i love grayson

[episkygrant]

Ice Cold // E.D.

Summary: When Y/N quits Grant Industries, the last thing in the world she expected was for her to run into her ex-boss at a club celebrating her newfound freedom.

Warnings: swearing, mentions of alcohol consumption, fluff. Inspired by Lana Del Rey’s Shades of Cool.

He was unkind to everyone.

Well, everyone excluding her.

For some unusual reason, Ethan Dolan was never brutish to his assistant, unlike the rest of his employees who dread the momentum of being yelled at by their boss on a daily occasion. Y/N was simply a bystander to it all, watching the brutish man older than her by nine years scream his head off at people for being “incompetent,” “lazy,” or his favorite—“useless.” Though he wasn’t necessarily mean to her, he still frightened the life out of her. To the point where she’d get nightmares of him snarling in her face over her fucking up his coffee somehow, even after learning to perfect his desired taste after working their for approximately nine months. He wasn’t nice either, he just simply acknowledged her existence with a mere nod, sometimes a “thank you” when she gets the job down, and saying “goodnight” when it was time to close up the office.

So, to summarize, despite his lack of outbursts towards her, Y/N feared her job—meaning, she needed to quit.

Her last straw was actually today, late in the afternoon when Mr. Dolan demanded one of her very best friends who helped her the job in the first place, Jimmy, to go into his office. Almost instantly there was screaming, something about Jimmy fucking up the company’s numbers or something, but their boss’s rage was higher than it typically is. Offices all the way downstairs (they were on the fiftieth floor) could just hear the humiliating curses that pooled out of Mr. Dolan’s mouth, quickly followed by the sounds of Jimmy’s frantic wailing. Y/N was incredibly angry, Jimmy worked pretty hard at his job and everybody should be allowed to make at least one mistake without being crucified to the maximum. Mr. Dolan was screaming like his employee murdered someone right in front of him.

Soon enough, when she heard the next two words belt from the watch that is the billionaire CEO sitting just a few feet away from where she sat, her stomach dropped and she ultimately decided she was done.

“YOU’RE FIRED!”

Jimmy goes running out of the office in a fit of tears, past Y/N who even tried reaching out for him. Surrounding employees gave him a look of fear-induced sympathy before immediately going back to work, terrified of being caught by their boss for paying too much attention to the ex-employeee shoving his things into a cardboard box. His chest heaved so profusely that she feared he was sending himself into a panic attack, but before she could go over and help him, she heard the call of her name fromm her prick of a boss and her blood boiled.

She ignored the low mutter of “good luck” from an accountant as she sauntered into the office, finding Mr. Dolan himself seated at his desk with his hands frustratingly ran through his hair. His face is beet red and covered in a layer of perspiration, though somehow, he still looks very much attractive. It was no question that he was an incredibly handsome gentlemen, who looked to be in his mid-twenties when he was actually thirty. He looked hot when so angrily flustered, but she’d much prefer it if he wasn’t such a piece of shit to everyone who helped this company from going under.

“Y/N,” Mr. Dolan looks up, his tensed shoulders slightly relaxing at the presence of her, which she tried desperately hard not to look too deep into. “Will you please get me some Tylenol? I have a terrible headache.”

I wonder why.

“Yes, sir,” she responded, swiftly exiting the room to grab for her purse at her desk—she kept medicine as such because more often than not, Ethan’s anger led him into such consequences of headaches or even a high blood pressure. She returned to his office and that’s when it hit her; she could no longer work for a man who not only doesn’t give a shit for his employees’ well being, but for his own goddamn health. She wasn’t about to stand around and watch him give himself a heart attack. She walked in, placing the Tylenol on the surface of his desk along with a bottle of water before clearing her throat, “Is that all, Mr. Dolan?”

He sighed while reaching for the medicine, “Yes, that is all, Y/N.”

“Good, because I quit.”

Ethan froze at her words, and Y/N feared that it was too soon for her to bring this down upon him. What if this sends him into a heart attack? He’s obviously stressed as it is, finding a replacement assistant at such short notice will certainly drive him over the edge. This was it. This was the moment she’s been anticipating—for her to be yelled at by the very ferocious Ethan Dolan who is own damn twin brother is afraid of. He’s about to drive a sharp stake into her overly joyous heart, will she ever recover from this? Probably not, but what’s best to do for now was brace for impact…

“May I ask why?” he questioned calmly, taking her off guard. That… wasn’t exactly the response she expected. No yelling, no hint of furious emotion. Just curiosity, and maybe even slight disappointment if she looked hard enough.

Y/N sucked in a deep breath, feeling oddly confident now—but perhaps that’s what he wants? To built her confidence only to deflate it later? Only time can tell. “Care for me to be honest, sir?”

“Brutually honest.”

“You terrify me,” she confesses, looking him dead in those hazel specks of his. “I know you don’t treat me as horribly as the others, Heaven knows why, but I cannot continue to work in an environment where there is yelling all the time. I am tired of constantly being on my tiptoes over the fear of setting you off. I am grateful for the job you have given me and for all of the amazing monthly evaluations, but I much prefer a calmer environment with a boss who can truly not have a melt down every time something goes wrong. You’re just too ice cold for me, sir.”

Ethsn rises from his seat while nodding his head, and she gulps the lump in her throat as he begins to speak, “Very well. I am saddened that one of my finest employees has decided to leave after such a short time, but I understand. I apologize for making the environment uncomfortable for you and being so difficult to work with.”

“Oh… okay,” Y/N nodded, smiling softly. “Well then, I guess this is goodbye… sir.”

“Goodbye, Y/N.”

Well… that went way better than she thought. She’d better lie to Jimmy so he wouldn’t feel so awful that she received the special treatment, she couldn’t even fathom what he was going through.

Y/N goes to exit the door when she swears she hears the muttering of, “Now you can be mine.”

She swiveled her head around to look at him. “Did you say something, sir?”

Mr. Dolan shook his head, then gave her a faint smile. “Just talking to myself. Have a safe journey, I wish you well in your future endevours.”

-

“I just don’t understand why he isn’t talking to me, Jen,” Y/N huffed, running a layer of a garnet red lipstick over her bottom lip. “I thought Jimmy would be happy to know that I quit along with him. That he’d thank me or something? But he’s rejected my last few calls and ignored all of my texts.”

Jen waved her hand around, shrugging her shoulders. “He’s probably still too embarrassed over what happened to talk to anyone, honey. Or maybe he’s busy looking for another job.”

“Like I should be “ she sighed, reaching for her settle spray.

Her friend nudged her. “Girl, no. Job-hunting later, celebrating the end of being around a torturous, pretentious asshole of an employer first. Tonight is the night we forget about idiotic men, okay?”

Y/N giggled, then rolled her eyes. “Okay… Are you sure this dress isn’t too inappropriate for someone like me?”

It was Jen’s turn to roll her eyes. “Please. This dress was made for you, hon. And nothing’s too inappropriate for a fun night in a city where you don’t have to worry about tending to your stuffy grouchy boss the next day! You’ve been such a workaholic that you haven’t been on the prowl for a man in months. It’s time we make up for that, don’t you think?”

