The Universe

Grayson Vance’s POV

When I woke up this morning, my only goal was to survive the upcoming press tour without putting my fist through a wall.

Then Lily Baker walked into my kitchen.

She had tried to pretend I didn’t exist, parading past me with her nose in the air, desperately straining on her tiptoes just to reach a stupid button. Touching her had been an impulse. Cornering her against the fridge had been a calculated test.

I wanted to see if she was as complicit in this upcoming wedding farce as her mother was. But the unadulterated fury in her eyes told me everything I needed to know.

She hated this bullshit just as much as I did.

But then she’d run away, muttering some nonsense about milk, leaving me alone with the lingering scent of whatever vanilla perfume she wore.

Now, standing on the university quad for this mandatory PR signing, the universe had handed her back to me on a silver platter. She was holding the golden puck. The promotional gimmick my agent dreamed up to "engage the student body" had landed directly at her feet.

“Rules of the game, future sister,” I murmured, keeping my voice low enough that only she could hear over the roaring crowd.

My fingers wrapped firmly around her chin, tilting her face up.

“Pucker up.”

I expected her to snap. I expected the sharp-tongued girl from the dressing room to bite my hand off.

Instead, her jaw trembled slightly beneath my fingers. She looked up at me, and the sudden, raw vulnerability in her little blue eyes hit me like a physical blow to the chest.

The fierce, sarcastic mask completely vanished, replaced by a quiet, desperate panic.

“Please,” she whispered, the syllable barely leaving her lips, meant for my ears alone. “Grayson, don’t. Please.”

Something shifted uncomfortably in my gut. The smug satisfaction I’d been nursing evaporated, replaced by a strange, protective urge I didn't entirely understand.

I didn't want to humiliate her. Not like this.

“Vance! Do it!” someone shouted from the front row, phones raised high.

Stepping into her space, I bodily blocked her from the view of the cameras, casting a warning glare at my PR handler.

Before the crowd could realize what was happening, I grabbed Lily’s wrist and yanked her out of the circle, ignoring the collective shriek of disappointment echoing behind us.

“Event’s over!” I threw over my shoulder to the handlers, navigating the crowded walkways until I found the card-locked door of the athletic facility.

I swiped my pass, pulled her inside, and let the door slam shut, cutting off the noise of the quad.

The second the lock clicked, her pleading expression vanished.

The helpless girl from the lawn was gone, and the sharp-mouthed brat was back in full force.

“What the fuck was that?” Lily shouted, wrenching her wrist out of my grip and taking a frantic step back.

 “Are you completely insane? Are you out of your mind?”

I folded my arms, watching her mask slot back into place beautifully. “I just saved you from a stadium full of cameras, Baker. A little gratitude would be nice.”

“Gratitude?” A hysterical laugh escaped her.

“Why would you even do that? Why would you even play into it when you know that soon enough, your father is going to announce to the entire world that he’s marrying my mother? Do you have any idea what the press would do with a video of you kissing me?”

She stepped closer, her blue eyes blazing with accusation.

“Is that what this is? Are you intentionally trying to sabotage their marriage?”

A dark, humorless chuckle broke from my throat.

“Yes.”

Lily froze, her mouth falling open slightly.

“I want it ruined,” I gritted out, leaning against the concrete wall and locking my eyes onto hers.

“Every single bit of it. And the best part?” My lips curled into a slow, wicked grin.

“You’re going to help me.”

“Why on earth would I help you?” she snapped, crossing her arms defensively. “I want out of this house, Grayson, but I am not blowing up my mother’s life just to satisfy your ego.”

As if on cue, the door at the end of the hallway swung open.

“Grayson! Oh my god, man, I’ve been looking for you everywhere!”

The ecstatic, sycophantic voice echoed down the corridor. I didn't even need to look to know who it was.

Lily, however, went entirely rigid. The blood completely drained from her face, leaving her looking hollowed out.

I watched her in absolute awe as she slowly turned her head, her eyes wide with a horrifying realization as Tyler Monroe came jogging down the hall, an eager grin plastered across his face.

“Vance, seriously, it’s an honor,” Tyler said, completely ignoring Lily’s existence as he reached out to shake my hand.

He was practically vibrating with the desperate energy of a freshman trying to impress the team captain.

“Monroe,” I said smoothly, letting a small smile touch my lips.

I glanced between his eager face and Lily’s horrified one, the pieces of the puzzle clicking together with beautiful, malicious precision.

This was indeed the asshole ex; my days of playing detective fucking paid off.

“I’m glad I ran into you,” I continued, clapping a hand onto Tyler’s shoulder. “I will introduce you to the guys soon. Don't mind Lily.”

As expected Tyler’s smug gaze finally shifted to her. His grin sharpened, turning into a condescending smirk.

“Lily? Crazy how you attend here too. The universe must want us together. Right, Lil?”

He was beaming.

But Lily?

She looked like she wanted the floor to open up and swallow her whole.