Merry Misunderstandings

Grayson Blackwood

Vivienne POV

Vivienne floored the gas pedal in a desperate attempt to get out of her slippery jail.

“Oh, come on!” She yelled, slamming her hands down on the steering wheel.

To make matters worse, just at that moment, a rainstorm broke free from the skies, pouring down on her vehicle.

“Can this day get any worse?” She spoke out loud, holding up her phone, only to notice she had no cell service.

Half an hour later, Vivienne had resigned herself to the fact that she was stuck. She’d wait out the rainstorm before making her way back to the main road to hitch a ride.

She grabbed her phone, switching off her music to save battery life, just when there was a knock on her window.

Startled, Vivienne accidentally honked the car horn, before relief flooded her. Someone had seen her stranded car and decided to help her. There were still good people out there after all.

She opened her car door to find a handsome man standing outside with an umbrella above his head.

“Oh, thank you so much, I—” Her eyes landed on the smirking face of Grayson Blackwood. Her high school nemesis. Well, not just her high school nemesis. The Blackwoods and the Woods had been enemies for over a century, starting back in the 1800s when one of their ancestors had taken off with the other’s wife. It had started a feud that was still in place today.

“Well, well, if it isn’t Vivienne Wood,” Grayson’s smirk stretched further.

“Grayson, I’d say it’s nice to see you again, but that would be lying,” she spoke with faux sweetness in her voice.

“You know, I thought I was doing a kind thing, but if you don’t want me to give you a lift, I can just leave.” He shrugged, an amused glint in his eye.

Vivienne snorted. “I’d rather sleep in my car than ride with you. Besides, there’s bound to be another car that drives by here. Right?”

“Suit yourself. I hope you brought a pillow and enough gas. Nights get pretty cold out here,” he said, before turning and walking back to his car without looking back.

With a huff, Vivienne closed her door.

Everything was going to be okay. Someone else would drive by and save her. But the more the seconds ticked by, the more Vivienne started doubting herself.

When she noticed Grayson starting his car, her heart started pounding in her chest. Vivienne did not do well with darkness. That’s one thing she’d loved about New York. It was the city that never slept, no total darkness like out here in the woods.

The thought of being alone while animals—and let’s face it—monsters crept around made her nervous. She quickly grabbed her phone and jacket and darted toward Grayson’s car, trying not to slip and fall as the rain poured down on her.

When she jerked the door handle, it didn’t budge.

She frantically knocked on the window, trying to get his attention. The window slid down, revealing Grayson’s smirking face.

“Yes?” he asked, clearly enjoying her frustration.

“Let me in,” she said, trying to keep the desperation out of her voice.

“Say please, Grayson,” he teased, his voice dripping with amusement.

Vivienne’s teeth clenched, but she needed to get out of the rain. “Please, Grayson,” she grated out, glaring at him.

“Hmm, okay,” he hummed, but every time she’d try to reach for the door handle, Grayson would start driving away slowly, like some dad tricking his kid.

“Grayson!” She screamed, her voice rising in frustration, as the water soaked through her clothes. Finally, he stopped his childish prank and let her get into his car.

Vivienne crossed her arms in front of her chest, still angry about the whole situation while Grayson chuckled softly beside her.

When they started driving again, Vivienne couldn’t help but throw him subtle glances. He had definitely filled out nicely since high school. The boy she’d hated had definitely turned into a man she now hated. With his sharp jawline and bulging biceps, Vivienne couldn't help but trail lower, wondering what was under his shirt.

“Is there a reason you’re staring at me?” He asked, with a hint of playfulness in his voice.

“I wasn’t staring. I was just wondering how to turn up the heat,” she lied, her teeth still chattering from the cold. Grayson turned to look at her, his smirk fading for a moment as he took in her condition.

“You’re lips are blue, and you’re shaking!” he said, sounding almost... concerned?

“It’s your fault. You got me all wet,” she shot back.

“Well, I do have that effect on women,” he chuckled, but there was something more serious in his voice now.

Vivienne rolled her eyes but couldn’t ignore the strange pull in her stomach. Maybe she was cold, maybe she was irritated, or maybe it was just that old tension between them. But when he added that line, something shifted. That electric, "I hate you but want you" chemistry that had been there all along seemed to flare back to life.

“Maybe you should take off your clothes,” Grayson said, his voice suddenly quieter, more serious.

“What? I’m not taking my clothes off!” She scoffed, rubbing her hands together in an attempt to warm up. She noticed her nails were turning blue now too.

“Fine, suit yourself, but it’s still a two-hour drive.” He shrugged. When she didn’t answer, he sighed. “Look, I won’t look, okay? There’s a sweater in the backseat, you can wear that. It’s dry and warm.”

Vivienne wanted to protest, but she was really so damn cold.

“No looking!” she warned, pointing an index finger at him.

“It’s nothing I haven’t seen before,” he laughed, but when she shot him a glare, he added, “fine, fine. I won’t.”

Why did he have to bring up their night together?

Hesitantly, she started peeling off her layers of clothes, all the while watching to make sure Grayson wasn’t looking. When she was left in just her panties and bra, she leaned back to grab his sweater. She could have sworn Grayson’s head snapped back to the front when she retook her seat.

With narrowed eyes, she quickly slipped it on. It was big and comfy, reaching her thigh.

Vivienne shivered again, not sure if it was from the cold, the lingering tension, or just the fact that, for some strange reason, being stuck in this car with him was suddenly a lot more complicated than she remembered.

As the drive continued, the rain pattering lightly against the windows, the air inside the car was thick with the tension they both pretended wasn’t there.

Vivienne tried to focus on the road ahead, but all she could think about was the way Grayson’s eyes lingered a little too long on her.

She could feel him glancing at her from time to time, like he couldn’t help himself. It wasn’t in a way that made her feel nervous... well, maybe just a little, but it was also something else. Something unspoken.

She shifted in the seat, trying to get comfortable, but as she did, she accidentally brushed her bare leg against his hand. She froze, the shock of the contact jolting through her.

Grayson didn’t immediately pull away. Instead, he let his hand linger there for a beat longer than necessary before his fingers twitched, like he was suddenly aware of how close they were. Vivienne's breath caught in her throat, her chest tightening as the warmth of his touch seeped into her skin.

“Sorry,” he muttered, his voice low, as if he were the one who had lost control.

Vivienne couldn’t speak for a second, not sure if he was actually sorry or if he was just trying to pretend nothing had happened.

“Right,” she managed to rasp, the heat still blooming in her stomach, “It’s fine.”

For the rest of the drive, the silence between them was different—charged, and somehow more intimate. It wasn’t until they reached the outskirts of the town that Vivienne noticed they had both been driving without speaking for what felt like forever.

She should’ve said something, anything, but instead, all she could do was adjust the sweater and stare out the window, feeling strangely warm despite the rain.

When they finally pulled into the driveway, Grayson parked without a word.

“Thanks for the ride,” Vivienne said quickly, not meeting his gaze as she scrambled to get her clothes from the backseat.

“Anytime,” Grayson replied, a touch of mischief still in his voice, though his smirk was gone. He seemed oddly... distant now.

Vivienne threw open the door and stepped out, quickly pulling the sweater down to cover herself more, trying to ignore the fact that it was the only thing between her and the cold night air.

As she walked away, she couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted between them. That simple touch, so accidental, had left her wondering if there was more to their history than she had ever realized.