4 weeks until the setup
{Grayson's Office – Austin, TX}
(The phone rings as Grayson leans back in his chair, stretching his neck. It's late, the office quiet except for the occasional hum of the AC. His phone screen lights up with Daniel's name.)
Grayson: "Tell me you're not calling with another one of your brilliant matchmaking ideas."
{Daniel's Apartment – Boston, MA}
(Daniel lounges on his couch, beer in hand, staring out at the Boston skyline. He grins at Grayson's greeting.)
Daniel: "Damn, straight to the point. No 'hey, how are you?' No 'long time no talk?' Just straight-up hostility. Love that for me."
Grayson: "Danny, I know you. If you're calling this late, it's either girl trouble or a setup. I want no part of either."
Daniel: "Okay, first of all, rude. Second, I called for an entirely different reason, but now that you mention it, you really should put yourself out there again—"
Grayson: "Nope. Not happening. Ever."
Daniel: "Come on, man, you can't swear off women forever."
Grayson: "Watch me."
Daniel: "Oh, I believe you. You're the most stubborn bastard I know. But no dating? Not even casual?"
Grayson: "Believe it. I am officially, 100% retired from the dating world. I have spent the last decade dealing with Sasha's chaos, her lies, her mood swings, her everything. And now? Now she's gone. My life is peaceful. My family is peaceful. And I'm going to keep it that way."
Daniel: "No arguments here, man. I still don't know how you survived that long with her. I swear, she grabbed onto you the summer after high school and never let go."
Grayson: "Like a damn crab."
Daniel: "Like a giant, unhinged crab that pinched you for a decade straight."
Grayson: "Exactly."
Daniel: "At first, she was fun, exciting. Then suddenly, she's making up allergies, faking illnesses, and somehow always the victim. I knew she was bad news when she told everyone your mom 'never accepted her' after your mom threw her a damn birthday party."
Grayson: "Yeah, my mom bent over backward trying to make her feel welcome, and Sasha twisted it into some 'she never liked me' narrative. That was the moment my mom started keeping her distance."
Daniel: "And your sisters? I swear, they hated her from day one."
Grayson: "Hated is a strong word. Distrusted? That's more accurate. But now, they don't have to worry about her anymore, and neither do I. No more Sasha. No more bullshit. Just me, my family, and Dad's business."
Daniel: "Dude, she was a compulsive liar. Remember the shellfish thing?"
Grayson: "Oh my god. The shellfish thing."
Daniel: "She swore she was allergic, made a whole production out of it, told restaurants they couldn't even cook her food near shrimp. Then one night, we're at that seafood place and she's shoveling down a plate of shrimp scampi like it's her last meal."
Grayson: "And when we called her out, she said her 'body had adapted.' Like she just willed the allergy away."
Daniel: "Who does that?"
Grayson: "Sasha. Sasha does that."
Daniel: "And somehow, you married her."
Grayson: "Yeah, thanks for that reminder."
Daniel: "I just don't want you to forget the level of crazy we're talking about."
Grayson: "Oh, trust me. I will never forget."
Daniel: "So, what's the plan now? You're just gonna throw yourself into work and call it a life?"
Grayson: "Why not? Work doesn't lie. Work doesn't manipulate. Work doesn't fake a pregnancy just to keep me from breaking up with it."
Daniel: "Oof. Low blow, but fair."
Grayson: "I'm serious, man. I need a break. A real break. I have never been truly single. I went straight from high school to a ten-year-long disaster. I don't even know what being single feels like."
Daniel: "So what, you're just gonna be a monk now?"
Grayson: "Not a monk. I'll have fun. I'll go out. But no commitments. No stress. No attachments."
Daniel: "No women?"
Grayson: "I didn't say that. Just no relationships. I want my freedom for a while."
Daniel: "Fair enough. You deserve it. And honestly, your family probably needs you more than you need another headache."
Grayson: "Exactly. Mom needs help with things around the house, my sisters are doing their own thing but still need their big brother now and then, and Dad's business isn't gonna run itself. That's my priority now."
Daniel: "Well, damn. Look at you. Grown-up Mr Prez, all responsible and shit."
Grayson: "Don't get all sentimental on me. I'm still the same guy who will kick your ass at poker next Friday."
Daniel: "Oh, I'm counting on it. Speaking of which—before you get all worked up, this has nothing to do with you dating, but—"
Grayson: "Oh, here we go."
Daniel: "Chill. It's about me this time. I've been seeing someone."
Grayson: "Oh. Shit. You're serious, serious?"
Daniel: "Yeah. I'm actually thinking about moving in with her."
Grayson: "Damn. Who would've thought you'd settle down before me?"
Daniel: "Literally everyone."
Grayson: "Alright, fair. So, what's the deal?"
Daniel: "Well, here's the thing. She's great, and I really see a future here, but she's got this best friend—Olivia. They're practically attached at the hip. And if this relationship is gonna work, I need you to at least get along with her."
Grayson: "And there it is. Knew you had an angle."
Daniel: "Dude, I swear, I am not setting you up. I just don't want any weird tension. You know how it is—if the best friend hates the boyfriend, everything gets complicated."
Grayson: "That's your problem, not mine."
Daniel: "Come on, man. Just be civil. Maybe even—dare I say—friendly?"
Grayson: "No promises."
Daniel: "Look, Haley and Olivia take these best friend trips all the time. I was thinking, maybe, if we played our cards right, I could convince you to tag along for one. Just as a group thing, no pressure."
Grayson: "Why the hell would I go on a best friends' trip?"
Daniel: "Because you need to do something besides work and brood, Prez. Plus, think of it as a favor to me."
Grayson: "I'll think about it. But don't get your hopes up."
Daniel: "Wouldn't dream of it, buddy."