Too Late for Us

When Grayson saw me, he stood up. After a brief silence, he spoke.

"Hazel's parents are going to be staying with us for a while. Weren't your parents leaving soon anyway? So I had someone take their things out ahead of time."

I curled my lips into a bitter smile. "Grayson, I never realized before. You really are such a wonderful son-in-law."

Then, without acknowledging the three wary pairs of eyes in the living room, I went back to the bedroom by myself.

Grayson followed me in and tried to smooth things over, the way he always did.

"Don't be mad, Mia. I already booked your parents a five-star hotel. I'll drive their luggage over later. The Watsons are guests, after all. We can't lose face."

I didn't say anything. I kept packing.

Grayson came up close and started folding clothes for me. "Mia, I feel like you've been so distant lately. Hazel already got into grad school. If it really bothers you that much, I'll cut back on seeing her. Okay?"

Then, like a kid showing off a prize, he pulled a necklace out of the drawer.

"See? The one you've had in your shopping cart forever. I bought it for you. Consider it my apology. Also, I've already finalized the venue for the engagement party. The guests are all invited. Tomorrow, all you have to do is show up and look beautiful."

I froze. I turned to him and asked, "You already decided all that? When? Why didn't you discuss it with me?"

His tone was completely casual. "I saw how busy you were. And I figured girls all like the same kinds of things, so I asked Hazel for her opinion."

I slowly repeated his last few words. "Asked Hazel for her opinion?

"So let me get this straight. You two picked the venue, decided the theme, chose the favors, sent out the invitations—the two of you did everything?

"Grayson, don't you think that's a little ridiculous?"

His face did that familiar thing where annoyance flickered across it, but he forced it down. "Mia, I don't want to fight about this anymore. I promise you, I love you. I'm never going to change. Is that enough?"

He held up the necklace, smiling, and reached out to put it on me. "Come on, let's stop sulking, okay? I couldn't sleep without you next to me. Isn't that punishment enough?"

I stepped back, dodging his hands. Grayson's smile faded slightly.

I looked at him for a few seconds, then spoke. "Give me the address of the engagement venue."

The moment the words left my mouth, Grayson's easy smile returned. "See, Mia? I knew it. You still want to marry me. No matter how much you sulk, you can't bring yourself to leave me."

His eyes swept over my suitcase. He was in a good mood.

"Alright, you can stop worrying now. You don't have to keep playing hard to get. How many times have you packed a suitcase? Have you ever actually left? Besides, your hometown is over two thousand miles away. You can throw all the tantrums you want—you still can't go home."

I walked past Grayson and pulled my suitcase toward the door.

He leaned against the doorframe, completely calm, watching me with a smile. "Go ahead and get it out of your system tonight. Just don't forget to show up on time tomorrow for the engagement party."

I smiled back at him over my shoulder. "Don't worry. I definitely will. I'm going to give you a huge surprise."

The next day, I helped my parents load all their bags onto the high-speed train.

As the train's warning alarm beeped and the doors began to close, my phone started buzzing nonstop.

After the third call went to voicemail and the fourth one started ringing, I finally answered.

On the other end, Grayson's mother's voice came through—panicked, tearful, completely lost. "Mia, where are you? Grayson... something happened to Grayson. You need to come quickly..."