Merry Misunderstandings

Reflections

Grayson POV

The ticking of the clock on the therapist’s wall felt louder than usual. Grayson’s gaze was fixed on the white ceiling above, the faint smell of lavender and cedar filling the room. He hated this. Therapy. Talking. It always felt like a waste of time, a reminder that he couldn’t just bulldoze through life the way he had before. But, apparently, his therapist thought it was a necessary evil. Well, his parents had thought so, anyway.

“How have things been going with the B&B?” Dr. Porter’s voice broke through the silence, soft and probing.

Grayson leaned back in his chair, fingers tapping lightly on the armrest. “It’s...fine. It’s been fine.” He hated how defensive he sounded. He was fine. Everything was fine.

“And Vivienne?” she asked, leaning forward slightly, her glasses catching the light as she observed him closely.

At the mention of her name, Grayson stiffened. His mind immediately flashed to their earlier interactions: her biting remarks, her perfect business suit, her smug confidence. She was still the same—always acting like she was in control, trying to prove she was better.

“She’s... hard to get along with,” Grayson said, his voice betraying more frustration than he intended.

Dr. Porter gave him a look, one he knew all too well. “What else?”

Grayson sighed, raking a hand through his hair. He was caught. He couldn’t just brush it off anymore. “It’s just... I don’t know. There’s this... tension. Between us. I feel like I have to prove something every time I’m near her.” He paused, then muttered under his breath, “I’m not sure why it bothers me so much.”

“Do you think it’s because of the business?” Dr. Porter asked, arching an eyebrow.

Grayson was quiet for a moment, considering. “I don’t think it’s just the business. It’s... something else.”

He sat up, leaning forward, elbows resting on his knees as he stared at his shoes, the weight of everything pressing down on him. “You know, she used to hate me in high school. I didn’t make it any easier for her either, but I swear she’s still holding on to all of that. She’s made her whole life about proving she’s better than me. And I don’t get why.” His tone dropped lower, his eyes narrowing. “I don’t even know if I can stand working with her for long.”

But deep down, a nagging thought lingered, one he couldn’t shake. The way her eyes sparkled when she challenged him. How her lips curved into that sarcastic smile. The way she carried herself—confident, yet guarded. Was he just pushing her buttons because it was easier than dealing with the real problem?

Dr. Porter let the silence stretch on, clearly waiting for him to say more.

“I don’t know,” he muttered again, more to himself than to her. “Maybe it’s because... every time I’m near her, I feel like I’m getting caught in something I can’t control. Something I don’t want to feel.”

“Something you can’t control,” Dr. Porter repeated softly. “Is that the issue, Grayson? Or is it that you don’t want to feel anything at all?”

Grayson’s jaw tightened, his thoughts spiraling. He shifted uncomfortably in the chair, running a hand down his face. He couldn’t deny it. Since the accident, he'd been running from everything, burying his feelings as deeply as possible. The Blackwood name. The pressure. The guilt. The fear. And now, Vivienne... she was cracking open parts of him that he didn’t know how to handle.

“I don’t know if I’m ready to feel anything, Doc,” he finally confessed, his voice rough.

The therapist gave him a long look before nodding. “That’s a good place to start, Grayson. Recognizing that is the first step.”

Grayson slumped back in his chair, staring up at the ceiling. He wasn’t sure what to make of it all. Vivienne was like a mirror—reflecting everything he hated about himself. Or maybe it was that she saw something in him he wasn’t ready to face yet.

Grayson decided to walk back to Cedar Hollow. His therapy sessions always stirred emotions in him he wanted to burry…his mind always went back to that night…the night of the accident. He let out an exasperated sigh. How long was he going to punish himself over it, the therapist had asked. Probably forever.

The crisp fall air bit at his skin as he trudged down the road leading back into town. It wasn’t long before the familiar sights of Cedar Hollow came into view. The old theater still stood strong, it’s light still illuminating the town at night. The place hadn’t changed, not really.

Opal waved at him from behind the window of her shop, The Trinket Trove, just like she had when he was a kid. He lifted a hand in return, his steps slowing as he passed.

The streets buzzed with life, the kind of simple energy Cedar Hollow always had this time of year. Leaves in fiery shades of red and orange danced in the wind, a few crunching underfoot. He caught the faint smell of cinnamon and fresh bread drifting from Elena’s bakery, mixing with the chatter of locals and tourists alike. The town was starting to come to life.

City Hall came into view next, standing proud with its whitewashed walls and the little bell tower that hadn’t rung in years. The gazebo in the square was still there too, rusty in places but refusing to fall apart—stubborn, like the people who lived here.

Grayson’s gaze lingered on the square, imagining what it would look like in a couple of months. Cedar Hollow at Christmas was something else, with its holiday market and over-the-top decorations. He could almost hear the Christmas music, see the tourists bundled up with steaming mugs of cocoa.

It was perfect here. Too perfect, sometimes. Like it didn’t have room for mistakes—or people like him.

His parents had asked him to run the B&B in their stead, framing it as a family responsibility. But Grayson wasn’t naive—he knew what this really was. It was a well-crafted plan to get him away from the big city, away from temptation and pitfalls. They thought Cedar Hollow could fix him, could make him… better.

Grayson scoffed at the thought, kicking a stray leaf off the sidewalk. Like this town could fix anything.

