Aileen's POV:

I was perplexed when I saw Gray on my doorstep the night before. I thought something bad might have happened to him, so I opened the door. And when I looked back on our evening spent together I didn't regret it. I didn't feel as much repugnance as I usually did towards him. I'll admit it was nice spending an evening with somebody besides myself. And it was nice talking about The Batchelor  even though, I must have bored him to death with it and I must have made a fool out of myself in the process. 

However, all of that paled in comparison to the fiasco this morning when I almost overslept for the biggest event of my summer. I almost missed the launch party of the book, I had spent the last year reviewing and going over it with Noemi. It was my fault, I am old enough to admit that. I got carried away last night and forgot to turn on my alarm clock. 

It was my fault, even though that probably wouldn't have happened if Gray hadn't shown up and made me lose track of time. Either way, he definitely saved me with that electric skateboard of his. That thing was fast and brought me to the right place on time, even though it was windy on it and my hair was probably looking like a bird's nest. 

I wasn't wrong. As I looked in the mirror in the bathroom of the venue where the launch party was to be held, I internally growled. My hair was a mess, my curls were everywhere and I wasn't impressed with my look. I looked like I was a poodle, not an editor and organizer of the event.

"Oh my God!" Noemi screamed as she walked in and saw me.

"I was late and then I came here by an electric skateboard." I tried explaining while simultaneously combing my hair, "What should I do?"

Noemi wet her hand and started patting my curls. "Where figuring this out," she said with determination shining from her eyes. I almost melted at the reassurance oozing from her. She had been there for me time and time again, she truly was. Almost every time I didn't know what to do with myself, she had the answers and if she didn't have them, she helped me figure it out. 

"Thank you," I said, once she finished putting some products in my hair. I don't know how she found them, but I was grateful, my curls were now a little bit more under control.

"And now, ladies and some gentlemen. I present to you, the novelty, the author, the girl you're all here for today," the presenter's voice echoed in our little toilet as Noemi and I locked eyes in the mirror, "Noemi St James."

"Fuck, you'll be late. Go, go. I can take it from here," I ushered Noemi out of the toilet so she could start with the book event. She was halfway through the door laughing, when she made a promise I knew she would keep, "This is going in my next book, you'll see."

I rolled my eyes. If I knew Noemi one bit, she had already written the next book. "This will at best go into her third book, not her second," I thought to myself as I made my way after her. 

The book signing event was a success, Noemi met a lot of people who liked her writing and it helped her very much with her self-esteem. She was a sensitive girl despite her bravado of courageousness. I knew that, because the first time, I helped her with her writing, she asked me after my pointers, "You probably think this is shit? Right? I shouldn't have shown it to you."

I still remember her trembling lower lip at that time. Her writing was never shit, her writing was beautiful and raw, just like she was. Her writing was all the things that she couldn't yet be, because the world wouldn't accept it, or because she was too scared to accept it herself. But she was getting there, one step at a time, she was getting there.

At the end of the night, when everybody went home and it was just the two of us and the catering company, she skipped to my side, "Come I've got a cake for the two of us."

My mind remembered I hadn't eaten yet today, so a cake should do just fine. I followed Noemi through chairs scattered across the podium and onto the couch, where she had her interviews earlier in the day. She plopped herself next to me and gave me a plate with blueberry cheesecake on it, "You're favourite."

And I noticed it was my favourite, it was a cake from downtown, that was hard to come by if you weren't early at the bakery. I was once again glad to have her in my life. 

"Thank you for today," she said before taking a forkful of cake. "You know this couldn't have happened without you," she continued once she swallowed her bite. It was probably the only thing she had eaten today as well. The girl was busy talking to her audience and signing different copies of her book. 

"The words were all you Noemi." I shook my head. They really were.

"Yes, but the order in which they were placed was yours," she disagreed before taking another bite.

"We made it, then?" I asked as I took another sip of my champagne and dug into the cake.

"We did, darling. We did," she used her pet name for me and I was touched. We clinked our glasses in a toast as we smiled at each other. 

After Noemi finished recapping everything that happened in the morning before I got here, we looked around. The chairs were lying scattered around, and the presenters and the people had already gone home. We were the only two remaining besides some waiters who were now cleaning up. 

"We should go help them," Noemi tilted her head in their direction as we were eating our last pieces of cake.

I nodded and followed her. We started folding the chairs and putting them in a corner and then putting the used glasses on the counter so the waiters in the back would have an easier time cleaning them. When I turned around Gray was standing in front of me.

"What are you doing here?" I blurted out surprised at his reappearance in my life. Before today we had only exchanged small talk, bickering and insults. But something happened yesterday. Strangely, I felt more connected to him. Maybe even more understood by him. And I didn't know if it was because we had fallen asleep on the couch or because he saved me with his skateboard, but I didn't want to roll my eyes every time I saw him anymore. And that for me was a big step forward.

He was dressed in shorts and a simple black compression T-shirt that accentuated his muscles. I knew that the girls at the university would drool over the picture in front of me. His hair was still wet and a gym bag was slouched over his shoulder. He must have come from the gym or a basketball tournament.

