Nash and Maggie's offspring are off to college, along with Kaiden and Kain. As they navigate life away from home, they must deal with what happened after graduation too. Will the quints help Lyric deal with the tragedy while they deal with college life? Sometimes, you need a little help and guidance from The Gray Brothers themselves. Get ready because The Gray Sisters are taking college by storm. Author: Johanna Delacruz Publisher:i&i Publisher
A new beginning
Lyric
I sat in my room, staring out of the window. It was summer, and I spent most of it in my bedroom. After Daniel's funeral, I couldn't force myself to leave. Talking to Michael helped, but it wasn't enough. I felt so lost.
Tonight Lex planned to surprise Piper with a promise ring. The occasion should have been joyous, but it wasn't. I didn't want to leave, let alone celebrate. Uncle Noah and Dad couldn't persuade me to go. I wanted to stay at home.
Then I heard a knock on my door.
"Leave me alone, Dad! I'm not going!" I said, but the knocking continued. Finally, I answered my door. "Michael?"
"I heard someone wanted to be a hermit." He leaned against my door frame. I looked at him. He entered my room. "It's a pleasant room for a girl's room."
"What are you doing here?" I furrowed my eyebrows.
"I could ask you the same thing."
I sighed as I walked away from him. "I want to be alone."
"Why?"
I glance at him.
He walked towards me. "Why? Give me one excellent reason."
I stood there as he hammered at me with question after question until I snapped. "Because if I leave, then he's gone!" I looked at him as he looked at me, then I broke. "He left. Why did he leave? Why Michael? What did I do? Please tell me what I can do to bring him back?" I cried.
He wrapped his arms around me as I sobbed.
"You can't. Death is the end. I wish we could, but you can't. All you can do is keep going."
"But how? It's like I'm drowning." My body heaved with sobs.
"With help."
It was the first time I cried since Daniel died. I couldn't cry.
He held me and stroked my hair as I cried. Ma and Dad came to the door and watched us.
"Lyric, it'll get better. Take it minute by minute, hour by hour, and day by day. Some days will be good, and some will be bad. The good will outweigh the bad. It's grief, and it sucks."
I buried my head into his chest, wanting this pain to leave
We stayed there for a while. Having Michael here helped.
I stopped crying, and we sat on the floor with our backs against the bed.
"Do you feel better?" Michael asked me.
"That's the one hundred thousand dollar question."
"Lyric, it will get better. If you let me help you through this, I promise it will get better. Deal?"
He held out his hand. I sighed, placing mine in it. Then something weird happened. I felt a warmth I hadn't felt in a while. After Daniel, coldness surrounded me. It felt strange.
He released my hand and stood up. I followed suit.
"Now, why don't you get ready, and I'll meet you downstairs."
I nodded, and he left so I could change.
*****
"Well?" Maverick asked.
"She's changing. I can't guarantee she'll be happy," Michael said.
"It's a start," Dad said.
My door opened, and everyone watched as I came down the stairs in a summer dress. I wanted to get tonight over with and go back to my room.
We left and went to a place where Lex is giving Piper a promise ring. When we arrived, I sat alone. I didn't want to dampen the mood, but I also didn't want to bother.
Piper arrived, and Lex told her these beautiful romantic things. I wanted to gag. I sat there with a sour puss on my face as romance filled the air.
Then when Lex opened the box, revealing the ring, that was it for me. I got up and walked away. I know I should be happy, but I was anything but happy.
The restaurant was by water, so I watched the ripples. I took a seat, looking into the distance. The waves crashed upon the shore, calming me.
I sat there when I heard someone ask, "Beautiful, isn't it?"
"Are you following me?" I asked Michael.
"Nope. I thought I would go for a walk." He shrugged.
"Don't worry. I won't drown myself."
"Now, what would make me think that? You're a depressed individual dealing with a hell amount of grief."
I glanced at him as he smiled.
"You're strange."
"And you're exquisite for a sour puss." He made a face. "Look, I'm Lyric, who's a giant crab."
