Breanna Michelle Santana

I waited to go to Grayson's until after the wedding. I was drunk anyway, that wouldn't have been good.

I kept knocking until I realized Grayson was not in his apartment.

"Hey, lady," some random man in a leather jacket called out for me.

"Um, yeah?" I responded to him uneasily.

"No one lives there, kid moved out a couple weeks ago," he told me.

"Oh. Uh, thanks."

Lightbulb! I knew exactly where to go suddenly.

======

Around 8:30 PM, I pulled up to a familiar place. What was once an empty lot off in a woodland area, had transformed into a beautiful two-story modern home with beautiful landscape and a couple one car garages.

Tears almost filled my eyes when I got out of the Lyft.

"You need me to wait?" The lady asked.

"No, thanks," I said back and shut the door so she could put the car in reverse and pull off.

It was beautiful seeing Grayson's dream come to life. The last time I saw it, it was just a hollow shell, nothing but wooden frames. Oh, how could I forget — the door was there in its early stages. By that I mean Grayson put the lock on wrong, but it did have a dog door.

Ooh, Alfie! I missed him so much I could cry!
He probably got so big, I thought in my head as I hesitated to approach the front door.

Working up the nerve, I rang the doorbell.

My hand slapped the side of my thigh nervously as I waited from him to answer.

This is a mistake. This is a mistake. This is a mistake. What if he rejects me? Yes, he's probably moved on already. Oh yeah, he had Leila. This is like what happened with Joey all over again, isn't it? Why must I keep embarrassing myself? No. No, Breanna! You're going to tell him how you feel no matter what or who's in there. He has to know, once and for all, how I've truly felt all along.

At long last, the door swung open.

It was him. It was really him. Grayson Jansen stood before me for the first time in what seemed like an eternity.

I can't tell if I literally gasped or not, the fast pounding of my heart was too loud.

"Brea?" He asks as if he doesn't really know it's me.

"In the flesh," I returned.

"What're you-"

I cut him off to ask,"you wanna talk?"

"Yeah, come in-"

Consequently, I stopped him talking again. I laughed it off. "Actually, I'm fine out here. Plus, it's a full moon tonight."

Grayson slid back inside and reached for a grey jacket off the coatrack and put it on, only zipping it halfway.

Leading the way, I walked down the few steps and sidewalk until I reached his Jeep Grand Cherokee that I leaned on for support and Grayson followed.

Breathing deeply, I took in the fresh air and gazed up at the stars.

It was too beautiful not to capture it so I snapped a shot and smiled faintly.

"Your dad said you gave up photography."

"Oh, yeah. I guess I wasn't passionate about it anymore."

"What are you passionate about?" Asked Grayson, looking down at me as we stood side by side.

"I don't know." And that was the truth.

Before we got too deep, I went to change the subject. I lost my nerve to confess my love. He seemed to be doing well and I don't think either of us had the urge to sleep with each other unlike how our exchanges usually went. That's why I figured things were different now. A good different or bad different, I couldn't yet tell.
On top of that, I had plans to leave for Greece, not knowing when I'd return. I planned on being gone for a while, though so there was no use.

"I came... to say goodbye." That wasn't the full truth. I cursed myself for not sticking to what I originally came to do but my nerves got the best of me. I was hit with a hurricane of emotions: pain, anger, regret, you name it.

"'Goodbye'? You just got here, where are you going?!" He protested.

I pushed off the vehicle and answered him lowly, almost as if I was ashamed,"Away. I think I'm going to broaden my horizons. You can only shoot so many weddings and baby showers, you know? I leave for Greece in two days."

"Greece? Two days?! When will you be back?"

"I won't be back."

"Brea," he licked his lips,"I made the mistake of letting you go before, I'm not ready to do it again."

When he grabbed hold of my hands I felt a chill - a shock.

"I'm really confused right now, Grayson. I hope you understand that. And can you please, back up?" I concluded and removed myself from his grasp.

It was silence between us for a few moments before I announced that I should probably leave.

Just as I started to walk off, I realized I took a Lyft to get there. Cue mental facepalm.

His eyes lit up, most likely thinking I had a change of heart.

"Actually, can you take me home?"

Agreeing, Gray went back inside to get his lanyard, wallet, and lock the front door.

When he came back, I was already in the passenger seat.

Grayson seemed to be taking a while getting the car started so I spoke up, thinking something was wrong.

"What're you waiting for?"

He sat in the driver's seat looking out at the house with the high beams shining on it.

His lips parted so he could speak. "When this house was built, we were supposed to be in love. I was going to ask you to move in with me."