Chapter 2

After work, I received an address from Grayson and took a cab there.

When I arrived, I saw him waiting for me at the entrance, with a woman wrapping her arm around his shoulders.

Upon seeing me, she approached me before he did and sized me up with interest. Then, she turned to him and remarked, "Not bad. No wonder you're so into her. I suppose she's a good match for you."

Of course, she didn't forget to introduce herself. "My name is Luna Hills."

Grayson took my hand, though his other hand remained firmly holding Luna's.

"Lulu and I are childhood friends. Quick, come on in. Lulu doesn't like the cold."

Luna casually draped her arm over Grayson's shoulder, laughing and chatting as if she were the one dating him.

The moment I entered the restaurant, six pairs of eyes locked onto me. Their gazes were full of scrutiny, making me uneasy and uncomfortable.

Luna stood to my right. "Everyone, it's time for you to meet Grayson's darling."

As soon as those words were said, the atmosphere lightened up. I knew it wasn't to welcome me, though. It was more out of respect for Luna.

Grayson introduced me to his six friends, and aside from Harry, this was my first time meeting any of them.

It was clear that Luna was the center of the group, and she always seemed to harbor a subtle hostility toward me.

Every time I tried to speak, she couldn't wait to interrupt me, while the others, including Grayson, only responded to what she said.

I was left sitting there, ignored and stuck between wanting to say something and staying silent.

Normally, I would have made a scene, but today I just felt bored and couldn't be bothered to say a word.

"You're a tough one, aren't you, Summer? Grayson is the only unexperienced man left in our friend group, and you're not helping him either."

That was what Harry said in the middle of our meal. How inappropriate.

I turned to Grayson, only to see him keeping his head down and quietly eating.

Then came Luna's bright voice. "Be nice, dude. We don't wanna scare a smoke show away, do we?"

Grayson broke into a chuckle. "A smoke show? Not even you call yourself that, and you're the one who's actually deserving of that title."

As he spoke, he poured her a glass of orange juice, his movements smooth and skilful.

She held the glass and let out a flirtatious laugh. "Hey, what are you doing? Your darling is sitting right there."

The others observed my reaction, while Harry pursed his lips, looking scornful.

Luna continued to wear a smile as she said, "Hey, Grayson's darling? Don't mind him. We grew up together, and he's practically used to looking after me."

Grayson chimed in, "That's right. You can't be mad over something so trivial, right? There isn't a rule that says you can't have friends while in a relationship."

When Grayson was with me, he was clumsy, careless, and couldn't seem to do anything right. Even the simplest tasks would end in disaster.

Once, I asked him to pour me a glass of water, and he ended up dropping the mug and breaking it.

I used to say he was unreliable, and over time, I stopped asking him to do anything at all. It turned out he was capable of being thoughtful and attentive, just not with me.

I wiped my mouth with a napkin. "You guys are such overthinkers. I'd barely said a word, yet you think I'm mad. How interesting."

When I stood up, the chair screeched against the floor.

"I have work to do, so I'll get going first. Just text me how much I need to pay for this meal."

Ignoring Grayson's hostile gaze, I pushed open the door and left. He wanted to come after me, but Luna stopped him.

"Ignore her, Grayson. The more you let her have her way, the more she'll act up in the future. Just give her time to cool off."

The others laughed and echoed, "She's right. No one knows women better than a woman. Just listen to Lulu, Grayson. She's always got the best ideas for you, after all."

Obedient as he was, he didn't come after me.