Now that Parker has found love and graduated from high school, he's about to embark on another chapter along with big brother Payton when they attend college. The only thing is Payton's searching for the happiness of his own. What happens when Payton unexpectedly meets the one girl impervious to his charms? Will he chase after love, or will he give up? As they say, let the games begin. Follow Payton on his own journey to finding love. It's going to take some help from some extraordinary brothers. Author: Johanna Delacruz Publisher:i&i Publisher
A new chapter
Payton
The summer flew by, and we're on our way to college. I must admit that it felt nerve-wracking, taking this leap. It's not like I didn't have any direction in my life. That is a lie. I didn't have a clue about my life.
I'm the oldest, yet I can't figure my life out at all. Then some girl tried to talk to me. She seemed sweet and all. How the hell do I chat it up with someone when I'm clueless about my life. I'm a freaking Gray and suck at life.
"Are you going to sit in the car all day, or were you planning on coming in, Payton?" Parker asked me.
"I figure if I sit here long enough, I will wake up and realize this is all a dream," I told him as he looked at me. Selena said nothing but giggle.
"Look, you finally figured out what you want to do with your life. Get the hell out of the car before I drag you out," he told me as I rolled my eyes.
I finally got out of the car and followed Parker and Selena into our parents' rental house. We walked in, and it's okay, nothing fancy. We got settled and checked out the town. I should since I didn't have a clue what the town offered.
I walked around and saw a bunch of people doing the same. I also checked my phone to see if there were any messages, and sure enough, there is a message from that one reader. I responded to them, and in doing so, I wasn't watching where I'm going and bumped into someone. I dropped my phone as they lost their books.
I picked up my phone, then helped them.
"Sorry about that," I mentioned as I handed them a book. I looked up and noticed a girl. She seemed familiar to me.
"Do you always make a habit of bumping into people?" She asked as I looked at her.
"It was an accident," I said.
"If you spent less time on your phone and paid more attention, this wouldn't happen," she replied. I looked at her.
Before I said anything else, she walked away. What the hell was that? Most girls would giggle and flirt. This girl is a bitch.
I decided no girl would cop an attitude with me after I apologized to her. I ran after her and stopped her. She looked at me with annoyance.
"Do you make it a habit of being a bitch to someone when they apologize to you?" I asked her.
"And who are you? You're God's gift to women. News flash, buddy. Because you apologize means nothing," she countered.
I looked at her as she looked at me, unimpressed.
"No one says you have to be rude," I told her.
"You should know about rudeness. You have no issue being rude to others," the girl retorted. I looked at her like she was high.
"I am not rude to people," I said.
"Oh?" She said as she glared at me.
"Yeah," I replied.
I didn't know who this girl was and why she acted this way, but she irritated the piss out of me. She stepped towards me.
"I wouldn't be so sure of that, Payton," she said, using my name. I looked at her, then realized it was Josie.
"Josie?" I said as I looked at her, surprised.
"Wow, now you finally see me, and now I'm gone," she said as she turned and walked away, leaving me stunned. She looks different from the last time I saw her, which was when Parker and Selena graduated. Damn, the summer changes people.
Josie
I can't believe it worked. The person advising me about Payton said I should try a new tactic to get his attention, and it worked. Yet, it took me to change my look and acting unimpressed to do so. Thanks to Selena for helping me, he finally realizes who I am. The big question was, did I want him to notice me now?
I walked back to my dorm room and went inside to find Britt still unpacking.
"You're not done yet?" I asked her.
She sighed, "Patton called, so I talked to him."
"You don't sound happy," I mentioned.
"Well, he's there, and I'm here. We got close over the summer. What if he finds another girl before anything else happens?" She asked me.
"From what you told me, he doesn't strike me as the person who takes an interest in someone that easy," I reminded her.
She looked at me, confused. But then again, Britt worried nothing would happen before it even started.
"How were you getting your books?" She asked.
"I ran into Payton. We exchanged words. I walked away," I said as her expression changed to surprise.
"Wait. What?" Britt asked.
"Yeah, he apologized and talk to me. I realized it was because I didn't give him the time of day," I told her as her mouth dropped open.
"Isn't that what you've wanted, for him to notice you?" She asked me.
I thought about it, then said, "I did, but not anymore. I don't want someone that notices me after I change my look. I want a guy to see me for me, and he never did that. Payton may have other girls falling at his feet, but I'm not that girl anymore. I deserve someone who always sees me, with or without makeup and clothes."
She looked at me and knew how I felt. For years, I pined for Payton Gray, and he couldn't care less. Now, it was time to stop pining and find someone who saw me. I deserved that and more. It was time for a new Chapter in my life.
