Page 69 of Crash and Burn
“And I want to be there for you,” I said. “Always.”
He put his arm around my waist and tugged me close to his side until my head was tucked under his chin. He held me as we watched the sun rise over the city. I snuggled down into his chest, soaking in his warmth.
I couldn't help but think back to what Grant and I had talked about earlier, when we'd talked of love and affection. Grant had said he believed that the words were important, that they shouldn't be used lightly. I'd said actions spoke louder than words.
Even though he'd never said the words, Grant had shown me so much love through his actions. For me, that was proof enough.
I just knew Grant loved me as much as I loved him.
23
It was a lazy morning Monday. Grant and I woke up together tangled in the bedsheets as the sun beamed through the windows of my bedroom. I'd opened my eyes to find him already awake and watching me with a soft smile on his face.
Grant and I had taken to staying over at each other's apartments on alternating nights. Grant preferred staying over at my place because it meant he got to hang out with Mittens. I preferred his place for the exact opposite reason.
Luckily this morning I hadn't had to deal with Mittens and her tuna breath.
"Are you sure you don't want any more eggs?" Grant asked from the kitchen.
I looked up from where I'd been bowed over my sewing machine in intense concentration.
"You've stuffed me full of too much food already," I told him. "I don't think I can eat another bite."
Grant had been sweet enough to make me breakfast while I kept my head down and focused on my work. I had received another email from Carling with further instructions on our joint project and I was working fast to have more preliminary designs to show him for our next meeting. I was almost done with the complete outfit and only needed to put the finishing touches on it. Luckily we didn’t have to work today so I had time.
Grant left the kitchen with two cups of coffee and set one down on the corner of my sewing desk.
"I figured you should have some caffeine to keep you going while you work," Grant said.
I gave him a grateful look and immediately chugged half the cup, nearly scalding my tongue.
"You're a lifesaver," I told him.
Grant sipped at his coffee as he watched me work. I was nearly frantic to finish this piece but I also wanted to take my time to perfect the final few details.
“Done!” I snipped off the last pieces of stray thread and held out the dress. "What do you think of this one?" I asked Grant.
"It's great," he said with an approving nod. "Why don't you put it on and I can take a few pictures of it with you as the model."
"You're always trying to get me into clothes when most guys would be trying to get me out of them," I teased as I shimmied out of my pajama pants and sleeping t-shirt so I could tug the dress down over my head.
"How does it look?" I asked Grant nervously.
He took his index finger and twirled, gesturing for me to give him a three-sixty view. I turned around in a slow circle and when I was facing him again he had his phone out to snap a surprise photo.
"I'm never going to look good in those photos if you take them when I'm not ready," I told him.
"But you look adorable with that wide-eyed, deer-in-the-headlights look." Grant put down his phone and his coffee cup, and hooked an arm around my waist to pull me in for a peck on the lips. It was soft and sweet, a lazy morning kiss.
I wrapped my arms around his neck and pressed against him. He put a hand on the small of my back. That soft kiss threatened to turn into something more heated when my phone rang. We both groaned, but pulled apart. I swiped the phone from my desk and answered it.
"Hello Elizabeth," my mom said.
I hated to admit it but my heart sunk a little at hearing my mother's voice. That was horrible, wasn't it? But I knew before she even said more than two words of greeting what this phone call was going to be about.
"Have you put any more thought into coming over for dinner?" she asked.
"What dinner is that?" I said.
