The city lights blurred past as Grayson drove, the soft hum of the car filling the quiet spaces between them. Vivienne sat beside him, her attention glued to her phone, laughing quietly at some funny video. The warmth of the evening still lingered between them, but Grayson couldn't shake the lingering edge of irritation that had taken root the moment he'd noticed her fingers absent of the ring.
He had watched her too long, memorizing the curve of her hand, the subtle grace in her movements, and then… nothing. The ring was gone. He clenched the steering wheel a little tighter, jaw tightening. Slowly, he reached for it in his mind, imagining it back where it belonged—on her finger, gleaming just as perfectly as she did.
Vivienne, sensing the tension, didn't look up immediately. But the moment she did, she caught the storm in his eyes. Her smile softened, careful and quiet. "Uhmm… what was the tension about with Julian today?" she asked, voice low, almost hesitant.
Grayson's hands paused on the wheel. "It's nothing," he said, trying to mask the sharp edge in his voice.
She tilted her head, her gaze steady, unwavering. "Are you… are you sure it's nothing? I just want to ask because the atmosphere didn't seem right. You know, at the dinner…"
He exhaled slowly, turning his attention to the road but unable to keep his eyes from flicking toward her. "Do you still… care about him?" His words were quiet but loaded, a dangerous mix of curiosity and jealousy.
Vivienne's lips curved into a soft, almost wistful smile. "Grayson… Julian's our friend. That's it. I just wanted to know why it felt tense tonight." Her tone was calm, soothing, but firm enough to make him feel the boundaries she'd drawn without pushing him away.
Grayson's grip on the wheel loosened slightly, though his mind remained a whirlwind of thoughts. For the rest of the ride, the car sank into a comfortable, heavy silence. Vivienne's eyes never left her phone, laughter bubbling quietly now and then, while Grayson stared ahead, lost in his own thoughts, replaying the evening, the subtle interactions, and that damn ring missing from her finger.
When they finally arrived home, the quiet didn't last long. As soon as the engine cut off, Viviene hurried into the house, taking off her coat and shoes,Grayson turned to her sharply, grabbing her by the waist and pressing her gently but firmly against the wall beside the door.
"Why did you take it off?" His voice was low, tinged with frustration, but his eyes burned with a need for an answer.
Vivienne's hands rose slightly, resting on his chest, calm but deliberate. "The show's over," she said softly. "I didn't need to wear it anymore."
Her words, simple as they were, made Grayson's chest tighten. Anger flickered again this wasn't about the show, it was about the way she had casually dismissed something so important to him.
He leaned closer, their breaths mingling, the tension between them electric. "Vivienne…" he murmured, voice dropping lower, almost a growl.
Her eyes widened slightly, heart thudding as he brushed a stray lock of hair from her face. The air seemed to hum around them. He held her gaze, the space between them shrinking by the second, until the tip of his nose brushed hers.
She didn't pull away. She couldn't.
And then, just when her breath hitched, Grayson closed the gap fully, his lips claiming hers in a kiss that was soft at first, hesitant, and then deepened with the simmering tension that had been building between them for months.
Vivienne's hands slid from his chest to grip his shoulders, matching his intensity, while the world outside—the family, the laughter, even the videos on her phone—fell away. In that moment, there was only him, her, and the undeniable pull that had been simmering since that night she had returned to her normal routine.
The kiss lingered, charged, a promise and a question at once. When they finally pulled back, both were breathing a little heavier, their foreheads resting together.
Grayson's hand found hers, placing a soft kiss where the ring should've been, "Never take it off without telling me," he murmured, voice low, still fierce, still tender.
Vivienne's smile was soft, almost shy, but there was fire in her eyes. "I'll… keep it on," she whispered.
And for the first time in months, Grayson felt a strange, intoxicating calm.