“I guess.”

CherryPie was the club to go to for a ridiculous amount of alcohol, hookups, and dancing—according to Jen. It was inclusive to everyone of every social class, though you could say pretentious folk aren’t the type to saunter into a club at all if it doesn’t involve golf these days. The thought alone made Y/N think of Mr. Dolan, who had an odd affinity for golf. She remembers the Christmas party where she assigned herself to be his Secret Santa, as nobody else took the bait in fear of him firing them over a gift he didn’t like. A possibility that wasn’t too improbable, apparently. She remembers the way his eyes lit up at the sight of his spiffy new and deluxe golf club he’d been wanting forever, and sure it might’ve costed her an attire paycheck but it was worth it to see him happy for once. When he discovered her to be the Secret Santa, somehow, he took her into the office and gave her a hug. Then a raise. She remembers thinking how strange it was to see him smile, but it was certainly a beautiful sight and that it’s a shame he didn’t show it often.

Jimmy used to tell her stories about the times before she worked there were he was a regular ol’ boss, and quite nicer to his surrounding workplace. Then he caught his wife of five years cheat on him with his own brother, which fused him into the hostile man he is today. Y/N knows there is no excuse to treat people so horribly, but she couldn’t help but feel sympathy for her boss who was betrayed in one of the worst ways possible. With his own brother. He rarely talks of Grayson, who owns his own company back in Los Angeles, but he used to show up to Grant Industries often in attempt to make amends with his twin. It was safe to assume that their short-lived meetings with each other never went well, especially that time Grayson tried to invite him to his wedding with his own ex-wife because “he should be happy for them.” The younger twin left with a black eye after that.

“I know you’re thinking about him,” Jen said, nudging the girl who had stopped getting into the groove of the music.

Y/N coughed, embarrassed that she had been caught in her own little world that is her thoughts, “W-What?”

“Jimmy,” her friend laughed, grabbing her by the hand. “I know you’re worried about him, but rest assured he’s fine!”

“Y-Yeah… Jimmy…” she chuckled. It would be seemingly awkward had Jen realized she was actually thinking about her former boss, a man she truly should just leave behind in the past. “I’m gonna go get a drink, want anything?”

Just then, Jen eyes a stranger that walks past and smirks, clearly taking interest in the gentlemen. “No, I’ve got all I needed right here.”

Y/N shakes her head and walks away, moving towards the bar across the room. She orders a Sex on the Beach when she feels a tap on her shoulder, and just when she thinks it’s Jen about to tell her she’s leaving her high and dry for a man she met ten seconds ago, it was the complete opposite of that. It was in fact Ethan Dolan, her ex-boss who was hovering over her with that rare charming smile of his. He wasn’t dressed in his his regular work attire; just a casual black shirt and black ripped jeans. It was incredibly odd, seeing him out of work like and dressed like a 90’s rockstar. He leans against the bar right beside her.

“Didn’t expect to see you here, Y/N,” he commented in that rather husky voice of his, one that naturally piqued in seduction. Or, it could’ve been that slightly tipsy imagination of hers.

“Neither did I, sir,” she murmurs a bit timidly, glancing down at her heels. Her feet were incredibly sore in them, to the point where she was just tempted to kick them off without a care in the world and go dance… what was she doing again? Oh right, talking to her intimidating yet devilishly handsome boss.

“You don’t have to call me that anymore,” Ethan stated in a chuckle, which she also thought was a part of her imagination. She watches as he grips a drink from the bar, a beer perhaps, and sips it before adding, “You know longer work for me. Just call me Ethan.”

“Okay… Ethan.” That felt incredibly weird to say. Y/N doesn’t think she’s ever said his name before. “What are you doing here?”

“I could ask you the same thing, princess.”

Whoa. What?

“Um, just celebrating…” she chokes out from under his growing smirk. “You know, a fresh start and all… how about you?”

“I’m celebrating, too,” he said, taking another sip. “I can now flirt with you without overstepping the professional boundaries.”

Y/N almost chokes on her own air again, and at that moment she’s given her drink. She gives her ex-boss a wide-eyed look and spits out, “W-What?”

“I guess I hid it well. I thought it was rather obvious,” Ethan hummed, shifting himself closer to her. “You were the only one who didn’t get on my bad side, which I feel guilty for showing around you, since you’re afraid of me an all.”

She ran a hand through her hair and brought herself to ask, “Why did you treat me differently, then? Why were you so… ice cold to everyone else except me?”

“Because everyone else isn’t you.”

She wasn’t sure how to feel or make about this confession. Her former boss, a man of a strong temper that all of New York City could recognize, was telling her that he harbored feelings towards her… which is why he never treated her so terribly like the others. She didn’t know whether to feel flattered or guilty about it, knowing she held some personal leverage over him that none of the others could. Now it made sense as to why he didn’t react so maddeningly when she decided to quit this afternoon. He was genuinely happy that she would no longer be his employee and break all boundaries of professionalism when he made his move. Or at least, attempt to make his move… She still cannot help but think of the way he shouted at Jimmy.

“Is that why Jimmy won’t speak to me right now?” Y/N questioned, letting the words slip right out of her mouth before she could stop them. “Did he know of your feelings towards me?”

“He did,” admitted Ethan, creasing his eyebrow as if the mention of Jimmy irritated him. “Which is why he started that hideous rumor of you… or us, rather.”

She freezes in her movements, reminiscing over the time a few weeks ago there was a rumor going around that she slept with the CEO she assisted for. Employees treated her coldly and mocked her until Ethan cursed them out and put the rumors to shred, threatening that he would find out who started them and would fire them. “Jimmy started that rumor?”

He nodded, frowning. “Yes, which is why I let him go today and thought he deserved a few words for what he’s done. He called you an office slut, Y/N, right to my face and it took everything in me to not strangle him in there. He’s lucky that he only got his ass handed to him.”

Y/N felt heartbroken. How could Jimmy do that to her? He knew how she felt when the rumor spread, how horrible it had made her feel because of how untrue it was. He hadn’t even shown signs of being the perpetrator, acting just as angrily about it as she was. What a fucking asshole.

“You look angry, princess,” Ethan murmured, bemused by her coiled expression.

“That’s ‘cause I am,” she muttered, glaring down at her drink. It was safe to say that Jimmy was going to be receiving a strongly worded email tomorrow morning. God, she’s still an assistant at heart.

Ethan laughed, wiggling his eyebrows as he leaned into her, “Need a drink?”

-

A bright light penetrated her shut eyelids, prompting her to flutter them open before squinting at the sunlight pouring through the window. She groans softly, feeling a dull ache pounce against the corner of her skull. She definitely had way too much to drink last night, didn’t she? All she really could remember was her and Jen arriving, her running into Ethan, taking multiple shots with him… wait.

Ethan.

Y/N sits up, and shrieks when she finds that she’s sat in an unfamiliar room, laying in silky black sheets that cover her naked body. Then she feels something heavy around her waist. Horrified, she looks over at her naked ex-boss sound asleep, cuddling into her side and snoring through his puffy lips stained by her lipstick. She looks around the room and finds an assortment of toys that had obviously been used last night—probably not very well as they had both been shitfaced drunk. It struck her harshly at the realization of it all.

