CHAPTER 29: GRAYSON

Grayson accompanies Gigi to a teen party at the Trowbridge home, dressed uncomfortably in shorts and tasked with providing a distraction while Gigi tries to sneak into the private wing. Grayson surveys the modern, open house, the crowd of unsupervised teenagers, and the routes through the party, treating the situation like any other high-stakes social environment.

Gigi points out Savannah on a glass staircase beside Duncan Trowbridge, describing Duncan as boring but acceptable by local standards. Grayson observes that Savannah does what is expected of her, then Gigi hands Grayson an alcoholic lemonade and disappears, leaving Grayson to watch for an unspecified signal.

As Grayson moves through the party, several girls recognize him as Grayson Hawthorne despite his denial. They misread his connection to Avery, assuming Avery took his money, chose his brother, and broke his heart. Grayson stiffly tries to correct them, but they interrupt him for photos and attention, turning his mere presence into the distraction Gigi wanted.

When Grayson mentions being there with friends of the family and looks toward Savannah, the girls begin insulting Savannah as cold, superior, and entitled. A boy joins in with another cruel remark. Grayson, angered by the attacks on Savannah, steps forward in a threatening way.

Before Grayson can escalate the confrontation, Gigi reappears beside him and quietly warns that this was not the kind of distraction she meant when she said he might need to dance.