Everything I've been planning happens today. I just hoped I could pull it off.
"Hey Mia, can I borrow your truck?" I asked her out of nowhere. It was so random that she had jumped from the sound of my voice, nearly dropping her toothbrush in the sink.
"Sure," she mumbled before rinsing out her mouth. She patted her mouth dry with a towel. "What do you have planned for today?" she asked curiously.
I had already come up with the best excuse, and since the guys are in on it, this lie is perfect. "The guys and I are going to go shopping for some new equipment. I figured it would be best to take the truck since it has all the trunk space."
Mia nodded with no hint of suspicion. "Okay, cool." She turned back to the mirror to twist her hair into a bun.
I stood by the door, watching her going through the motions of her morning routine.
Mia turned to me when she saw that I hadn't moved. Her eyebrows drew together. "Is there something else?"
I shook my head. "Nope. Nope. No, nothing at all." Great. It's not like that sounded fishy or anything. I added a smile for good measure.
"Okay, then." Her eyes shifted from mine then landed on the ground. "So um... Do you mind... you know, leaving?" She toyed with the hem of her oversized t-shirt, swaying her body from side to side.
"I thought we were past that." A stepped inside. "Last week when you had to pee, didn't you come barging in when I was in the shower to use the toilet?"
"That was an emergency! And I told you I didn't peek!" Mia murmured, biting down on her bottom lip.
I smirked. "I wouldn't have minded if you had, sweetheart." I winked. Now her cheeks were beet red. I ran the back of my hand down them, feeling the warmth radiate off of it. "Plus, you've gotten more than a peek at me last summer." I grinned, thinking back to the time we lost our virginities.
Mia tightly shut her eyes. "Whatever," she grumbled, throwing her head back. I knew she probably wished for a subject changeâtypical Mia.
I chuckled. I leaned forward and kissed her forehead. "I can drop you off at work today if you'd like."
She shook her head. "It's fine. Freya and I are working the same shift, so we've agreed to walk over together. But thanks, though."
My lips tipped up into a smile. "Anything for you."
Mia crossed her arms. "Anything?" she challenged. "Then how about some privacy?" She nodded towards the door, telling me to beat it.
I rolled my eyes. "I walked into that one," I mumbled.
"Totally," she grinned.
As soon as Mia left, it was go time. I rushed to throw on some clothes and then headed out the door to the guys' apartment.
When I pulled at the corner, Tatum was outside with Mari, who liked she was running off somewhere.
I opened the car door. "Morning, guys!" I said to them with a solitary wave.
"Hey, Greyson!" Mari replied first.
"Morning Grey," Tatum said after her.
"What's up?" I asked the two of them, heading in their direction.
"I have a lunch date, and Tatum was just walking me out." She smiled while he frowned.
There's a story there. "Oookay. Well, have fun."
"Why, thank you. I plan to have a lot of fun." She directed the last word at Tatum. Then she winked at us before turning on her heels and walking off.
"What was that about?" I asked him.
He shrugged. "Mari being Mari," he mumbled.
I knew by that response that he didn't want to talk about it. "So, are the guys ready?"
I saw the basement door open down the hall behind him. "YO! Grey is here." Dean waved.
"Hey, man," Tobias said, coming up behind him. "The gang's all here."
"Cool. I think I'll need all the help I can get," I replied.
"We are at your service." Dean saluted.
***
We unloaded all the new furniture I bought for the balcony and multiple grocery bags three hours later.
"Thank god this stuff is light," Dean said as he and Tobias continued to haul the patio chairs in together.
"Yes, I can imagine weaklings like yourself would have a hard time lifting anything heavier," Tobias replied with a smirk that Dean couldn't see.
Dean scoffed. "Keep saying stuff like that, and you'll have to find a new roommate." It was an empty threat on his part. Everyone knew that from the moment the words left his lips.
"Psh! Like that would be a bad thing," Tobias said smoothly. I didn't know what Dean did this morning to have Tobias poke fun at him all day, but I can't say I wasn't entertained by it.
They walked through the living room and out to the balcony, placing the chairs on opposite sides of the table.
Dean took on a defensive stance, crossing his arms. "If that's how you really feel, I'll go move in with Tatum!"
"No thanks!" Tatum shouted from the kitchen, where he was helping me unpack. "Dean is an absolute slob. He doesn't dry his feet when he gets out of the shower and leaves his wet towels all over the bathroom floor." Tatum shivered with disgust. "Gross. I mean, there are towel racks for a reason." He had a point. Leaving wet towels on the floor was like scattering dirty clothes everywhere in your bedroom. The chaos in all that disorganization would drive me crazy.
I chuckled.
Tobias usually joked about Tatum having OCD, but Tatum had never denied it, and I could see why. His apartment was immaculate, and he was a slight germophobe. He'd only take it easy on you if you're a part of his close circle. Maybe even then, he'd still get on your case about certain things, but not like how he would be completely disgusted by a random stranger's unhygienic habits.
