Cruel Infatuation (Underground Kings 3)

GRAYSON

Talking to a stranger shouldn’t make me so happy, but it does. I’m happier than I’ve been in a long time. It’s new, exciting, and she doesn’t know my past. There’s no pressure to outdo myself, to prove that I’m not the man the past makes me out to be. I’m not what people accused me of being. Once people find out that I have a record with ‘rapist’ stamped on it, no one wants anything to do with me.

And, of course, there are the men who are rapists and say they aren’t. They believe their victims asked for it, but that’s not who I am. It weighs on me every single day. It’s a horrible title for an innocent man to have.

Some days, it makes it hard to live. What if that’s all anyone ever sees me as? No matter the truth, it will never be enough for them to get past the ‘what if’ crossing their minds.

“What’s got you chipper?” Heaven asks as he plops down on the couch beside me. He lifts his casted leg, and it lands on the ottoman with a hard thump. “I still haven’t been able to get the last Cheeto out of my cast.”

“That’s disgusting. I’m not helping you. You have to deal with the consequences of being a fucking idiot.” I hold my phone in my hand and check it every few seconds to see if I have a notification from Finley.

“Oh, come on. I was bored. I need help, Grayson.”

“I don’t care,” I say, not wanting to get my hands anywhere near his cast or under it. Who knows what ecosystems are growing there? I’m not going to risk my health for his stupidity.

“What if you leave it there and I become a Cheeto? What, then?”

I lift a brow at the question and shake my head as I stare at him. He’s pouting, arms crossed and chin lifted as if his question is valid. “Don’t even think about blaming this on me. You were the one who decided your fate. And why the hell am I talking about this with you? It isn’t even an important conversation. I’m wasting breath talking about this.”

“Wow!” He feigns a gasp, placing his hand on his chest. “I thought we were friends. You know, I’d reach into your cast and pull out your Cheeto.” And then he snickers. “That sounded much dirtier than I meant.”

Okay, that gets me to laugh. I slap his shoulder as we both lean against the couch and chuckle. Heaven is a complete idiot sometimes, but without him, none of us would know what it’s like to laugh because most of us are serious.

“Really, what’s got you so happy? Yesterday you were Gloomy Grayson, and now you’re… I don’t know…” He searches my eyes for an answer, but he doesn’t come up with one.

“I woke up on the right side of the bed.”

He slaps his leg and snaps his fingers. “I know what it is. You got laid!”

“N—” I try to say before the crowd rushes in.

“Who got laid?” Jaxon asks.

“Our man Gray!” Heaven nudges my shoulder.

“No—”

“You got your dick wet, huh? Fucking finally. You were becoming all stressed out and tense to be around,” Owen says as he grabs an apple from the fruit bowl and bites into it.

“Who is she?” Quinn holds her belly as she waddles over to me and nestles her way between me and Heaven.

“I’m curious too. I didn’t know you were seeing anyone,” Gabriella adds, sitting cross legged on the floor.

“You dog.” Sebastian grips my shoulders from behind and squeezes. “Bout time our Gray got out there.”

“Oh my god, will all of you stop. Heaven, you started this.” I point an accusing finger at him, and he lifts his hands in innocence. Yeah, right. We all know Heaven is the troublemaker here. “I’m not seeing anyone and, not that it’s anyone’s business, but I didn’t get laid either. Okay? Leave it alone. Don’t ask questions. Or, if you want to be as crass as Owen, no, I did not get my dick wet; which is rude to say in front of the ladies, Owen.”

“Sorry.” He sounds anything but sorry as he lifts a shoulder, and the apple crunches as he chews it.

“It’s okay; we’re used to it.” Quinn leans back and groans, rubbing her palms over the swell of her stomach. “It’s not like I got pregnant without Jaxon getting his dick wet.” She snorts. “He had to go and knock me up with two, and my back is really hating him for it.”

“You love me. I’ll rub your back, baby. You know all you have to do is ask,” Jaxon says, and Quinn’s happy demeanor fades away as quick as a flip of a light switch.

She pushes herself up, but she can’t stand on her own. I lay my hands on her lower back to support her weight, and I ease her forward until she’s safely upright. “Thank you, Grayson.” She blows a piece of hair out of her face. It tickles her cheek instead of moving like she wanted it to, so she shoves it out of the way with her hand. “I shouldn’t have to ask! I’m pregnant. My back always hurts. I’m damn pregnant! You should just do it. You should know, Jaxon,” she cries and stomps by him, shoving her shoulder against his as she makes her way down the hall. Gabriella shrugs and follows behind her quickly.

Jaxon looks stunned. He’s standing there with a bowl of homemade chocolate pudding Julia made for Quinn, mouth agape. “What di

d I say? What did I do?” he asks.