She had sex with her ex-boss.

Embarrassed, Y/N tries to nudge herself out of the bed to look for her dress somewhere, when Ethan’s grip around her waist tightens. She looks over to find his eyes opened, and soon enough she’s being pressed up into his warm chest that feels oddly nice, then lips tapping against her neck as he speaks.

“You’re stayin’ with me, princess.”

A/N: felt bad about not uploading so i wrote this :( it’s probably bad lol

TAGS: @vipergrayson @grayshoney @joyrivh @livexdolan @dolans4lyfe @dopedoodes @graysavant @graydolan12 @rhyrhy462 @justordinaryjen @stargazebailey @may114 @imsad05 @wtf-no-idk @they-are-lovely @vinylhazza

[aethrknight]

cody: 😆

noel: 😌

[f1esbian]

oh he

[90smovieolderbrother]

it’s okay to bully tmg fans

[silkdetails-deactivated20250402]

How does it feel being the funniest bitch on this planet Lily

[may6th2030]

the best family

[kolodziejzyk]

wwwwhats up guys welcome to tmg podcast this is actually last week’s episode— if you want today’s episode...uh that’ll be on our patreon right now, uh you can get it a week early if you contribute, it’s patreon dot com slash tiny meAT gang, umm so thanks if you do that and if not, enjoy this one PEACE!

[untitled21199]

@elonpleasefuckmywife why would you put this thought out into the universe

[90smovieolderbrother]

cody you messy bi bitch… calling billy from strangers things hot

[aethrknight]

i choked on my water

[aethrknight]

my heart just can’t take it

[90smovieolderbrother]

all i’m gonna say is: we’d better see cody’s tits this summer

[episkygrant]

Suite Dreams // E.D.*

Summary: Ethan Grant Dolan. A man of wealth, prosperity, and love that he gave all to Y/N, a young college student who mistakingly fell for a man she didn’t think she could ever have. So she leaves, but later he returns.

Based on this blurb I had written prior.

Warnings: Smut, angsty, mentions of an affair, fluff, swearing, age gap.

Y/N sets the final box on the floor, glancing around the small vicinity that would be her home for the next four years - unless she plans on getting an apartment, which she most certainly won’t, she could barely afford the tuition of this school. She was fortunate enough to rely on scholarships and financial aid, though it barely covered other necessities. She knew that after all this unpacking she’d need to look for an on-campus job immediately, one that would work around this semester’s schedule.

“Hey… you’re Y/N, right?” the young girl almost jumped at the sound of another girl’s voice, which she soon turned around to meet the eyes of purple-haired and dark-eyed woman. “I’m Rosa, you’re roommate. I heard you were a Freshman?”

She nodded her head shyly at her seemingly kind roommate, and spoke, “Yeah, I am. Are you a Freshman, too?”

Rosa shook her head and chuckled, “No, actually I’m a Junior. It’s a shame you’re so young, I would’ve invited you out to this local bar my friends and I go to all the time. Well, it was nice to meet you.”

The older girl turns to walk away, but with a split and hasty decision Y/N quickly shouts out, “Wait! Is it okay if I do come?”

“Are you sure?” Rosa questions, her eyebrows furrowed.

“Yeah, I mean, eighteen-year-olds drink all the time, right?” she giggled, reaching for her purse. “I’ve kind of been a party animal since sixteen, so I’m not exactly new to the world of getting shit-faced a few days before school starts. Plus, I’ve already got my fake I.D.”

Her roommate smiles, soon walking over to link arms with her. “I like you already, Y/N. Let’s get shit-faced.”

The responsibility of finding a job can come later. Right now, she wants to have some fun and make new friends.

-

Dolan’s was an old Irish pub right off of campus a block away, and though it was rather small the place was still charming. Rosa led Y/N into the crowded pub and towards the bar area, where a group of rowdy college students devotedly watching a football game stood. Y/N tried not to let her nerves get the best of her; sure, she’s been to plenty of parties before but never to a bar. God, her mom would kill her if she knew where she was instead of inside the safety of her dorm room.

“Y/N, these are my friends,” Rosa shouted over the boisterous music and cheering, waving over to a group of five who turned away from the televisions. “That’s Kevin, James, Delilah, Jennifer, and Ethan. Guys, this is my roommate, Y/N.”

Most of the group gave a simple friendly wave and smile before turning back to the game, except for one in particular. Ethan. He sat on his stool with his dark eyes trained on her, and the more she observed this Adonis of a man the more she noticed that he didn’t give off a college student aura. No, he looked much older than that; hell, he was wearing a button up with a tie and black slacks, opposed to a t-shirt and jeans the rest of the students were wearing. He’d probably look younger if it weren’t for his light beard grazing this sharp jawline he rested upon his knuckles as he continued to stare at her. He looked absolutely and astonishingly rich in beauty.

Rosa seemed to notice the staring contest between the pair and smirked. She rested a hand on Y/N’s shoulder and said, “I should probably mention that Ethan’s not a student here. He owns Dolan’s.”

“He… owns this place?” Y/N gaped. Well that explained the “owner of a local bar” vibe he gave off.

“Plus a ton of other businesses, he’s pretty affluent,” her roommate informed. “He’s the reason we all get to spend our weekends here, being that none of us are twenty-one yet - well, except for James. He’s a senior.”

She nodded, lowering her gaze to the floor. Y/N doesn’t know why she feels so disappointed, it’s not like anything would happen between her and Ethan anyway. She’s so young, experienced but still young and barely in college while he owns multiple businesses and lives a vastly rich life - he’s probably married anyway. He’s also probably staring at her in wonder as to why a girl as young as she is is in his bar, hanging around with a bunch of Upperclassmen… is that even a thing in college? They’re all adults anyway, but she most definitely shouldn’t be there.

Y/N sits down at the bar with Rosa, who orders them both a martini. Just as they start to drink, her roommate questions, “So, what brings you to Fairleigh Dickinson?”

“I heard the Creative Writing program is marvelous,” Y/N mentioned, tapping her fingers along the dark wooden surface of the bar. “Plus, I wasn’t going to waste all my parents’ funding for my education down the toilet, so I had to make use of it somehow.”

Rosa laughed. “It is a pretty prestigious school, isn’t it?”

She nodded. “Ready for that broke student life.”

Rosa nudged her jokingly, assuring her, “You’ll get used to it, babe. Hey, I’m gonna go see what Kevin and Jennifer is up to, yeah? I’ll be right back.”

It was only a few seconds after her roommate left that the empty stool next to Y/N was already taken. She looked up, surprised to see Ethan staring down at her with the faintest hint of a smirk on his face. He clears his throat, and then out comes his deep and raspy voice, “How old are you, sweetheart?”

“Old enough.”

“Eighteen, huh?” he chuckled, shaking his head. “Don’t worry about it, I’m not here to hound ya. I’ve done plenty of underage drinking in my time.”

“Then what are you here for, exactly?” she questioned, not rudely, but curiously. Why is a man such as him conversing with a girl such as her?

