Page 35 of The Boyfriend Boycott
“No, Grady. It’s not okay. You made plans before dinner and now…”
“I made plans before I showed up and found you hurt and upset. Then my priorities changed. We can skip out on dinner if you want.” Grady’s eyes are earnest, and I’m trying to rearrange my fucked-up mind to parse how someone would makemeapriority.
But I don’t have time to try and make sense of it right now. I dig around in the sheets and locate my phone. I have a notification from Eleanor.
ELEANOR
Looking forward to seeing you later!
Ugh. I not only forgot about the fact that I had agreed on a date—a fake date—with Grady, but I also forgot about the fact that we were supposed to go to dinner with Eleanor and her husband. Standing up a date is one thing, even though standing up Grady feels different somehow, but missing a work commitment is something I never do. I check the time again. Thirty minutes until I told Eleanor that I would be at her house.
“No, I can’t stand up Eleanor. She’s been so kind to me, and so excited about my work here. I have a presentation prepared for her and everything.” I rapidly type out a response, letting her know we’ll be there soon. “And I owe you that date.”
I lean down and give Grady a peck on the cheek, before climbing over him and out of bed to get myself cleaned up and ready to go out. I’m running a brush through my scarlet hair, letting it fall around my shoulders instead of in my usual messy bun, when Grady gets up and goes to wait for me outside.
The dress he bought me is hanging in the small cupboard behind the driver’s seat of the van, and I hesitate before pulling it out. He bought me this dress to wear specifically for this occasion, and although I was adamant that this isn’t a real date, I find myself wanting to wear the dress anyway. Actually, I find myself liking the idea of going on a date with Grady.I almost feel … giddy.
I slip the dress on, and the look on his face when I climb down out of the van is the same as the one when he first saw me in that change room. A mix of awe and desire claims his features before he clears his throat and schools them back into submission. He’s leaning against the passenger side of the car and crossing his arms over his chest, tattooed biceps flexing.
“I don’t have big red splotches all over my face from crying, do I?” I ask, approaching him where he waits for me.
“No. Not at all. You are breathtaking.” I lean my body against his and he unravels his arms to bring them to the sides of my waist. He leans down and plants a kiss on my mouth. “Hi,” he whispers, resting his forehead softly against mine.
“Hi,” I whisper back. Butterflies careen around inside my gut. I’m going on a date with Grady. “You didn’t bring the bike,” I point out.
“I didn’t think you’d want to show up to Eleanor’s with windblown hair.”
“Smart man.” The corner of my mouth tilts up, thinking about Grady considering me, considering my wants and needs, and making accommodations for them.Prioritizingme.
He pulls away from me, only to open the passenger side of the car, and stands back to let me climb in.
I’m going on a date with Grady.
CHAPTER 15
GRADY
“No overt displays of affection, please,”Spencer says out the side of her mouth as I knock on the front door that belongs to Eleanor and Marko. I have to watch where I knock to avoid the large, brightly-coloured wreath that’s adorning the door of the craftsman-style home. The flowers strategically match the ones in the planter on the stoop. “This is a work dinner for me.”
“Whatever you say,dear,” I tease. At this point, I’m used to Spencer telling me what to do, and it’s not lost on me that we sound like an old married couple. “I’ll be on my best behaviour, I promise.”
The door opens and reveals Eleanor standing on the other side, a wide smile on her face. She’s a petite woman and fit for her age. Tonight, she’s wearing a classy navy shift dress, and a string of pearls around her neck to match the ones dangling from her ears.
“Spencer and Grady, what a treat it is to see you here together.” She holds her arms out towards us and Spencer leans in for a hug. Eleanor’s husband, Marko, appears from around the corner, followed by a large, loping black-and-white Great Dane. He nuzzles up to Spencer, leaving a streak of drool along the side of her hip.
“Wallace,no. Not everybody wants to be greeted with your slobber,” Eleanor scolds, sending him back into the living room.
“It’s okay, really,” Spencer says, wiping her hand down her dress to smooth it out. “I love dogs. Wallace is cute.”
Marko approaches me with an outstretched hand, and I extend mine back. Of course, I already know Marko and Eleanor. They were long-time friends of my parents, and Eleanor is still close with Winnie. Though having dinner in their home, with Spencer, is like meeting them in a whole new capacity. One I know they aren’t used to seeing me in, either.
We get the mandatory greetings out of the way and follow them through the entryway and into their large open-concept kitchen and living space. The home is cozy, with warm dim lighting and candles already lit on the dining table. It’s a different sort of feel from my place, more farmhouse than mid-century modern, but the effect is lived in, in a way that I like.
“Can I get anyone anything to drink?” Eleanor inquires. Spencer doesn’t hesitate to ask for a glass of red wine, and I ask Marko if he has a cold beer. He gets one out of the fridge and proceeds to pour it into an already-chilled glass.
“You have beautiful taste, Eleanor,” I say, looking around the room as I take the glass from Marko. “I can’t believe that I’ve never actually seen the inside of your place before tonight.”
“You never were one to stop in for a visit, which you could have done anytime you know. You don’t have to stay hidden away in that old house of yours.” Her tone isn’t accusing, just the opposite. Eleanor doesn’t have it in her.