I eyed him as he took a few steps closer. By doing so, he bridged the last remaining distance between us. From the corner of my eye, I saw Noemi coming from the toilets and when she saw Gray she took a big breath in while a grin appeared on her face.

She got into her shipping mode and I was scared of what story would write itself in her pretty head. I knew she would demand a talk with me after I was finished with Gray. I had a lot of explaining to do to her, even though I didn't have the slightest idea of what I should be explaining in the first place. 

"Hey," Gray snapped me out of my scenarios and back into reality.

"Hey, what are you doing here?" I repeated my question eyes trained on him. 

"I was in the gym and I thought you might need a ride back," he put his leg on his skateboard to back up his claims.

"Mhm, I don't know," my mind was racing with all the possibilities and scenarios, "I think that Noemi needs my help."

"Oh," he sounded deflated. 

"I was planning on taking an Uber after I finished here," I gestured around me trying to sound convincing. However, the venue was almost empty and I had done my part. 

"I thought we could watch some more of The Batchelor," his eyes were travelling between me and our surroundings, still a little bit hopeful. He clearly didn't believe me and he looked like he wouldn't take a no for an answer. 

With him around I always felt like I was holding my breath walking on thin ice not knowing when it was going to break. However, the excitement and thrill of knowing I could land in cold water at any time made me go further from the shore. I might be a masochist by the way I was weighing out his proposal.

My response was interrupted by Noemi, "She can go, we've finished here."

I looked at her, I thought she would have some more celebrations planned out for the two of us. But I guess she didn't prepare anything and neither did I.

"Are you sure?" I turned towards her, "I can stay and help out. It isn't a problem."

"Don't be silly, you've done more than enough. Go. And keep me updated," she winked at me, while Gray smirked at her response.

You see, I almost heard the ice crack under my feet, before I promptly put them down again. I rolled my eyes at Gray and wiggled my finger in his direction, "Don't even."

We've made it a whole day without trying to kill each other and I was hoping we could continue our streak. Gray's hand wrapped around my wrist as he said, "Thank you for letting her go early, and I hope your book deal will be a great success."

Noemi smiled at the mention of her book, "Thank you." 

I, on the other hand, was surprised at the good manners Gray was displaying. Maybe he wasn't so bad after all, but that didn't mean I would like to spend more time with him than was strictly necessary. 

"Noemi, you're sure? You don't need anything?" I tried taking myself out of the equation to avoid going with Gray again. 

"I am sure. Go and watch your Bachelor," she smiled while she shooed us away with her hands.

"Okay, see you on Monday," I waved goodbye before Gray did almost everything besides pulling me outside.

"You know, I am not going anywhere with you if you're going to stop my blood circulation?" I asked him, raising my eyebrows at his hand around my wrist.

"Oh, fuck. Sorry." He quickly let go of my wrist and went through his hair with his fingers. He and Alex were similar in doing that. Whenever they were in trouble or didn't know how to voice their concerns, they would do that. 

" I just want to watch The Bachelor. I am blaming you, you got me hooked," he shrugged and sheepishly smiled. I watched his face for signs of his games, but none were found. His sheepish smile might have been genuine and without the intention of getting in my bed or ridiculing me. 

"Okay," I nodded before we walked out to a night in New York City. The air was fresher than I was used to during the day. The heat made way for nighttime time and the people could breathe again without the help of air conditioning.  

Once we were on the side of the road, he let go of his skateboard, which landed at his feet. He stepped on it while extending his hand to me and making room for my legs between his. With any other guy, the closeness he was offering might seem sexual, but with Gray it was different. 

"Wait," I lifted my finger. I needed to tie my hair before going on that skateboard. I wasn't planning on being seen as a wench twice on the same day.

After my curls were safely tucked into a bun, I took his hand. My breath hitched due to the warmth coming from his palm. He was warm, while I was always cold. Even in summer I rarely felt warmth. His pulse was quick and his skin made me tingle. Surprisingly, his touch made me feel safe, even though he was a person who pushed me to my edges. 

Once I was on his skateboard one of his hands slid around my waist so the lengths of our bodies were pressed together with one of my palms resting on his chest and the other gripping his shoulder. I didn't know where to put my hands. Suddenly everything felt too close to him, boundaries were being erased and I was left trembling between his hands. 

"So you don't fall off," he murmured in my hair while putting one of my arms around his neck and the other around his waist.

I gulped; it had been months since I had been so close to a guy. My breath quickened which he misunderstood for nervousness about the drive, "Don't be nervous, you've made it in the morning, and you are going to make it in the evening."

"I am not nervous," I wasn't one to lie, however in his presence, I was beginning to think that might change. 

"Okay," he whispered before pressing his remote and the skateboard started zooming on the streets.

I pressed my face against his chest just like I did in the morning. All my thoughts about our bodies disappeared as the wind rushed next to my ears and I was focused on a more important worry, not dying in the middle of traffic. I didn't want to see all the possible collisions we could have made on the way. My hands gripped firmly around his body, while he laughed.