“I couldn’t help but overhear your exciting plans over a broke student life. I just think it’s wrong for such a sweet and intelligent woman as yourself to go through such a thing,” Ethan said, his palm laying flat near hers. “I feel the strong inclination to take care of you.”

Y/N nearly choked on her drink. Yes, she’s heard of sugar daddies before, but never in a million years would she ever consider getting one - no matter how terribly she was struggling. The money part might be cool and all but it always came in sexual favors, which she didn’t deem worthy enough. Although… this Ethan guy? She wouldn’t mind bedding him, if that’s what he was implying. Wait, is that what he was implying?

“In exchange for what?” she asked, warily.

He shrugged. “Companionship.”

She nearly snorted, then motioned to the group standing near them. “What, those guys aren’t enough for you?”

“They’re not as beautiful to look at as you are.”

Her jaw dropped, not having expected him to say something like that. She felt her cheeks flush with heat which resulted him in smirking victoriously, to which she responded, “I would think a man as old as yourself would have his own wife to spoil.”

“I’m not married,” he laughed, raising his hand - which indeed lacked a ring. “And I’m not that old, I’m only twenty-four.”

Only twenty-four? Might as well be her professor.

“You don’t have to agree to it, of course,” Ethan continues to talk, removing his eye contact guiltily. “I don’t know… I just like the idea of helping out someone who needs it. I like the idea of spoiling someone… but if you’re not up to it, then I can respect and understand that.”

Y/N eyes him a little. “And this isn’t some sort of cruel joke?”

“I would never joke about anything as serious as this, princess.”

She sucked in a deep breath, then reached into her purse to pick out her phone. He smiled and grabbed his just as she said, “Okay, Ethan, you’ve got yourself a deal.”

-

It wasn’t anything sexual. At least, not at first.

Then came her nineteenth birthday.

Prior to this, their first few months of their… interesting relationship was pretty innocent and was going pretty well. Every night Y/N hung out with Ethan, he dropped a nice couple grand in her bank account. She insisted that she didn’t need that much, only for school bills and supplies, but he insisted that she uses it for herself as well. During their hangouts, which usually took place at fancy restaurants or his grand mansion nearby, he often talked about the businesses he stressfully ran. He owns quite a lot, including companies that sold sports gear to tech stuff, all multi-billion companies. Yes, Ethan Dolan was in fact, a fucking billionaire.

His businesses weren’t the only thing he talked about, though. He talked about the charities he ran and donated to, most revolving around cancer research groups and some around homelessness foundations. His greatest passion wasn’t what he did for himself, but what he could do for others and Y/N admired that. He wanted to distribute as much money as he could, which his own mother and father had a distaste for. He came from an affluent upbringing, but his parents appeared to be the selfish type of rich. They were the type to hoard as much money as they could and flaunt it carelessly, which is why Ethan barely spoke to them. As for relationships with others, he didn’t often get in them. Plenty of women, he had said, only used him for his wealth and his wealth only. They came and went as soon as he figured out their true intentions, which is why he rarely dated. This kind of struck Y/N’s heart, because not only did she feel guilty for his lack of success in love and trust, but she had also fallen for Ethan Dolan. Her platonic sugar daddy.

So, her nineteenth birthday.

It was a Saturday. Y/N had spent the morning with her parents, who had little clue about her relationship with Ethan but knew of him and that he was her “friend.” They supported whatever their daughter wanted to do, but always warned her to be careful and to stay responsible. So that morning and a little of her afternoon she celebrated with her family, then went back to her dorm to celebrate with Rosa and the rest of the gang for a bit. They’ve all become her best friends so quickly, but they all knew Ethan was planning something pretty extravagant for her birthday that night - and so was she, to him.

She was going to tell Ethan that she’s in love with him.

Y/N is wholeheartedly prepared to get rejected, but she cannot simply hold it in any longer and leave him clueless. So, after a little hangout session in her dorm with the gang, she puts on a pretty red dress and heads out to the front of the building, where Ethan waits in his Tesla to pick her up. The first time she’s ridden is she was absolutely floored, but instantly shot his offer down about buying one for her. She could never let him spend that amount of money on her.

Ethan is leaning up against Smooth Cat when she approaches him, and he quickly engulfs her in a tight embrace with a kiss to her cheek, “Happy birthday, beautiful.”

“Thank you, E,” Y/N beams, a huge smile on her face and then he pulls away from her. Her eyebrows furrow when he pulls out a black velvet box, and she knew very well there was something expensive in there. “Oh Ethan, you shouldn’t have-”

“A birthday girl has to have a gift,” he stated, handing it to her. “I’m hoping it will suit you very well.”

She opens the box and gasps when she catches the sight of something very sparkly and beautiful inside. It was a Pandora bracelet with two charms hooked on, and their initials encrusted in tiny diamonds on these very charms. Y/N is quick to slide it onto her wrist, tears forming in the corners of her eyes as she pulls him in for another tight hug, “Oh Ethan, it’s beautiful. I love it, thank you.”

“There’s more where that came from, beautiful,” he hummed, kissing her forehead. “Now come on, we have very important reservations to get to - and may I just say, red is certainly your color.”

Y/N’s face went warm again as he helped her get into the passenger seat. Damn this man and making her feel certain ways. She couldn’t stop looking at her bracelet - she wasn’t materialistic, but it was one of the best gifts she had ever received, due to its meaning. Her first is of course Ethan, but she wasn’t sure if she should admit that. She fears that he would think she only loves him for all the money he has given her, which is certainly not true. He could give her nothing and she would still fall head over heels for his heart.

Ethan drove with his hand intertwined with hers, a gesture which made her ponder if he felt the same way towards her. But then they pulled up to an incredibly fancy, five-star rated restaurant that she’d never afford in a million years on her own, so she had less time to process it. Ethan kept her close as he led her into the beautifully designed Italian eatery, already filled head to toe with wealthy folks in which some of the single women glanced at Ethan with flirtatious looks. He ignored their pompous looks and led them to the host, who apparently knew Ethan by face as he instantly grabbed some menus and guided them towards the back, where a much more private room sat for just the two of them.

Like a gentlemen, he pulled out her seat for her before getting to his own, and Y/N couldn’t help but express, “This place is beautiful, Ethan.”

He shot her a sly wink. “That’s because I own it.”

Y/N had to stop acting so surprised when he brings her into an establishment and learns that he owns the goddamn place, really, because he’s done it so many times she should be used to it. She simply laughs and glances down at the menu, then decides to begin her confession, “You’re a wonderful man, Ethan Dolan.”

He smiled. “Well, that’s because I have you, beautiful. And I’m so very glad that I can make you happy.”

She inhales deeply, looking up at him while she breathed out, “You know it’s not your money that makes me happy, right? It’s you, Ethan, you make me happy.”

His mouth falls open a little, and he stammers as if in shock, “I-I do?”

“You do,” she smiled, tapping her fingers nervously against the table. “Truthfully, I don’t care for the money. I’m grateful for it, of course, but all I care about and look forward to is spending time with you. I’m enamored with you, Ethan.”

“You… are you really?”

“Well, it’s a little bit more than that,” she sighs. “I’m in love with you.”

