to.

  “Does it matter?” He asks as he looks up with tear filled eyes.

  “Yes,” I answer, barely keeping my tears at bay. I will not cry in front of him.

  He closes his eyes again and inhales deeply before he tells me what happened. “
We kissed and touched a lot. I was caught up in the moment, and in the alcohol, and I let her start to give me a blowjob before my head cleared. When it did, I pushed her off me and immediately left the party,” he says and opens his eyes. They’re turbulent when they latch on to mine, but I can tell he isn’t finished speaking, so I wait. “I wanted to come straight to you, but the guys suggested I sober up some and shower first, so I did. I love you, Graycen. Please don’t hate me.”

  I look at him for a moment before I force myself to look away. “As much as I want to be pissed and hate you right now, I can’t. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to hate you,” I say softly and look back at him. “What I want to know is why?”

  “I don’t have an answer for that,” he mutters and reaches out to take my hand. When I pull it out of his reach, and rise from the bed, his eyes fill with tears again. “I will never forgive myself for hurting you.”

  “I think you need to leave,” I say softly as I wrap my arms around myself. “I need time to think, time to process this, time alone.”

  “I love you, more than anything, and I am so sorry, Graycen,” he says and takes a step closer to me. “Remember that while you’re thinking.”

  I nod but won’t meet his gaze. My heart is shattering, and it’s all I can do to keep from collapsing on the floor in a broken heap.

  “Please go,” I whisper and close my eyes. As much as I love him, there’s no way I can forgive him right now.

  He steps forward and presses a soft kiss to my forehead before he turns and walks toward the door. “I love you, Graycen,” he says again before he walks out and closes the door behind him.

  Once he’s gone, I sink to my bed and let the tears fall freely. I lay back and curl into a ball as I try to hold myself together.

  I’m not sure how long I’ve been here when my dorm room door opens, and someone walks in. Thinking it’s Brittany, I don’t move.

  “Gray,” Wes says softly just before the bed dips and I feel his strong arms surround me. “I’m here, love.”

  I roll over in his arms and bury my face in his shirt as the tears start flowing again.