Maggie, Nash, Nixon, Nathan, and Noah along with their cousins are dealing with the fall out of Nixon's issues and learning how to cope with the fallout. With Nixon returning having dealt with his issues, they all face another issue while trying to finish Sophomore year. What happens when someone the brothers care deeply for deals with a major crisis in their life? The only way they know how, The Gray Brothers' way. Get ready as the brothers and Maggie deal with the rest of Sophomore year along with Junior year because it's a college thing again. Part 2 of The Gray Brother's: It's A College Thing Author: Johanna Delacruz Publisher:i&i Publisher
PROBLEMS
Maggie
It's been a month since homecoming. The brother's situation still wasn't any better. It included Nixon's downward spiral, which had gotten worse. So much worse, the Dean pulled Nixon into her office because of his academic and behavioral issues. His drinking had gotten way out of control.
Nixon's rage was like no other. Even with the Dean warning him, it didn't matter. He kept drinking and partying until he took his anger out on another party guest and almost beat the person to death.
The police showed up, and it took four officers to subdue him. He sat in jail for the night.
*****
Noah
I called Ma and Dad.
Hello?
"Dad?"
Noah, what's going on, bud?
"Dad, it's Nixon, and it's bad."
Where's Nash?
Dad's question hung in the air. I knew I had to tell Dad about Nixon and Nash.
"Nash won't listen to us, Dad. He hit Nathan. I don't know what to do."
Noah, it's okay. We're coming up there.
"I'm sorry, Dad."
No, Noah, I'm sorry. You shouldn't have to deal with your brothers.
Nate! I heard ma in the background. Why did the school send us a letter about Nixon?
*Sigh* I must explain things to your ma.
"Okay." I hung up with Dad and looked at Nathan. "When did we become adults?"
"When the adults became the children," Nathan said.
*****
Maggie
I came downstairs to get something to drink when I saw Noah sitting outside alone. I opened the door and took a seat next to him. "Do you want to talk about it
"What's there to say, Maggie? My brothers can't stand each other, and I'm the mediator." He sighed.
"Noah, all families fight. Sometimes, they must, so they can become stronger."
"Maggie, you don't understand. It's always been the Gray brothers against the world. Now, it's one Gray brother against the world."
I wrapped my arm around his shoulder.
He leaned his head on me. "I want things to be normal again."
"They will, but it'll take time."
"Stupid Bryson."
"Bryson? What does Bryson have to do with anything?"
Noah took a deep breath and exhaled it. I dropped my arm.
"After you guys left the dance, I went back inside. Bryson and Tiffany were laughing and talking. Didn't they break up?"
"That's what Bryson told me. It was weird when they had their encounter at the diner. Then he kept bugging me about the dance."
He furrowed his brows. "What do you mean?"
"He tried to get me to go to the dance. I turned him down. I turned down Carson and Jace. I wasn't planning on going or this mess happening."
"Wait. You weren't going?"
"No. Why bother? I wasn't with Nash or in the mood to attend a dance."
"But we took you to the dance. Nixon even mentioned that he would marry Kat."
"Noah, did you guys know that Nash would propose to me?"
"No. We knew Nash wanted you back. I mean, yeah, he was planning to propose but not at homecoming."
"Wait. You guys knew he wanted to propose to me."
"Well, yeah. When we followed Nash, Nixon punched him. He thought he was cheating. Nathan accused him of taking drugs. Then I found the engagement ring."
"None of this makes any sense. Why would Bryson pick a fight at the dance?"
"Well, Nixon beat Bryson's ass in high school."
Then, it hit me. "Oh, God. It's not about me." I got up.
"What?" Noah followed me.
I went to talk to Nash. Then someone knocked on the front door. I changed my course and opened the door to see Nate, Pat, and Nolan.
"Hey, Maggie. Our boys wouldn't happen to be around, would they?" Nate asked.
Noah saw his parents and turned to leave.
Nate snapped his fingers. "Noah, you stay."
Noah stopped dead in his tracks.
"Good. Now get your idiot brothers, including drunky. I want a word with them."
Nate, Pat, and Nolan walked in as Noah got his brothers and returned with them.
"Ma!" Nash said.
"Dad!" Nathan said.
"Shit," Nixon said.
"Hello, boys. Would someone care to explain to me why all hell broke loose, and Nixon is getting kicked out of school?" Nate asked.
It'll be a long night.
*****
"So, let me get this straight. You screwed up your academic future and relationships because you told everyone that you love Maggie." Nate pointed at Nixon. "You turned your back on your brother while hitting your other brother, making you a bigger tool." He gestured to Nash. "You thought it was an effective way to get your brother's attention if you called Maggie a hoe." He pointed at Nathan.