Silence follows suit, and Y/N fears that she ruined everything. She should have kept her mouth shut and instead be grateful for the spectacular birthday dinner this amazing man was giving her. She averts her gaze back to the menu, trying her best not to tear up and feel so goddamn stupid that an Adonis such as him would be into measly college student such as her.

Then, he speaks up. “It’s your birthday.”

What? “Yeah… it is…”

Ethan sucked in a sharp breath and stilled. “It’s not mine, so why are you gifting me?”

Y/N lifts her head up, as if she’s heard the most wonderful news in her lifetime. It was hope she was feeling, but she decided to play it cool and sly by uttering a “What?”

“What you just said felt like something I’ve been waiting to hear all of my life. You’re my gift, Y/N,” he confesses, smiling softly at her. He rises from his seat and walks around the table to wear she sat, crouching down so he could cradle her face with his hands. “You make me feel like a better man everyday. When I’m with you, I don’t feel used. I feel like me. I feel wanted. I’m in love with you too, beautiful.”

Then, he leans in and kisses her. It’s the first he’s ever kissed her after meeting in his pub all those months ago, and it’s much better than she’s ever dreamed about. His lips are soft and gentle, moving against hers lovingly and she kisses back. It’s the most amazing kiss she’s ever had in her entire life, a kiss worth much more than a measly billion dollars. This, right here, is priceless. But somehow, she wants more.

Y/N parts away from him and whispers, “After dinner, will you take me to your house and make love to me?”

Ethan’s breath hitches a little, and he looks at her with adoring eyes before whispering, “Are you sure?”

“I’m more than sure, E.”

-

He has her pinned beneath his heavenly body, her fingers are dipping into the crevices between his toned abs while he’s nipping at her neck. Their bodies are half-clothed; his shirt is off and so is her dress, but she’s donning lingerie that he just cannot get enough of. She could feel his bulge through his pants which she grinds up against, causing him to grunt and kiss harshly at her skin.

“You’re driving me fucking crazy, baby,” Ethan growled, gazing deeply into her eyes. “I cannot wait any longer.”

She breathes out, “Then don’t wait. Take me now.”

That’s when he practically tears off the lingerie off her body like it’s wrapping paper, then shimmers out of his own pants before spreading her legs far apart. Her core is drenched in a slick heat, which is cock is throbbing and tip a vibrant red. He pushes himself up against her folds, slowly easing himself in before lowering his body completely on top of hers. He wants to be as close to her as possible, feel her heartbeat as he fucks her right into the bed, kiss her sweet and tender lips after every thrust. Her nails glide down his muscular back, stopping at his ass that she’s soon come to be obsessed (and has driven his ego a little bit insane), and grips it, making him groan and pound into her a little harder.

“Fucking God,” he hisses out, clenching his eyes shut as their hips clash together. He reopens them and stares into her very soul before murmuring, “You feel so fucking good, beautiful. So fucking wet for me.”

“Ethan… Ethan…” Y/N panted, eyes nearly rolling to the back of her head. “Harder… oh God Harder!”

His sturdy bed underneath them shakes and slams against the headboard, but neither of them seem to care as Ethan continuously fucks into her pussy nice and deep. Her legs are wrapped gloriously around him, and soon he wraps his hand around her throat and only squeezes lightly. He lowers his face close to hers, and soon darkly utters out…

“I want to fuck you until this bed breaks.”

She’s leaving scratches into his skin now, body being torn apart on the inside so that it would be hard for her to walk tomorrow, but she doesn’t mind. Y/N loves it all, she’s never had sex this good or powerful, so rough yet so passionate. Only Ethan could ever make her feel this way.

“Ethan… Ethan… oh fuck I love you,” Y/N whimpers, head flying back against the pillow.

He grunts, “Say it again.”

“I love you.”

“Again.”

“I love you!”

“Fuck, I love you too,” Ethan groans, opening his eyes a little check on the bracelet he had gifted her dangling against her wrist. It makes him smile with joy. “Cum for me baby, you’re so close, I can feel it.”

Immediately at his words, her orgasm bursts out, her hands gripping onto him tightly as she let’s herself come off her high. He cums into her afterwards, groaning louder than ever and thankful that she’s on birth control… not that he would mind having children with her, he just knows that she would like to wait until she finishes school.

Their exhausted bodies slump down on the bed together, his arm instantly wrapping around her waist as she drifts off to sleep. She could hear him whisper into her ear…

“Happy birthday, beautiful. Sweet dreams.”

-

Three years.

They spent a marvelous three years together. It was nothing short of happiness, and the best three years of both of their lives. They were there for each other for everything, nearing to Y/N’s graduation where they planned to move in together afterwards. Her parents absolutely adored Ethan, who always made sure to take care of his girlfriend despite her efforts to stop him from giving her money for school; she’d just donate it to one of his charities, which made him fall in love with her more.

The sex was especially amazing. Eventually (but with no surprised) Y/N would learn that Ethan Dolan is quite a kinky man, and she’s gotten tied up and spanked on more than one occasion. When they make, it’s truly an experience that seems to get better and better every single time; neither could forget that time he took her into the bathroom of Dolan’s to fuck her in because James was flirting with her, just to piss him off. Y/N would later ensure that her former sugar daddy was the only man for her, but she was also quite fond of the jealousy-induced sex.

There was only one problem when it came to their relationship: his parents.

They disapproved of it greatly. Y/N has never met them, but every time they called she would eavesdrop on the phone call, in which Ethan shouted his lungs out at them as to how much he doesn’t give a rat’s ass about they think of his life. Nothing pissed him off more than his folks, who he assured she’d never come face to face with so long as they live. It saddened her a little at that thought of never being approved by the love of her life’s family. She knows it’s because of her lack of a wealthy background, but still.

It was one day where she was left alone at his house while he tended to a business meeting in the city. He texted her often to make sure she was okay; she’d always spend the day along studying or watching television. She wouldn’t start work until a few hours later, a job at the library on campus of her school in which she’ll soon graduate from. She’s more than sure that her parents and Ethan are already working together on a party.

The doorbell rings suddenly, and Y/N knows she should text Ethan first to let him know before opening it, but for some reason she doesn’t. She opens the door and immediately recognizes the older woman as his mother, who glares her down on sight.

“You must be Y/N, I presume,” Mrs. Dolan scoffs. “His distraction.”

“I’m actually his girlfriend,” Y/N bitterly replied, shutting the door halfway so the woman wouldn’t be able to sneak her way inside. She’s sure if that happened, she’d never leave until Ethan got home, and Lord knows what would happen if they come face to face. “Is there any reason as to why you’re here other than to throw belligerent insults to my face, Mrs. Dolan?”

Mrs. Dolan chuckles a little, unzipping her Berkin purse to fish something out. “Yes, actually. I’ve come to drop off a gift Ethan asked me to fetch.”

She hands Y/N what looked to be a ring box, and she stammers, “A-A gift?”

Ethan’s mother rolled her eyes. “Not for you, dear. For his fiancé, Karen.”