"Shut up!" I gave him a playful shove.
"Then lighten up. Yes, someone died, but you didn't. You're still alive. So, start living." Michael gave me a soft smile.
"You won't stop until I agree, will you?"
"Nope."
"Good luck because you'll need it."
"Hmm. I accept your challenge."
I stared at him as he stood up and walked away.
What the hell did that fool have planned? My guess is nothing good. What did I get myself into with Michael?
*****
Michael
I walked up.
"Well?" Major asked.
"Lyric thinks she crawled into that grave with Daniel, but I won't let her. She deserves to live, love, and laugh again," I said.
"What do you have planned?" Maverick asked me.
"I'll show her how to live again because she isn't living. She exists. She should enjoy her life, not let life pass her by. Daniel may have had problems, but she doesn't deserve to deal with them." I walked away.
Major looked at Maverick. "That isn't good."
"Nope," Maverick said as he looked back at him. "Michael doesn't like when someone else gets dragged down by another. Now excuse me. I have a temperamental person to deal with in the form of Larkin."
"Good luck, brother." Major chuckled.
Maverick went to find Larkin. No one understood what was going on with those two.
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
When they met again, Jason cast aside his paranoia and pride, warmly embracing Chelsey. "Please, come back to me?" For three years, she had been his secretary by day and his companion by night. Chelsey had always complied with his requests, like an obedient pet. However, when Jason declared his plans to marry another, she chose to stop loving him and to let go. But life took unexpected turns. His unyielding pursuit, her pregnancy, and her mother's greed gradually pushed her to the brink. Eventually, she endured tremendous suffering. Five years later, when she returned, she was no longer the woman she once was. Yet he had spiraled into five years of chaos.
After being kicked out of her home, Harlee learned she wasn't the biological daughter of her family. Rumors had it that her impoverished biological family favored sons and planned to profit from her return. Unexpectedly, her real father was a zillionaire, catapulting her into immense wealth and making her the most cherished member of the family. While they anticipated her disgrace, Harlee secretly held design patents worth billions. Celebrated for her brilliance, she was invited to mentor in a national astronomy group, drew interest from wealthy suitors, and caught the eye of a mysterious figure, ascending to legendary status.
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?
"Love is blind!" Lucinda abandoned her beautiful and comfortable life because of a man. She married him and slaved off for him for three long years. One day, the scales finally fell off her eyes. She realized that all her efforts were in vain. Her husband, Nathaniel still treated her like shit. All he cared about was his lover. "Enough is enough! I quit wasting my years with an ungrateful man!" Lucinda's heart was shattered into many pieces, but she summoned up the courage to ask for a divorce. The news caused a stir online! A filthy rich young woman recently got divorced? She was a good catch! Countless CEOs and handsome young men immediately swarmed to her like bees to honey! Nathaniel couldn't take it anymore. He held a press conference and begged with teary eyes, "I love you, Lucinda. I can't live without you. Please come back to me." Would Lucinda give him a second chance? Read to find out!
Belinda thought after divorce, they would part ways for good - he could live his life on his own terms, while she could indulge in the rest of hers. However, fate had other plans in store. "My darling, I was wrong. Would you please come back to me?" The man, whom she once loved deeply, lowered his once proud head humbly. "I beg you to return to me." Belinda coldly pushed away the bouquet of flowers he had offered her and coolly replied, "It's too late. The bridge has been burned, and the ashes have long since scattered to the wind!"
"It was just one night stand, and now I'm pregnant with triplets? Gosh!" Josephine Jade never thought that she would have to run away from her own family while pregnant. She was alone, without money, without connections, with three fetuses in her stomach. How can she survive? However, Josephine couldn't give up now, until she managed to reclaim her arbitrarily seized property and get back at everyone who tried to get rid of her. A sick child, a past crush that comes back, a mysterious eccentric man, and a family that hates her, will weave together the journey of Josephine Jade's new life. "You have no right to separate me from my children, you bastard! I will survive and you will submit to me. Just watch!"