"And you put Noah in the middle, causing a rift between everyone," Pat said.
"Damn, you guys are tools." Nolan shook his head.
We looked at him as he shrugged.
"Dad," Nash said.
"No, Nash. You don't get to talk. None of you get to talk. Because none of you fucking listen," Nate said.
Whoa. I've never heard Nate cuss like that.
"You boys are brothers. We did not raise you to fight with each other. Well, siblings fight, but that's not the point," Pat said.
"Hun?"
"Yes?"
"Let me manage things."
"Okay."
"Since Maggie's the only rational person in the room, I'll let her explain."
"What?" They asked, then started talking.
"Enough! Now shut it!"
Well, this was great.
"Maggie, what happened?"
"Bryson happened."
The brothers snapped their attention to me.
"How so?"
"When Nash and I weren't together, Bryson asked me to the dance, but I declined. He kept asking, but I said no. Then Carson and Jace asked me. I told them no."
"Carson and Jace?" Pat and Nate asked.
"Yeah, they have a crush on me." I brushed that part off. "The boys and the girls tied me up and took me to the dance."
Nate glanced at the boys, who sunk into their seats. "What?"
"But in their defense, they were trying to get me to the dance." I didn't make the whole scenario sound better with what I said next. "Kat tackled me, and Macey knocked me out."
"Oh, this gets better and better," he told Pat.
She nodded in agreement. "Hmm."
"They got me to the dance where Nash and I got back together. Then Nash proposed to me, to which I never gave him an answer."
They did a double-take. "Propose?" They looked at Nash, who covered his face with his palm.
"Before I answered, Bryson started yelling. Then Nixon started yelling and said that he loved me."
They did another double-take. "What?" They looked at Nixon, who shrunk even more in his chair.
"Kat and Nixon broke up. Nash quit talking to Nixon, who started drinking, and things spiraled out of control. Nixon went to jail for disorderly conduct. How did you get out?" I asked Nixon.
Nixon glared at me.
"We bailed him out." Jaime came down the stairs with Jace and the triplets as they entered the room.
"Oh, and Nixon hates me. I hate him. We're one big happy family," I said.
Nate and Pat sat down.
"That's more drama than a damn soap opera," Nate told Pat.
"Yep."
"How does Bryson figure into this situation?"
"He set Nixon up," Noah said.
Nash asked, "What?"
Noah turned to Nash. "That's what I've been trying to tell you, but you wouldn't listen. After you left the dance, I found him with Tiffany, laughing and talking."
Nash looked like he wanted to hurl, Nixon looked pissed, and Nathan looked lost.
"It doesn't matter," Nixon said. "I lost my brother, my girl, and I'm getting kicked out of school. So, yeah. Fuck my life." He went upstairs.
"Nixon got the shit end of the stick here," Caleb said. "He didn't do anything wrong. Yet, he still got the blame. Shitty, if you ask me?"
At that moment, I didn't hate Nixon but felt compassion for him. He didn't deserve this.
"I'll talk to him," Pat said.
"Let me," a voice said.
We turned to see Kat standing there.
"How long have you been standing there?" I asked.
"Long enough to hear everything." She went up to Nixon's room.
*****
Kat
I knocked on his door, then opened it. "Nix?"
"Oh, you're talking to me now."
"Don't be an ass, Nixon."
"Whatever." He turned to face the window.
I walked over to him. "I'm sorry."
He said nothing.
"When I heard those words come out of your mouth, it shocked me."
"But I didn't mean it in that way."
"I know."
"Maggie is like a sister to me. I love her as a sister. I have no romantic feelings for her. I tease her because I love her as a sister."
"She explained it to me."
"I'm glad she did because no one gives a shit about the truth." Nixon sighed. "It doesn't matter. Things got so messed up, and it's my stupid fault. I should have knocked Bryson out."
"Nixon."
"Kat, it's over. The school is kicking me out. It was a matter of time."
"Okay, but it's not over between us."
"What?"
I held up my hand, showing my promise ring to him.
"You still wore it. Why?"
"I had hope." I shrugged.
He pulled me to him and hugged me. "That's the best news that I've heard in weeks."
"I have better news," a voice said.
Nixon and U turned to see Nash standing there.
He walked over to Nixon. "I'm sorry. I should have listened to Noah."
"Yeah, you should have, you twit," Nixon said.
Nash gave him a look as Nixon shrugged.