“What?” Y/N’s blood turns cold and she stills. Then, she narrows her eyes and glares at Mrs. Dolan harshly. “You’re lying to me. You’re trying to break Ethan and I apart because you hate me.”

She sighed, “Believe what you will, I wish it were that simple. Ethan and Karen have been arranged to be married since they were sixteen, and he recently agreed to propose to her. I even have a picture of them together at our meeting last Saturday, want to see?”

She shoves her phone into her face and there it is; A beautiful blonde model-looking woman who stands next to her boyfriend, his arm wrapped around her and a bright smile on his face. The date of the photo correlates to the time and date Mrs. Dolan had said. Last Saturday, seven P.M. Ethan had told Y/N he had an emergency late night meeting and said he’d be back soon. He left in a formal suit, the same one he was wearing in the photo with his fiancé, Karen.

Y/N feels sick.

“If you know what’s good for my son, you’d leave him,” Mrs. Dolan states, dropping her phone right into her bag. “You don’t want to be the reason his relationship with his own mother is destroyed. He belongs with a woman who won’t dry him out his bank account.”

Before Mrs. Dolan could get another word out, she leaves. And, in a hasty decision, so does Y/N.

She blocks Ethan on everything. She packs her bags in her dorm room, and calls for her mother to pick her up in a fit of tears. During the week she makes a sudden school transfer, fortunate enough that they allowed her, and it’s far out of town, a few hours away. Y/N only had left Ethan a little note without much of an explanation, and she feels horrible for abruptly leaving him, but it’s for the best. He deserves someone better than her, someone he won’t lie to and go behind her back to spend time with his arranged fiancé he never told her about. A man like Ethan Dolan will do fine without a woman like Y/N Y/L/N.

-

It’s been two and a half years.

Y/N is distracting her mind from thoughts of her ex-boyfriend, who she ghosted all that time ago, by working hard in her office. So hard she almost doesn’t hear the ringing of her cell phone, but eventually she picks it up after reading the Caller I.D. “Hey mom.”

“Hi, sweetheart,” her mother hums. “I’ve got a surprise for you, you know, since you’ve been working especially hard on your novel lately.”

Y/N laughed, glancing away from the screen of her laptop to focus on her voice a little more. “A surprise? What’s that?”

“A little getaway trip to a five-star resort,” her mom replies giddily. “It’s close by, and the place is beautiful. I’ve already booked it, so there’s no getting out of it. We need some mother and daughter time.”

“Okay mom, I’m in,” Y/N sighed, honestly relieved at the thought of a mini vacation taking her mind off of things for even just a few days. “What’s the resort called anyway?”

“Hmm… Suite Dreams Resort.”

TAGS: @kyleshouck​ @rhyrhy462​ @grayshoney​ @justordinaryjen​ @livexdolan​ @dopedoodes​ @graydolan12​ @joyrivh​ @they-are-lovely​ @dolans4lyfe​ @may114​ @wtf-no-idk​ @s100204​ @stargazebailey​ @someonetogray​ @callllumhood​ @a-sye​ @tadadolan​ @cherrygvant​ @imsad05​ @graysavant​ @dominantdolan​ @graysonsharry​

[dolandolll]

bff dates between gray and bookworm!y/n and he is SO JEALOUS

“Grayson where are you taking me!” Y/n laughed nervously as she tried to figure out where her soon to be brother in law was taking her. Sitting in the passengers seat drinking her breakfast smoothie.

“Stop asking questions! My gosh you’re a headache Y/n/n” Grayson and Y/n’s friendship had really blossomed alongside her relationship with Ethan. Even moreso after Ethan asked the all important question. If she’d marry him.

“But Gray I don’t even have my wallet with me! It’s on the bench so if we’re going anywhere—“ pulling into the parking lot of the building Y/n never thought in a million years she’d be able to go in. Not without committing robbery. “Grayson! I can’t afford this!? Can’t we go to Barcrofts or something—?”

Grayson couldn’t help his grin as he put his car in park, turning to face his soon to be sister in law and whipping out his credit card in a child like fashion.

“This” he beamed. “This is on me, consider it a wedding gift in advance.” Y/n’s jaw was almost hitting the ground at this point. She couldn’t believe it, she of all people was sitting in the car park of L.A’s most expensive yet best bookstores. Merpal’s.

“Grayson this is a sick prank if—“

“Not a prank, a present, my gift to you, anything you want and maybe something ontop of that?” Grayson smiled as he felt Y/n’s lips quickly come into contact with the scruff on his cheek before her squeals of excitement echoed throughout the car.

She definitely took her time, drinking in the beauty and ora that was Merpal’s. Y/n could spend hours upon hours perusing this Isles of old books worth hundreds, thousands even.

Where was Grayson while Y/n was practicing drooling over a copy of To Kill A Mockingbird? On the phone to a worried Ethan who couldn’t for the life of him get ahold of his fiancée.

“Where the fuck are you? Is Y/n with you? The fuck are you guys up to thinking you can exclude me? Huh?” Ethan was on the other end of the phone. Jealous he was left at home by himself.

“Jesus Ethan how old are you? 5? Yes she’s with me, I took her to Merpal’s so she could pick out a wedding present for herself. I’d fuck it up if I did it alone.”

“Hey Gray?” Y/n softly interrupted. “I uh—I found something I really like.”

“If that’s Y/n tell her I said good morning.” Ethan groaned into Grayson’s ear through the phone.

“Ethan said good morning, think he’s a little pressed.”

“He’ll live” Y/n teased as she giggled. “Morning Eth, we’ll be home soon I’m pretty much finished here.”

Now the smile on Y/n’s face when she got this book on her bookshelf back home was priceless. On a shelf reserved for her most prized possessions.

Her first book she ever bought with her own money. Tattered and barley holding it together. Right beside her signed 1960 first edition copy of Harper Lee’s remarkable debut novel.

To Kill A Mockingbird - worth $17,000

[cosmosdolans]

grayson 😑 dolan

[persistence-ofmemories-deactiva]

I'm in a really soft mood today I can just imagine Gray having a bad day or smtn and Penny stroking his hair and his cheek and softly massaging his shoulders pressing kisses to the back of his neck going 'what's wrong lovey?'

Grayson’s mood is almost always directly proportional to his volume. The louder he is, the better he feels. Unless of course, he’s loud because he’s yelling at his brother, and with the twins’ tendency to snap at each other at the drop of a hat, it’s not rare to see Ethan and Grayson in the midst of some screaming match. Their friends and loved ones are pretty used to it, though some lean more towards breaking them up while others just let them be.

Regardless, you can tell Grayson’s not feeling a hundred percent when he’s spaced out and quiet. And considering the absolutely shit day they had dealing with getting ambushed by a media company 90 seconds to air, the backlash of drama channels, and the endless stress of trying to juggle several projects while mercury continued in his incessant pattern of retrograde, Penelope barely noticed that Grayson was in her apartment because of how quiet it was when she entered. If it wasn’t for his car in the lot, or his bag on the counter, she would’ve thought it was empty.