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
Lucia Balstone thought she had chosen the right man to spend the rest of her life with, but he was the one who ended her life. Their ten-year marriage seemed like a joke when her husband stabbed her with a dagger. Fortunately, God is never blind to people's tears. Lucia got a second chance. She was reborn at the age of 22, before all the terrible things had happened. This time, she was determined to avenge herself and let those who hurt her pay! She made an elaborate list of her goals, and the first thing on her list was to marry her ex-husband's enemy, Alonso Callen!
For three years, Shane and Yvonne were wed, sharing heated nights, while his devotion clung to his ex. Yvonne strove to be a dutiful wife, yet their marriage felt hollow, built on desire rather than real warmth. All changed when she became pregnant, only for Shane to thrust her onto the operating table, warning, “Either you or the baby survives!” Broken by his cruelty, she vanished in grief and later returned, radiantly accomplished, leaving everyone awestruck. Haunted by remorse, Shane begged for another chance, but Yvonne only smiled and replied, “I’m sorry, men no longer interest me.”
Rena got into an entanglement with a big shot when she was drunk one night. She needed Waylen's help while he was drawn to her youthful beauty. As such, what was supposed to be a one-night stand progressed into something serious. All was well until Rena discovered that Waylen's heart belonged to another woman. When his first love returned, he stopped coming home, leaving Rena all alone for many nights. She put up with it until she received a check and farewell note one day. Contrary to how Waylen expected her to react, Rena had a smile on her face as she bid him farewell. "It was fun while it lasted, Waylen. May our paths never cross. Have a nice life." But as fate would have it, their paths crossed again. This time, Rena had another man by her side. Waylen's eyes burned with jealousy. He spat, "How the hell did you move on? I thought you loved only me!" "Keyword, loved!" Rena flipped her hair back and retorted, "There are plenty of fish in the sea, Waylen. Besides, you were the one who asked for a breakup. Now, if you want to date me, you have to wait in line." The next day, Rena received a credit alert of billions and a diamond ring. Waylen appeared again, got down on one knee, and uttered, "May I cut in line, Rena? I still want you."
Kallie, a mute who had been ignored by her husband for five years since their wedding, also suffered the loss of her pregnancy due to her cruel mother-in-law. After the divorce, she learned that her ex-husband had quickly gotten engaged to the woman he truly loved. Holding her slightly rounded belly, she realized that he had never really cared for her. Determined, she left him behind, treating him as a stranger. Yet, after she left, he scoured the globe in search of her. When their paths crossed once more, Kallie had already found new happiness. For the first time, he pleaded humbly, "Please don't leave me..." But Kallie's response was firm and dismissive, cutting through any lingering ties. "Get lost!"
Elisa watched as the most important people in her life showered the evil imposter-The fake heiress, with love. Elisa, the lost daughter of one of the most wealthiest family was found 18 years later and was brought back to her rightful home. However, someone had already taken her place. A fake heiress, the pampered little princess. Her coy acting and innocent façade made Elisa's real mother love her more than Elisa, her real daughter. That made Elisa, though, the true daughter end up as an adopted child. "Elisa, could you try not to appear in front of her too much as it could trigger her insecurities." Her parents had told her because of the fake heiress. "Elisa, You've taken everything away from her. Why can't you give her a little more?" Her fiancé had ordered her. Because of an unfortunate accident plotted by Isabelle-The fake heiress, Elisa was sent to prison and her family cut ties with her without a second thought. Four years, after much torture which led to her being crippled and blind on one eye, she was released, but got hit by a truck. While laying on the pool of her blood, she wanted to question, Why? Why had they all treated her so cruelly, while they love Isabelle unconditionally? She badly wanted to rip off Isabelle's mask of innocence, to reveal the fake, manipulative woman beneath. She was full of hatred. But after her death, she woke up back to when she was 18 years like all that happened were all nightmare. She was elated. She was reborn to re-live all that had happened in her last life, but now, her mission was to reveal mask beneath that woman and make everyone that made her suffer in her past life pay. It was her time for revenge! And definitely, she won't mess this up!
Elin spent twenty years deeply loving her husband, finally marrying him just as she'd always dreamed. But reality shattered her illusions—he wasn't the man she believed. Instead, he callously destroyed her family, crushing her heart beyond repair. At her lowest point, Ruben, equally betrayed that night, approached her steadily. "Marry me, Elin. I'll help you take revenge." Yet, after their wedding, she quickly discovered he was dangerously unpredictable. "I made a mistake. Let's divorce..." Ruben slid his arm possessively around her waist, whispering a chilling promise, "Only in death."