He was pulled from his dark thoughts by the sight of a familiar figure up ahead. A slow grin spread across his face. He’d recognize that walk—and that ass—anywhere.

Vivienne Wood.

How he’d loved teasing her back in high school. Her last name alone was enough to keep his friends entertained. It was juvenile, sure, but she always reacted, and that made it worth it. He could still hear his buddies cracking up. "Vivienne gives you Wood." The memory made him smirk.

Now, she was all grown up and somehow even prettier than he remembered. Her yoga pants weren’t doing him any favors either, accentuating curves he’d rather not notice. She was carrying a gym bag, and for some reason, that detail annoyed him.

Without really thinking about it, Grayson decided to follow her. If she’s going to be in my town, I should see what she’s up to, he thought, his smirk deepening as he adjusted his pace.

He waited a few moments before stepping inside the gym. He made his way toward the counter, trying to look casual, but his grin faltered when he heard a voice that wasn’t hers.

“You know, I do one-on-one sessions, if you’re interested.” Liam’s smooth, deep tone carried through the room. Grayson turned just in time to see the gym owner leaning toward Vivienne, a little too close for his liking.

“Why don’t I give you my number?” Liam offered, his smile dripping with confidence. Grayson’s chest tightened as he watched Vivienne type her number into Liam’s phone. Was she oblivious to the guy’s blatant flirting? Or worse, was she into it?

He clenched his jaw and looked away, swallowing the irritation bubbling up inside him. What did it matter who she talked to? She wasn’t his problem—or his business.

Still, the sight of her smiling at Liam made his stomach churn. This is ridiculous, he thought, forcing himself to turn and walk out.

Grayson shoved his hands in his pockets, heading straight for Maggie’s Diner. He needed a coffee—and maybe a distraction. Maggie had been running the place since he was a kid, and the smell of freshly brewed coffee always reminded him of simpler times.

At the diner, Grayson settled at the counter, the familiar hum of voices and clinking dishes filling the space. Maggie, still as attentive as ever, handed him a mug with a knowing look.

“You’ve got that stormy face again,” she said, pouring him coffee.

Grayson gave a half-smile. “Just another day in paradise.”

He hadn’t been sitting long when he overheard a conversation at the next table. Two older women were leaning toward Danny, the Uber driver, their voices lowered but still carrying just enough for Grayson to catch the words “Vivienne” and “video.”

“Yeah, she said something about pants being down and taking care of a man’s thing. But hey, she was really nice, so who cares what she does,” Danny said with a shrug, taking a sip of his coffee.

Before continuing. “Apparently, she’s some big deal online. My niece showed me the video. She’s got a lot of followers.”

Grayson’s brows lifted. What video?

The whispers grew, and soon half the diner was buzzing about Vivienne being some kind of internet star. Grayson smirked to himself. This town never changes.

Just then, the bell over the door jingled, and the diner went quiet. Grayson turned to see Vivienne step inside, her eyes darting around, clearly picking up on the sudden tension. Her cheeks were tinged pink, whether from the gym or the stares, he wasn’t sure.

When her gaze landed on him, she hesitated but walked over, her chin raised high despite the whispers.

Grayson couldn’t help himself. “Foxxy-Vi,” he drawled, leaning back with a lazy grin. “What brings you to this fine establishment?”

Her steps faltered, her eyes narrowing. “Excuse me?”

“It’s what I’d imagine your screen name to be,” he teased, smirking behind his mug. “You know, for all your… internet fame.”

Vivienne’s jaw tightened, and her eyes flashed. “I don’t have time for your games, Grayson.”

He opened his mouth to retort, but Vivienne’s gaze shifted past him, and her expression froze. Grayson followed her line of sight to Danny, whose wide grin practically screamed guilty.

“Oh no,” Vivienne whispered. She turned back to Maggie, her voice barely audible. “Maggie, you know I don’t make adult movies, right?”

Maggie patted her hand gently. “Of course, dear. It’s just talk. It’ll pass.”

But the whispers didn’t stop, and Grayson noticed the flush creeping up Vivienne’s neck. For a moment, he felt a pang of guilt. He didn’t mean to embarrass her—at least, not like this. Before he could decide how to fix it, her phone buzzed on the counter, the name Hot Liam flashing across the screen.

Grayson’s brows shot up. “Hot Liam?” he asked, his tone sharper than intended.

Vivienne quickly grabbed her phone, holding it to her chest. “Um, privacy?”

“You know he flirts with every woman in this town, right?” Grayson said, unable to stop himself.

Vivienne tilted her head, her lips twitching into a smug smile. “Are you jealous, Grayson?”

“No,” he said quickly. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

Her smirk widened, and she opened her mouth to push him further, but Grayson stood abruptly. He leaned in, lowering his voice just enough for her to hear.

“Vivienne, please,” he said with mock exasperation, “I don’t want to star in one of your videos. Stop asking.”

Her eyes widened, then narrowed. “You wouldn’t” she whispered.

“Stop saying I’m jealous, or I will,” he threatened.

“Fine,” She snapped, before picking up her back and storming out of the diner.

Grayson sat back down, hiding his grin behind his mug. Teasing her wasn’t just a distraction—it was a way to keep his own feelings in check. But damn if she didn’t make it hard to stay unaffected.