"Nix, you're my brother."
"Yeah, yeah. You don't need to get mushy with me, you big sap." Nixon waved him off.
Nash grabbed him and pulled him into a hug. "I love you, brother."
"I love you, too, you big dolt."
It was nice to see Nash and Nixon make up.
Carrington Carrington Jones grew up with seven brothers and sisters. He has a happy-go-lucky nature with a tender heart, which sets him apart from his siblings with their personalities. He meets a woman who captures his heart. The only problem is she has a husband. Carrington’s brothers advised him against pursuing it, especially Mason and Charles, understanding it’s a terrible idea. Carrington can’t stay away from the woman. What happens with romance blossoms? Will Carrington discover his happiness, or will his heart get broken? A forbidden romance is enticing but arises in tragedy. Carrington will discover that it’s not romance where his heart lies but what occurs from it. Author: Johanna Delacruz Publisher:i&i Publisher
Matthew Harper always does the right thing. He doesn’t drink or smoke and protects his family, but he lets his past rule him. After dealing with the loss of his girlfriend Sadie, he thought he could move on, but ghosts of the past resurface. It made him close off his heart to someone who could love him more profoundly than the ocean. What happens when a past love resurfaces, making him rethink his earlier decisions? Will he get a second chance at happiness he deserves or breaks another’s heart again? It takes help from some cousins and an unexpected situation to show Matthew that we can’t let the past rule our future. The heart wants what the heart wants. *The Gray Series spin-off series. Author: Johanna Delacruz Publisher:i&i Publisher
Oliver Harper is a unique person. He doesn’t care about frivolous ideas or someone in his life to complete him. He prefers a conversation that stimulates his mind. When Oliver starts college, his friends and cousins join him. The problem with this bunch is they’re crazy. Have you met the Gray/Harper family? They define bat shit crazy. Olivier will navigate his way through college with the help of his family and cousins. He’ll meet and fall in love with the most unexpected person who’ll stimulate his mind. College life is about to explode. Author: Johanna Delacruz Publisher:i&i Publisher
Growing up next to the Harper boys, Tori Williams learned to hold her own with them. Her brother Gabe is best friends with the boys, and Tori deals with the youngest Harper boy, Deacon. There’s a slight issue when Tori dates Bradley Wilson, whom the Harper boys can’t stand. Wanting to keep Tori from her idiot ex-boyfriend, Nate and Deacon develop a plan of their own. Elias Harper graduated college and returned home to work in construction. While Nate and Deacon scheme to keep Bradley from Tori, another issue arises when Elias takes an interest in a particular neighbor girl. What happens when four years change people? Will a love connection happen, or will someone get burned? With the Gray gene cemented in your DNA, all bets are off. Follow Elias as he discovers who held his heart while growing up. Author: Johanna Delacruz Publisher:i&i Publisher
Lex and Piper are ready to settle down and have a family of their own. After celebrating the wedding of Michael and Lyric, something significant happens to Lex and Piper, which turns the Gray family upside down. Will they be able to get through this, or will they falter? With the help of The Gray Brothers and The Gray Sisters, Lex and Piper will learn the meaning of what it is to be a Gray. Love and humor go a long way for this family. Follow Lex and Piper on their journey as we find out if they can find their way back to each other. Author: Johanna Delacruz Publisher:i&i Publisher
As the quints head into their third and final year of college, they are going to discover the thing that truly matters most - family. Follow them on their journey as the sisters deal with situations beyond their control. That is when the family becomes essential, especially the Gray Family. Now all they must do is get through the next two years with minor issues. Considering these are The Gray Sisters, expect the unexpected. With a little bit of help from the Brothers and a whole lot of humor, anything is possible. Author: Johanna Delacruz Publisher:i&i Publisher
I received a pornographic video. "Do you like this?" The man speaking in the video is my husband, Mark, whom I haven't seen for several months. He is naked, his shirt and pants scattered on the ground, thrusting forcefully on a woman whose face I can't see, her plump and round breasts bouncing vigorously. I can clearly hear the slapping sounds in the video, mixed with lustful moans and grunts. "Yes, yes, fuck me hard, baby," the woman screams ecstatically in response. "You naughty girl!" Mark stands up and flips her over, slapping her buttocks as he speaks. "Stick your ass up!" The woman giggles, turns around, sways her buttocks, and kneels on the bed. I feel like someone has poured a bucket of ice water on my head. It's bad enough that my husband is having an affair, but what's worse is that the other woman is my own sister, Bella. ************************************************************************************************************************ “I want to get a divorce, Mark,” I repeated myself in case he didn't hear me the first time—even though I knew he'd heard me clearly. He stared at me with a frown before answering coldly, "It's not up to you! I'm very busy, don't waste my time with such boring topics, or try to attract my attention!" The last thing I was going to do was argue or bicker with him. "I will have the lawyer send you the divorce agreement," was all I said, as calmly as I could muster. He didn't even say another word after that and just went through the door he'd been standing in front of, slamming it harshly behind him. My eyes lingered on the knob of the door a bit absentmindedly before I pulled the wedding ring off my finger and placed it on the table. I grabbed my suitcase, which I'd already had my things packed in and headed out of the house.