She finds him with slouched shoulders and a blank stare at the foot of her bed, his hair pulled back by one of her headbands and his cheeks red from what she assumes was the workout he just had to clear his head. It must have worked, because his eyes doesn’t really register her and dart over until she’s standing right in front of him with furrowed brows and a tiny pout. He sighs, a heavy hand coming up to grab her hip and pull her close, his head falling onto her stomach.

“Hi,” he says.

Penelope coos, cradling his head to her as she scratches her nails down his back and up again. “Long day?”

“Long day. Shit day. All of it.”

“Wanna talk about it?”

Grayson pulls in a breath and leans back to look up at her. He’d been waiting for her for about an hour or so, decided to take advantage and get a workout in to let off some steam while she finished up her exam and turned in a paper. It does something to his heart, having this quiet space where Penelope can come home to him. With Piper off on a trip to Paris wirh her job, they’ve had the place to themselves the last few days, and it’s something Grayson didn’t know he needed.

He doesn’t want to ruin this, that smile on her face., the feeling of her fingers on his skin, the company of having just her to share his space with. So he shakes his head, lips bunching up in a small attempt of a smile, and pulls her down next to him. “Nah, I’m good, P. How was your day?”

“Well,” she starts, sliding over on the bed so she’s situated behind him and getting to work on those tense shoulders. Grayson’s more than grateful, letting his head hand forward and his shoulders relax as she kneads her fingers into them, a soft groan in him. Penelope keeps talking about her day: the paper she finished, the exam she turned in early and then heard people talking outside about a question she’s sure she got wrong, how subway got her order wrong twice so she just ended up drinking some coffee, and how she got these cute new xylophone for her baby classes that she could wait for the tots to play with. Once she got started, it was hard for her to stop, and Grayson is usually so good at listening, but he’s not proud to admit that he zoned out about halfway through the subway quest. Penelope notices, becuase when she pauses with a “you know what I mean?” Grayson snaps out of it and sits up.

“Fuck, sorry, what?”

Penelope can’t help her little chuckle, and Grayson huffs, looking down and rubbing his thumb against the callouses on his palms. “I’m sorry, cookie, I’m so fuckin out of it today.”

Penelope shakes her head, kissing his neck softly and stroking his hair. “It happens, bub, don’t worry about it...” when he’s still quiet, she winds her arms around his neck and drags her lips along his jaw, her hands slipping down into the front of his shirt.

Grayson’s chuckle is deep and rough as his hand comes up to hold her arm. “Baby, I’m all sweaty... probably smell like ass.”

Penelope gives him a little sniff, and then hums. “Yeah, lil bit.”

That pulls a laugh out of Grayson, who turns his head to try to get a look at her. “I told you.”

“Hmm, don’t give up so easily, lovey,” she smiles, brushing her nose against his. “That just means we need a shower.”

Grayson raises an eyebrow, and the left side of his mouth bumps up in a smirk. “A shower huh?”

“I mean if you’re up for it...” she giggles, and then Grayson follows her arm as she pulls back behind her and comes back to hold her bra in front of him, dropping it down to his lap. Grayson blinks.

“When did you even take that off?”

“Secret,” she whispers, nipping at his earlobe. “You gonna help with the rest, or do I have to do it myself?”

Suddenly animated, the sound that rumbles in Grayson is dangerous as he hops up and turns around to gather her into his arms. Penelope laughs, accepting his ambush of kisses and glad she could get him a bit more elated for now.

Penelope’s shower isn’t big and roomy like Grayson’s, but he almost likes it better for two reasons 1) it’s got that classic moody shadow from her shower curtain that makes everything just a little sexier in his opinion and 2) it’s got Penelope in it. With the water slipping over her tanned skin, her tiny whimpers filling the bathroom as Grayson folds his fingers between hers and presses their hands into the wall, his face falling down into her neck and pressing his moans into her skin as he flicks his hips quick and deep against hers. It’s always so easy to get lost in her when their skin is slapping together, her ass jiggling with every thrust, her voice pitching higher and higher as she draws closer and closer to her orgasm. It didn’t take long to get here. As soon as the water was turned on and Penelope was naked, Grayson was an absolute goner, and there’s no better treatment to a bad day than her warm pussy.

“Fuck,” he grunts. “So fuckin good, Penny, shit. Such a good girl for me”

Penelope just moans, trying to wiggle her hands free from his grasp against the wall so she can touch him in some capacity. “Ah, Grayson— Grayson, Grayson—“ all she can possibly get out is his name, her eyes rolling back into her head and her mouth falling open wider with every thrust that seems to go deeper and deeper.

Grayson doesn’t let up, tightening his grip on her hands and sinking his teeth into her shoulder, making her squeal. “That’s it, pen. Taking me so good, baby. Fuck...”

When he feels her body twitch and his balls tightening, he let’s go of one of her hands to reach down and join his thrusts with a quick rub of his fingers against her clit. Penelope gasps, her arm immediately hooking around to hold his head, hand fisting into his hair as she throws her ass back in time with his thrusts, losing control of her body as he rubs her clit and hits That perfect spot.

They come together, both crying out into the bathroom as Grayson empties himself deep inside of Penelope and pants heavily into her ear. Penelope hums, stilling her hips and enjoying the feeling of him filling her so well, turning her head to capture his lips in a slipping kiss. Grayson doesn’t disconnect their lips as he straightens them up, arms wrapping tight around her chest and holding her close.

“I don’t deserve you,” he tells her, pulling back to smile down at her. His first genuine smile of the night. Penny grins, kissing his jaw.

“Love you too, lovey.”

Graysons a lot more talkative once they clean up and get ready for their night in. While they cool dinner, he gives her his take on everything she’d mentioned earlier about her day, and then while they eat, he rants about his. Penelope listens closely, and then makes him laugh when she offers to beat all the media executives up.

When they settle into bed at the end of the day, Grayson pulls her close and kisses her and smiles. “Can I be super cheesy for a second?”

Penelope groans dramatically but sinks into him and smiles anyway. “You’re always super cheesy.”

“I’ve waited my whole life for you, Penny.”

Penelope looks up at him, her smile much too big. “That was definitely super cheesy. But I love it. And you.”

[spookysanta]

online - three (g.d.)

Summary: everyone warned him about talking to this girl online. but he can’t help but want to fall for her… now he has to meet her. what happens when they finally get together in person?

Pairing: Grayson Dolan x Reader

WARNINGS: sexy thoughts, per usual

click here for part one. 

click here for part two. 

UNEDITED.

****

The drive to the restaurant was quiet and it made her uncomfortable. Was Grayson upset at her? She didn’t do anything wrong to her recollection. His hand gripped the steering wheel tightly and his eyebrows were furrowed. Either he was deep in thought or he was pissed off somehow.

“Grayson,” she decided to speak up, “are you mad at me?”

“No.” he replied simply. “I’m fine.”

“Are you sure? You seem upset.”

“I’m fine.”

She doesn’t like this. She doesn’t like when people are upset, and she really doesn’t like it when people are upset with her. “Was it something I did?”

He huffed out a breath of air. “I’m good, really.” He was trying to convince himself more than her.

“But I feel like you’re mad at me.”

“I’m not mad at you. I’m just annoyed.”

“But why?”