I haven't heard him laugh, at least not like this. I have heard him laugh at his jokes and the jokes of others but not this kind of laugh, when he was completely and utterly happy about life and he wasn't afraid to show it.

His laugh made me look upward to see what was making him so happy. I wasn't a happy person, I knew that much about myself. I was a content person, which was fine by me. Being happy took too much energy. But Gray, Gray was a happy person and I was wondering how that must have felt. I was wondering if I could be like him. 

Once I looked up, I saw lights blazing around us, going past us in the background of his tousled hair that was now almost dry and fluffy. I wanted to run my fingers through them and comb them and figure out if they were as soft as I expected them to be.

In the middle of our night drive his eyes were dark, however, I knew the colour of them in the daylight - caramel. In my mind he was honey, he was warm and he reminded me of a carefree childhood. I wanted that feeling of not being overly preoccupied with everything.

I wanted what Gray had with his good energy around him, I guess I was jealous of his carefree attitude and maybe that was why he got on my nerves so much if I was being honest with myself. 

He broke me from my thinking by stopping the board and saying in my curls, "We're here."

I looked around and we were on my street and in front of my apartment. "Thanks," I said before stepping off. He did the same and followed me upstairs where I unlocked the door.

"I am ordering takeout," Gray said as he removed his shoes. "You can go shower and I can order for you. What are we getting?"

I froze. What did he mean he was ordering take out, what did he mean I can go shower? What the hell was happening?

"Wait, wait," I spun around so we crashed when he wanted to go into the living room. His arms once again found their way around my body steading me from his words, which threw me off guard.

"Yes?" he looked slightly annoyed.

"What do you mean take out?" my voice trembled. One thing at a time, focus on what thing at a time, my brain said to me. I tried to control my breathing, while his scent was overflowing me.

"You know, take out as in food. I am starving. I had a killer practice today. And I doubt you've eaten anything all day," he looked at me, and I sensed worry coming from him.

I didn't want him to be worried, I didn't want people to be worried about me. Period.

"No, thank you." I shook my head avoiding his gaze, "I am not hungry. And you should go home, Grayson."

As I said that I noticed that my hands were gripping his biceps, the spin had landed me right between his arms. 

Gray lifted my chin with his fingertips, so our eyes met, "Are you throwing me out?"

His question didn't hold a grudge just an enquiry and I wasn't prepared for him being nice to me again. I could do guys, but I could do guys with which I bickered. I could do Gray when we screamed and shouted at each other, I didn't know how to be nice to him. 

"No, I am not throwing you out, Gray." I rolled my eyes, "I am tired and I want to go to bed and we are not friends so let go of me."

I was scared. Scared of what I didn't know exactly. Until he said with a raised eyebrow and a cocky grin, "I am not the one that's holding you."

I looked down at our bodies and his hands were hanging by his sides, but mine were still lying on his chest. This was what I was scared of, my guard falling down. 

"Shit," I muttered under my breath, while I quickly removed them as I would if I touched something hot, he must've heard me because he chuckled. 

"I know the women can't resist me. But I expected more from you little freak."

"Grayson. I am tired and it's late. You are in my house," I repeated my voice on the verge of getting into an argument with him.

"Don't get defensive." He threw his hands in the air, "Geez, I am going. I just thought we could be friends. With all of our friends dating, we'll be seeing more of each other now."

His words struck a crowd with me. Did the mighty Gray think about something other than the next thing that could make him happy? Did he really think about how his friends might feel if we didn't get along?

He turned around, before my hand instinctively reached around his wrist, "Wait."

He turned his caramel eyes to me attentively. "You're right. I am sorry," I apologised. 

"I had a long day. Can we do a rain check on this?" I gestured between us.

His demeanour changed, and he relaxed, "Yes, no problem." 

He offered me one of his signature smiles that I could see all around campus on the promotional posters for the basketball team and on his Instagram account. My heart broke, long gone was the Grayson from the skateboard, long gone was his carefree attitude and in his place was a machine. 

But I couldn't call him out on his fake smile, because I was the one who pushed him away. I couldn't step over that line again with him, because he was the sun impersonated, while I was the rain and those two don't mix well. 

"Don't worry Little freak, one date, that's all I am asking of you," he halfheartedly joked.

"One date," I repeated still feeling overwhelmed with the turn of events in the past two days. 

"As friends, as friends," he was quick to add as he saw my trembling hands. 

"Almost friends?" I corrected him.

"Oh good, you are a lot. Do you know that?" he rolled his eyes before offering me his outstretched hand and saying, "One date as almost friends it is."

I took it and shook it feeling more at peace with myself. 

"I'll drop by," he said before letting go of my hand and turning to the door.

Once he was outside he turned again towards me and hugged me while pressing a kiss on my cheek, "I never leave a girl's house without a hug."

Something in my heart fluttered as his words echoed in my ears while we stood in the summer breeze of New York City. He let go of me gently and all I was left with was his scent of freshness after coming out of the shower. How he managed to keep it on for the whole ride through the city was beyond me.

And once I returned to my senses and I blinked a couple of times he was already on his board and in the middle of my street. All that was left for me to do, was to close the door, go in the shower and think about what I had gotten myself into.