"Looks like you're going to be homeless." A pleased grin appeared on Tobias' face, and he scratched the light stubble on his chin. "Whatever will I do without you?" He sighed as if the thought of having the apartment to himself would make him feel lonely.
Dean stayed silent for a few seconds. "Never mind," he piped up. "It sounds like you'll miss me, so I'll just stay." Dean gave him a pat on the back.
"You guys argue like a married couple," Tatum remarked.
"Disagree." They both responded at once then exchanged looks of annoyance.
Laughter filled the room. "Well, at least that's one of the things they can agree on," I said to Tatum.
I spent the next hour hanging up lanterns and fairy lights and meticulously placing the potted plants I bought around the house and the balcony with some assistance.
The guys and I stepped back to admire our work. "Well, I think our job here is done," Tobias said.
"I don't mean to brag..." Dean began.
Tatum interjected. "Yes, you do."
Dean wouldn't pass up any opportunity to brag. "Okay, maybe just a little bit. But anyway, I think we did good." The four of us took turns grinning at each other. "If this whole music thing doesn't work out..."
"That's why we're in college," Tobias cut in with that reminder.
He stepped out front of us and placed his hands on his hips. "But if that somehow doesn't work out either, we might have a shot at interior design for HGTV," Dean finished.
We all belted out with laughter.
"Nobody ever takes me seriously around here," he muttered. He hung his head, forcing his blonde hair to shade his eyes.
Tatum sighed. "Always the drama queen."
"Moving on from Dean." I saw his head snap up in my peripheral. "I wanted to thank you guys again. I owe you all big time."
Other than Mia, I didn't think I'd ever had friends like these guys. I grew up a loner, only making polite conversation when I had to. I always felt like everyone wanted to be friends with me because my dad was a famous rock star. And after he died, the attention on me died with him. I saw who genuinely wanted to be there for me and who couldn't bother.
It wasn't until middle school or maybe high school when I attempted to branch out and talk to some other people that weren't Mia. Did it work out well? Not really. I was a little too private to let people in. But these guys, it felt different.
"Don't mention it." Tatum held up a fist, and I bumped it. "We're a team. There's nothing we can't do together. So if you need us, we're there." He gave me a swift nod.
"Yeah, what he said." Tobias agreed.
I drove them back to their apartment after that and hurried back home to meet up with Freya. She was also in on this brilliant plan of mine and couldn't have been more excited to help me.
I had been waiting for the elevator when Freya popped into the lobby. "Greyson!" She came barreling through the doors with one hand holding a box of desserts from the café, and the next had a death grip on these balloons.
I rushed over to help her. "You really went all out." I looked at the array of balloons.
This was more than I expected, but I'm not complaining.
"Only the best for our Mia," she replied.
I took the box of pastries out of her hand as we entered the elevator.
"Did you set up everything already?" Freya asked eagerly.
"Yup. The guys helped me out. I think we did a pretty decent job."
She turned to me. "Can I see it?" she said in a rush.
"Of course!"
I opened the door to my apartment and gestured for Freya to step in first. She politely kicked her shoes off then put them on the shoe rack.
I watched her walk into the room then waited for the reaction I was hoping she would have.
Her eyes widened, and she gasped, covering her mouth with her hands. "OHMYGOD! SHE GOING TO LOVE THIS!"
I broke out into a grin. YES!
"Greyson, you guys seriously did a great job. This boyfriend of the year worthy."
I chuckled. "Exactly what I was aiming for. This should earn me more than enough brownie points." I joked. I placed the pastries on the dining table. "Now, I have to get started on dinner. It should be ready by the time she gets home."
"You're cooking too?" Freya sounded surprised.
"Yup. Some of her favorites. By the way, how much do I owe for the pastries and balloons?"
Freya folded her arms across her chest. "They're on the house," she said kindly but took on a firm stance. She wanted me to know that she wasn't going to accept any form of monetary payment.
I figured she would say that, so I came prepared. I picked up the bouquet of orange and yellow Chrysanthemums and held them out to her. "They're a thank you for helping me. And for being a good friend to Mia. And me." Freya looked at me, then flowers, and then repeated the action. "A little birdie told me they're your favorite."
She slowly lifted the bouquet out of my hands and smelled them. "Tobias?" she guessed correctly.
"I'm not at liberty to give away my sources," I repeated the ever so popular line from any secret agent.
She beamed up at me. "It's okay. It was good intel."
"I'm glad."
Freya hugged the flowers to her. "Okay, let me get out of here so you can get to it." She walked to the front and slipped back on her shoes. "I would tell you to tell me how it all works out, but I'm sure I'll hear it from Mia tomorrow." She gave me a knowing smirk.
Grinning, I said. "Hopefully, she'll keep some details between us."
Freya's mouth formed an O. "Oh, scandalous!" She giggled with a little shoulder shimmy.
"Only if I'm lucky. See ya' Freya!" I called out, watching her close the door behind her.
I strolled into the kitchen. I had about two hours to wow my girl.
And I didn't plan on failing.