Chapter 5

Two weeks had passed, and Grayson was celebrating his 28th birthday with a small gathering at his store. Jessie was surprised to see a few people there, as it was the first time she had met any of Grayson's friends or acquaintances. They had only been together for a short time, and she knew very little about his family or social circle.

Kevin, Grayson's childhood friend who was 26, had taken charge of organizing the birthday party. He arranged for drinks and, of course, the birthday cake. The time came to sing "Happy Birthday" to Grayson. Kevin requested the lights to be dimmed, and they all sang to Grayson, who held a cup of Nepal Valley tea in one hand and Jessie wrapped around the other. They moved to the rhythm of the song.

"Happy Birthday Grayson, happy birthday Grayson, Happy birthday happy birthday, happy birthday Grayson," they sang, and Kevin presented a cake with lit candles that was neither too small nor too large. "Make a wish, Gray-man," Kevin encouraged, and everyone cheered in agreement. Grayson blew out the candles with a smile, and the guests applauded.

Soon, everyone was enjoying a slice of cake, except for Grayson, who stuck with his drink. Kevin's girlfriend, Lexy, took the opportunity to strike up a conversation with Jessie, whom she had just met. Lexy had known Grayson from high school when they, along with Kevin, had been close friends. Kevin was fortunate to date the charming Lexy.

"So, how long have you known Grayson?" Lexy inquired, taking a sip of her drink.

"Um, just a couple of weeks," Jessie replied with a slight shrug. Lexy was surprised by her answer. "Really? It seems like you've known him forever," Lexy remarked with a chuckle, and they both giggled.

"I know, it's been a whirlwind romance, and I love him," Jessie said, her gaze fixed on Grayson, who was chatting with Kevin.

It seemed like Kevin and Lexy were not only there to celebrate Grayson's birthday but also to inquire about his relationship with Jessie.

"She's like a sexy librarian, literally your dream girl," Kevin commented, and Grayson agreed, still watching Jessie. "I know. She's amazing."

Kevin sighed and continued, "It's good to see that you're... I don't know, doing okay? I mean, you were in a bad place there," referring to a time when Grayson had withdrawn from his friends after his mother's death.

"I was just depressed, a little," Grayson admitted, taking a sip of his drink.

Kevin scoffed, "Dude, you were more than a little depressed. We were all worried about you. But you're good now?"

"Yeah, believe it or not," Grayson replied, snorting at Kevin, who chuckled in response.

Hours later, the party came to an end, and Kevin and Lexy stayed to help clean up. The cleaning took only 30 minutes, and they were finished. Kevin and Lexy bid farewell, leaving Grayson and Jessie alone in the store. Jessie was dusting a shelf when Grayson approached her with a broomstick.

"Hey, are you okay?" he asked.

She nodded, "Yeah, I'm great. Lexy was really nice. She told me a funny story about you—how you sneaked into the principal's office with Kevin to erase your name from the detention list, and it went horribly wrong." Jessie finished with a light smile.

Grayson, however, responded with a scoff, "Oh, it was the worst moment of our lives. I and Kevin got detention for three weeks, cleaning the boys' bathroom, and to top it off, I was grounded for a month." Jessie couldn't help but laugh, and eventually, Grayson joined in.

Suddenly, Jessie remembered something, "Oh, hey, I got you something. It's a birthday present," she said as she retrieved a package from her bag and handed it to him. Grayson, surprised and curious, opened it to find a luxurious gold wristwatch.

"I noticed you don't wear a wristwatch, so I thought I'd get you one," Jessie explained.

Grayson, who had stopped wearing a wristwatch for a while, was taken aback. "This is amazing, Jessie. It must have cost a fortune."

Jessie simply shook her head, "Not really. It's a long story, but it was given to me by an old friend, so I decided to give it to you." Grayson, smiling, expressed his gratitude, and before they knew it, he lowered his head and planted a romantic kiss on her lips.

On July 4th, Grayson and Jessie decided to celebrate America's Independence Day by heading to Connery Island. The highlight of their day was experiencing the thrill of riding the roller coasters. As the roller coaster zipped up and down its tracks, the screams of excitement filled the air, with Grayson, in particular, shouting at the top of his lungs. He seemed convinced he was about to plummet to his doom, despite being securely fastened by his seatbelt. Jessie couldn't help but chuckle at her boyfriend's childlike fear.

Once the ride ended, Grayson vowed never to set foot on a roller coaster again, declaring it the fastest way to meet their maker. Afterward, they visited a popcorn stand, indulging in some popcorn and snow cones. They made their way to the theater area to watch a performance by a group of circus artists, all of this happening in the afternoon.

As evening descended, they left the island, and the night sky was adorned with various fireworks. Arm in arm, they strolled down the streets, engaging in lively discussions, laughter, and light-hearted teasing. Passersby, whether couples or singles, couldn't help but feel a tinge of jealousy at the sight of this affectionate pair.

Just five minutes away from Jessie's home, she turned to Grayson with a curious expression. "So," she stressed, "Why do we always end up at my place?"

Grayson was caught off guard by the question. "What?" he asked in surprise.

"I want to see where you live," Jessie said, sounding a bit like a child seeking a treat from her mother.

Grayson hesitated before explaining, "It's kind of uncomfortable there."

Jessie frowned at his response. "Grayson, my apartment is not exactly the Four Seasons."

"No, it's not that," Grayson replied, looking away and sighing deeply.

"Let me guess, you still live with your parents," Jessie guessed.

"I live with my dad and his new wife, so yeah," Grayson admitted with a forced smile and a light sigh.

"So?" Jessie pressed.

Grayson tried to explain, "It's complicated. My dad and I don't get along. He doesn't like me. He loves me, but he doesn't like me. He sees me as a disappointment."

But Jessie insisted, "What? No! That's not true. He loves and likes you. You just need to give him some time and sort things out with him."

Grayson was surprised by her advice, realizing that his wisdom might be rubbing off on her. Instead of responding with words, he smiled at her and gave her a gentle peck on the lips. But just then, Jessie's phone rang. She checked the caller ID and grimaced. "Hold on," she told Grayson, turning away to answer the call.

"Hello? Yeah... I don't know—What?! Okay... I said okay!" Her voice grew louder toward the end of the conversation, causing Grayson to give her an alarmed look. Jessie ended the call and turned to Grayson, who was anxiously waiting for an explanation. "I have to go. I'm sorry."

Concerned, Grayson asked, "Are you okay? Should I call an Uber or—"

But Jessie interrupted him, "No, I have to go by myself. I'm sorry. Please. I have to go." With those words, she turned and hurried out of Grayson's sight, leaving him standing there, confused and wondering about the cause of her distress. The only answer that raced through his mind was the name "Alex."