The Happy List (Better With You, #1)

by Briar Prescott

It makes him look almost ethereal. I’ve never said it out loud, fearing I’d sound stupid. But he does.

Everything goes warm inside me as Kai catches my eyes over Monica’s shoulder. This feeling of truly belonging is something I’ve only ever associated with Kai.

“That decides it, then. I guess I’ll stay.” Phew. Crisis averted.

I already feel lighter. It’s the Grayson-effect in full swing.

Technically, I’m supposed to be at work, but I cut my day short. By about eight hours or so.

Hanging out at your workshop is the highlight of my days, so don’t go and ruin it by insisting I stay away or some shit like that.”

I’ve already accepted that Kai is the only person who manages to make me feel comfortable in any situation.

Gray was there for all of those. A steady presence and a port in the storm and a fucking cheerleader, urging me on when I was doubting myself. I don’t think I can ever repay him for everything he’s done for me.

I love that about him. He’s the person I feel most comfortable with in the whole world.

An uncomfortable plummeting feeling in my gut makes me hold my breath. A boyfriend? My Kai in a relationship?

Somebody he can take on… dates and camping trips and do all sorts of fun things with. Somebody who’ll replace me.

Kai is the best person I know. I should want him to find happiness.

“It’d be nice to have somebody.” What am I, chopped liver?

But as I look at Kai and think about the offhand comment about finding a boyfriend, the strange cold in the bottom of my stomach lingers.

Just in case, I hide the knives from next to Cee’s plate. You can never be too careful.

I’ve never seen one of Kai’s dates. The sight is a bit underwhelming if I’m honest. Black ankle-length skinny jeans—guess he can’t afford pants that are an appropriate length.

As Kai’s best friend, I should definitely vet this Maximus to save Kai from future trouble. It’s what friends do.

“A double da—outing. With three friends. And Max.”

“Where did you two meet?” Cee asks and presses her heel on top of my shoe. I really don’t know what her problem is. We’re having fun getting to know each other. I mean, just look at us. We’re already teasing each other. Like friends do.

He seems pissed off. The date must not be going so well. Looking at Max, I can kind of see why.

“Oh. Was I being rude?” I raise my hands in the air. “Sorry, sorry. My sense of humor is not for everybody.”

People these days. So sensitive to some light teasing. I don’t think this guy is going to fit our dynamic.

My point is, I’m interesting, too! I’ve got a lot to offer to Ka—I mean, to a potential date. Unlike Max. He’s definitely one of those people who’s all bells and whistles. No substance to be found here.

“I just remembered I forgot to lock the workshop’s front door. We should go there immediately and check if everything is okay.” Finally. Kai’s sanity has returned. Bye-bye, Maximus. I push myself to my feet. “That’s too bad. But definitely an emergency. Well, we should go and lock it.”

“No!” Kai says. “You will stay here. Max and I will go.” I gape at him. “But—” “Stay!” Kai snaps. That tone is definitely uncalled for. What next? Heel?

“Well, that was weird,” I say as I sit back down. I turn toward Cee and find her staring at me with her mouth open. “That was weird, right?” I prompt. “Oh my God,” Cee says slowly, still gaping at me.

Seems like an appropriate reaction, so I nod. “Right? That guy? What kind of a name is Maximus? And the whole I have a fancy apartment. Make me a shelf, Kai shtick? It’s a firm contender for the dumbest pickup line in the history of the world.”

“Oh my God,” she repeats. “You’re jealous.” I rear back. “Wh— Tha— Ho— That’s ridiculous,” I finally manage to sputter.

“Wake up and smell the feelings, Gray, because you’ve caught some.”

Dude, you’ve seen me at my worst, and at my most pathetic. May I remind you of the time I found out Matt Bomer was taken, and I made a complete ass of myself by getting completely wasted and asking everybody I saw that night if they had Matt Bomer’s phone number?

“You should come stay at my place. I have an extra room.” It’s not strictly true, I guess, but I’m sure Kai and I can share my room for a few days.

He’s so excited about this that it’s impossible not to get swept up in the moment.

On the other hand, though, it feels like I’m claiming Kai to myself because… we’ve worn the same pair of pants. Crazy town has officially arrived, and I’m campaigning to be the mayor.

I’m a lawyer, so I should know the answer, but is it legal to rip somebody’s arm off? I can’t seem to remember.

it’s rapidly becoming undeniable that this jealousy inside me is the furthest thing from platonic.

when he tried to throw more overtime my way today, I said no.” The words rush out, and Gray beams at me, looking extremely proud of himself.

I now know what he’s thinking, and where he stands, and the only thing left to do is… completely change his mind.

“If you think about it, this is our first real disagreement. Maybe we should, I don’t know, kiss and make up?” I suggest. “We’re not going to kiss again,” Kai says. Ah well, it was worth a shot.

I’ve never understood what people mean when they talk about gut feeling, but I do now because everything inside me screams that this is right.

“What do you want?” he asks. “You,” I say. “It’s that simple.”

“You remember how Brett Carmichael kept calling me carrot-top in sixth grade and you punched him in the nose?” I ask with a laugh. “I was trying to woo you. We were sort of friends, but I wanted more, so I needed to impress you.

“Kai is the most important person to me in the whole world,” I snap. “He is my family.”

“You come first,” he says like it’s the most natural thing in the world. “Whenever you need me.”

“You want to move out?” “Well, no, I mean, it’s an idea. Just… in case.” “In case of what?” I ask, sounding almost frantic. My plan is to keep Kai with me forever, and everything he’s suggesting is the exact opposite of what I want.

“I’m in love with him,” I add, sounding a bit dazed

“Just… immeasurably, completely in love with him.”

Make my room our room Go on a real date with Kai Introduce Kai as my boyfriend to everybody we know Ask Kai to be my boyfriend (note to self, reverse the order of those two things, otherwise might come off as creepy)

“Somebody who doesn’t mind that I’ve been stupidly blind for years and haven’t seen what’s right in front of me,”

“I love you,” he murmurs in my ear. “I’m so in love with you that I can’t see straight.”

“I did something. It’s stupid and completely useless, but I went ahead and did it anyway because that’s what I do now. So here’s the thing. You’re looking at the Gray Loves Kai star.”