Grayson: An MM Friends To Lovers Romance

I wanted him to stay, and I wasn’t just talking about his presence in the spa.

I wanted Henry to stay with me.

But I could barely get the words out before his stomach rumbled. I watched his cheeks flush as he twisted his lips.

“Hungry?” I asked.

“I, uh… haven’t really had much of an appetite today,” he said cautiously.

“You should eat something,” I insisted.

Henry disrobed, peeking over his shoulder at me for a moment before sliding his spa sandals off. I watched as he slowly walked over to the Jacuzzi opposite my side. Away from me.

Part of me wanted to rise and join him, to pull him into my arms and tell him I was sorry.

I was sorry someone somewhere made him feel like he wasn’t enough.

I was sorry for compromising us both the other night.

I was sorry for sitting down in the first place with Cody, thinking he had changed, because I had changed.

But most of all, I was sorry for whatever pain I had caused Henry, and I wanted to make it right.

I wanted to be the man to heal his wounds.

I wanted to love him the way he deserved to be loved.

But I said none of that, because the masseuse came in, setting her gaze on me with fury.

“Your time is up, Mr. Sanderson,” she said, tapping her watch. The spa ran in fifteen-minute intervals, and I was well over my time.

“Understood,” I said, rising from my pool, feeling the chill of the air from the shift in temperature. I grabbed my robe, tying it closed as I followed the woman out.

“Could you see that my friend in there, Henry, receives a charcuterie platter and a pastry assortment along with a selection of your finest teas and coffees, please,” I said as I headed toward the locker room. “And, please, put it on my tab,” I ordered.

The woman smiled pleasantly. “Of course, Mr. Sanderson, will there be anything else?” she asked as I stopped at the door.

“Anything he wants, of course. Tell him it’s been taken care of.”

CHAPTER 36

Henry

The drive home was thick with unsaid words. Grayson kept switching radio stations, until I finally relented, turning it off altogether. I supposed it was time to rip the band-aid off and address the elephant in the Porsche.

“I can’t do this. This awkward silence. We need to talk.”

“I couldn’t agree more,” Grayson said, not looking away from his attention on the road.

There was so much I wanted to say, but all I could settle on was, “I’m sorry I yelled at you.”

Grayson’s expression did not shift. “Yes, well. Cody has that effect on people,” he murmured.

“Is he your—”

“Was.”

Hope dared to blossom in my heart, but I needed to get things out. I could not be distracted by slivers of hope.