Three years ago, Cecilia was left battered and alone by the man she loved most, Alston, yet she bravely completed the wedding ceremony while pregnant. Three years later, although they were married, they grew apart over time. Cecilia focused on her career, no longer foolishly believing in love. But her transformation instantly threw Alston into a panic... And what is the secret from 11 years ago that Cecilia has always been reluctant to reveal? *** "She went to a law firm, met with a lawyer..." A lawyer? Is Cecilia suing someone? Who? Is there any recent litigation against the company? Alston suddenly chuckled coldly, "Who could she sue? I'm the CEO of this company. How come such a matter doesn't come to me first?" The assistant swallowed nervously, speaking softly, "Sir, there's no litigation against the company. She met with... a divorce lawyer."
Due to the plight of her family, Phoebe had no choice but to embark on the path of selling herself. In an accident, she had a tangled night with Alexander. Everything began to derail, and even if she fled to the ends of the earth, she would still be found by him and entangled... *** Phoebe screamed in frustration, "What do you want from me?" What was this supposed to be? He raised an eyebrow wickedly. "What do I want? You'll find out soon enough." With that, he hoisted her up and carried her back into the office. The door slammed shut with a kick, and he cleared the desk with a sweep of his arm before laying her down on it, his body pinning hers in place, completely trapping her in his grasp. Every cell in his body was telling him he wanted her. He wanted to claim her again. This time, there would be no escape for her-he wouldn't let her slip away. Never again. If he had suffered for five years, then this woman wouldn't get off easily either!
For three years, I waited to become the perfect Luna for my pack, to give the Alpha an heir. Three years of lies, of being the outsider in someone else's love story. Three years of grieving the loss of my baby and plotting revenge against the man who disfigured my face and ruined my womb. I had two choices: die at the hands of my own pack or escape and survive. I chose to hide and live. The Lycan King, Fenrir Lycros-the most bloodthirsty, ruthless ruler to ever lead the werewolves with an iron fist-made me his personal maid. It was the most dangerous role I could have, where even the slightest mistake could cost me my life. But no one from my past would think to look for me here. "Always be submissive, don't speak unless spoken to, don't listen, don't see anything, don't disturb the Lycan or you will die," were the simple rules I followed. I thought I was doing well-until one day, the King made me an offer I couldn't refuse. "Do you want me to save those people? Then give yourself to me tonight. Be my woman. I desire you, and I know you feel the same. Just once, Raven, only once..." But it wasn't just once. Passion turned into something deeper, something neither of us could deny. That cold, untamable man had somehow conquered my heart as well. However, when the past returned to haunt me and the truth about my birth came to light, I faced another choice: run from the Lycan King or wait for his mercy. "I'm sorry, but this time, I won't lose my pups again-not even for you, Fenrir Lycros."
When they were kids, Derek saved Norah's life. Years later, after Derek ended up in a vegetative state from a car crash, Norah married him without a second thought and even used her medical knowledge to heal him. For two years, Norah was devoted, seeking his affection and looking to settle her life-saving debt. But when Derek's first love returned, Norah, faced with divorce, didn't hesitate to sign. Despite being labeled as forsaken, few knew of her true talents. She was a race car driver, a famed designer, a genius hacker, and a renowned doctor. Regretting his decision, Derek begged for her forgiveness. Just then, a charming CEO intervened, embracing Norah and declaring, "Back off! She's my wife!" Taken aback, Norah blurted out, "What did you say?"
Sophia Drake braced herself for the worst when she was forced to move across the country in the middle of her junior year. Desperate to escape her shattered home as soon as she turns eighteen, her plans are disrupted by the enigmatic and captivating Ashford twins. Sophia can't fathom the intense attraction she feels for the twins and tries to avoid them at every turn. As she's thrust into an unfamiliar world, her past demons resurface, making her question her true identity. Will Sophia flee from her past's secrets, or will she embrace her destiny and take control of her future?