Roberts - A Gray Christmas

M are, I really dont want to intrude, I tell my best friend over FaceTime, as I twist a long, blonde lock around my finger. Shes been begging me for the last thirty minutes to fly to Venice for Christmas.

Nora, come on! she whines for the hundredth time. What the hell else are you going to do with yourself? Your parents will be in Vegas.

Whos gonna watch Kiwi? I ask as I pet the furball next to me.

Oh, my God! Shes a cat, but Im sure your neighbor would check in on her, she says in exasperation.

Did you hear that? Meanie Maren called you a cat. Youre not just a cat. I make a kissy noise before pecking the top of her furry head.

She giggles on the other end. Youre ridiculous.

Kiwi jumps from the bed, without a care in the world. Im sure shed actually be happy to have the apartment to herself for a while.

I pout, Why did you have to move so far? I hate flying. Im thinking of every excuse in the book not to go, which is dumb because I literally have nothing else to do for my holiday.

If youd come visit, youd understand. Its gorgeous here, Nor. She gets a mischievous look on her face, Who knows? Maybe you can actually clean the cobwebs out.

Maren Pierce! Why are you so filthy? Although this doesnt actually surprise me. Weve been friends since junior high, and her maturity hasnt much improved over the years.

You know you love me. She bats her eyelashes at me. But really. All you do is work. Its time for you to have some fun.

Theres nothing wrong with being a responsible adult.

She twists her hair into a messy bun before responding. Theres nothing wrong with getting some either. She shrugs as if this is no big deal. Ive never been one for sleeping around. Maren, on the other hand, finds no problem with it. And Gray will love seeing you too.

Her brother, Grayson, was three years ahead of us in school and moved to Chicago right after he graduated. I never told her, but I had the biggest crush on him. But soon after he left, I started dating his best friend, who is now my ex-boyfriend.

Maren stayed in Wimberley until she got the crazy idea to follow her brother to Venice two years ago when he took a photography job.

Yeah, Im sure. I roll my eyes. Your brother thought I was almost as annoying as you.

In high school, he thought everyone was annoying.

Fine, I say like a child. But Im not hooking up with anyone.

Yay! She bounces on her couch as she claps her hands. Well have so much fun, and its so pretty here in December. I promise you wont regret it.

You better hope not, because I havent left Texas in ten years. I glare at her.

And its true. Ive lived in Wimberley, Texas, all my life. The only bad thing about it is that everyone knows everything about everything. It would actually be nice to be a nobody for once.

T his place is even more beautiful than I ever could have imagined. Maren has sent me tons of pictures of different sites and museums shes visited, but this, this is surreal.

It would have cost me an entire months rent for this water taxi had the couple sitting across from me not agreed to share one with me and their three kids. The curly-haired toddler has been screaming since we got on, and I kind of feel like pulling my own hair out, but I can get over it since Ill hardly have to pay anything. Plus, Im a teacher, for Gods sake. I definitely need sleep. After nearly thirteen hours on a plane, Im feeling kind of bitchy.

I look out the small window on the side of the boat as we go under the Rialto Bridge. Its immaculately decorated with white Christmas lights and surrounded by snow-covered trees. I dont think Ive ever seen anything like it.

A few minutes later, the taxi slows and the captain alerts me that Im at my destination. I cant believe my best friend lives here. It cant be cheap to live along the Grand Canal, but Maren has never let something like money keep her from getting what she wants. Im sure Gray would have been happy living in a shoebox on the side of the road, but she wouldnt have that.

Nor! Maren hollers as soon as I pay my fare and drag my suitcase off the boat, onto the dock. Her shoulder-length, dark brown, curly hair is already covered in snowflakes.

Hey, Mare! I smile as she pulls me into a hug. I havent seen her since last Christmas when she came home for a few weeks.

I cant believe I actually got you here. She squeezes me tight, and I think she may suffocate me.

Honestly, me neither. I chuckle as I back away.

She reaches for my suitcase and then grabs my hand. Come on. Lets go inside. Its freezing out here. Shes not lying. Its a good thirty degrees cooler here than it is back home. I dont do well with cold.

We go inside, where its thankfully much warmer.

Were on the second floor. She points to the elevator directly in front of us.

This place is stunning, I tug my coat tight against my body, trying to thaw out. It may be beautiful, but I couldnt deal with this weather.

She smirks at me. I do believe I said that.

Touch. Hows work going?

Busy as hell, but I love the hospital Im at now. Oh, and the freaking hot doctor Ive been working with lately is just a perk. She winks. If you know what I mean.

The elevator dings before the door slides open.

Why are you such a slut? I tease her. Although, I do often worry about how careless she is.

Shh! she says as she puts her key in the door. Gray would have a coronary if he found out. He turns into Major Asshole when a guy even looks at me.

Aww, hes just being a good big brother. I snigger, remembering that hes always been that way toward her.

She rolls her eyes before pushing the door open.

Look whos here! she hollers into their apartment, as if Gray doesnt know Im coming.

I walk down the entryway into their living room and time seems to momentarily stand still. I always thought Grayson Pierce was hot, but damn. Hes all man now with his clean-cut black hair and the short scruff that graces his handsome face. Hes awakened something inside of me that hasnt gotten much attention in a very, very long time.

He stands from the couch, and I cant control the fluttering in my stomach when I see the piercing green eyes I always loved. Maren is like the sister I never had, but my feelings toward Grayson were far from sisterly. I used to dream about those eyes. Of course, I wouldnt have dared to tell her that, because having fantasies about your besties brother was not okay.

How the hell are you, Nor? He draws me into a big bear hug, as if we havent been apart for the last ten years. Why is this guy living with his younger sister and not married with two point five kids by now?

Hey, Gray. I smile up at him. Im doing good. How are you?