How could he admit to her that he was jealous? How could he tell her that the way she laughed with Kyle pissed him off to no end? The way Kyle effortlessly made her smile frustrated him because obviously, she was with him. What was the reason behind Kyle just having to make her smile like he didn’t see Grayson standing there?

“I…don’t like the way you talked to Kyle.”

“How did I talk to him?”

“Like you…like you thought he was attractive.”

Bingo. “Oh, you’re jealous. I get it now.”

He wanted to bang his head against the steering wheel. And if they weren’t flying down the highway, he would’ve. “I wouldn’t call it that, per se.”

“What would you call it, then?” she smirked. If she had him wrapped any tighter around her finger, he’d suffocate.

“I call it “him being a dumbass and flirting with you when I’m right here”.”

“Well, if it makes you feel better, he was cute but he wasn’t that cute.”

“How the hell does that make me feel better?”

“Because I don’t want him; I’m here with you, aren’t I?”

“Yes, but—”

“Okay, great. So stop being mad at me, please. Because we’re on a date and you can’t be mad at me on our date.”

“Fine, fine.” He stopped at the red light ahead of them and locked eyes with her. She smiled at him in only the way that she does, which made him melt. He’s going to be a puddle by the end of the week, he’s certain. “I’m not mad anymore.”

“You better not be. I’ll beat you up.”

He couldn’t help but laugh at her. “Have you seen me?”

“Yeah, and I can take you.” She challenged.

His foot stepped off the brake an onto the gas pedal. “Honey, if I really wanted to, I would break you.”

She winked in his direction. “I’m open to that.”

***

He opened the car door for her when the got to the restaurant. She mumbled a “thank you”, and they strutted hand-in-hand to the front door, only stopping to give Grayson’s car keys to the valet. They got a secluded table in the back that was lit only by a lamp hanging from the ceiling. He let her sit first, then sat himself. She took in the atmosphere of the restaurant. “It’s so pretty in here.”

“Yeah…” he said, almost in a daze. He could not stop staring at her. Like there was nothing in the world more important to him than what—rather, who—was in front of him right now. “You’re just so beautiful, you know that?”

She cut her eyes at him. “I’m going to hit you if you don’t stop that.”

But he couldn’t. Every time he looked at her, it spilled out. He couldn’t just look at her in all of her glory without reminding her how gorgeous she is.

He’s been around the block a while, and never has he seen a girl as beautiful as she is.

“I can’t help it.” He confessed. “I literally can’t.”

“Well you need to learn to.”

He took her hand that rested on the table, entwining their fingers. “You’re just amazing. I genuinely can’t believe it.”

“You weren’t even this mushy when we were texting, Gray.”

“That was because you weren’t in front of me. I mean, yeah, you were gorgeous on your Instagram, but now that you’re here, you look so…perfect.”

Her heart did a thing again. “I could say the same about you, y’know.”

“Nah…you’re like, A-plus-plus, and I’m, maybe, a B-minus.”

Is he delusional? He must be high or something. There’s literally no other reason as to why he’s pretending as if he isn’t a walking Adonis. He ran a (large) hand through his hair and made it flop to one side. “I’m not doing this with you.”

“What?” he laughed.

“You’re like a twenty on a scale of one to ten. Shut your stupid mouth.”

“So my mouth is stupid now?” he raised an eyebrow at her.

Now, sir, do not do that to me, she thought, I will hop over this table and ravish you for everything that you are.

“Yes, it is. Because you’re so pretty and you won’t let me tell you that.”

“Oh, well, that sounds familiar, doesn’t it?”

She threw her hands into the air in defeat. “I’m done.”

He hummed. “Interesting.”

Right when she was about to give him a well-deserved middle finger, she saw a waiter on his way to their table. Another thing she noticed about him is that he was gentlemanly beyond compare. She’s never (almost) dated a guy that was willing to open the door for her, order for her (though she doesn’t necessarily like that much because her orders can get to be a bit complicated), and pay for her meals, and then have the absolute gall to ask her to get dessert after.

He really is an angel among men, and he just doesn’t realize it! It pisses her off, really. She doesn’t understand why he’s so amazing. He’s this beautiful man with perfect eyes, and perfect hair, and perfect everything…and he treats people with kindness and respect. And, most importantly, it’s very apparent that he liked her a lot.

Because he very clearly will go out of his way for her and that’s more effort than she’d ever gotten in a relationship—or whatever this is at the moment.

Before the waiter came, and before their little argument (if that’s what you could even call it), he’d asked her what she wanted. And she casually told him that she wanted bacon-wrapped scallops with asparagus, but she wanted the sauce that came with it on the side. That was the important part. And because she specifically wanted the sauce on the side, she told him: “You can’t order for me.”

That didn’t go over well with him, as she expected.

He rolled his eyes as a response. When the waiter came and asked what they wanted to eat, he didn’t even give her the opportunity to open her mouth and take a breath to speak.

“She’ll have the bacon-wrapped scallops with asparagus. Sauce on the side, please.”

She cut her eyes at him.

“And I’ll have the stir-fry.”

Even when the waiter left, she was still glaring at him.

“Stop looking at me like that.”

“I don’t like you.”

***

“Do you want ice cream?” he asked her on the car ride back to his house.

She shrugged.

“Are you seriously mad at me that I didn’t let you order your food?”

She shrugged again.

“But you got your stupid sauce on the side, right? Like you wanted?”

She huffed out a breath of air. “Yes.”

“Great. Now, do you want ice cream or not?”

“I dunno.”

He shook his head and turned down the street to the nearest Coldstone Creamery. “You don’t know? You’d eat ice cream for breakfast if you could.” He pulled into a parking spot once they reached their destination. “Here.”

She looked at the marquee on the front of the store. “We’re actually getting ice cream?”

“Yes. We are. And you’re getting a pint of it.”

“For what?”

“Because we’re going to have ice cream sundaes tonight.” He kissed her cheek and got out of the car to help her out.

“We don’t have to do this, y’know. I’m not actually mad at you.” She took his hand as she got out.

“If I thought you were, do you think we’d be here?”

Yes.

“Maybe?”

He opened the door for her, the atmosphere of the restaurant much cooler than outside. She shivered a bit. He wordlessly took off his jacket and put it around her shoulders, earning him a “thank you” from her.

He ordered her a pint of coffee ice cream with chocolate chips and brownies (her favorite, he’s learned). Then, he ordered himself a pint of vegan cookie dough ice cream. He went to the register and paid for their ice cream while it was being prepared, and while they waited for his name to be called, he leaned against the wall in the back of the restaurant. She stood next to him and laid her head on his chest. “Thank you for today.” She mumbled.

“Didn’t I tell you to not thank me for when I buy you things?” he replied, seeming annoyed but not actually being upset.

“But I really do appreciate it.”

“Well, you’re welcome; but you know I’d do anything for you, right? Anything at all.” He kissed her head, wrapping his arms around her frame and bring her in close to him.

“Even murder?” she looked at him as she whispered the word “murder”, though he could still hear her.

“No, not murder. How about I do anything for you that won’t wind up with me in prison?”

“That’s fine.” She giggled, making him flash his million-dollar smile.