Chapter 13
“You should have given me more notice before volunteering me for a double date in two hours.”
Ashley ignored me and began pulling dresses I had not worn since college.
“Two hours is plenty of time for me to make us look hot!”
She pulled out a short white dress from my closet and shoes that undoubtedly would make my feet hurt when I got home.
“I’m pretty sure this is way too much for us just going to have a drink at your work.” Ashley put on her own outfit stolen from my closet and zipped the back of her red dress.
“Well, you never get out of your typical first-grade teacher outfit. Show Grant that you can wear something other than jeans and a cardigan.”
I rolled my eyes, “I don’t only wear cardigans.” My arms were crossed, and I was sure I looked like one of my students when they were refusing nap time.
“Sure, but your abundance of stripes and overalls don’t exactly scream ‘let’s get down tonight.’ I scoffed at her, offended by her disgracing my wardrobe.
“Excuse me, overalls can be sexy.”
She raised her hands in defense and gave up on the attempt to neutralize my closet. Ashley fixed the rest of my hair and pushed me out the door and into her car. The drive to the bar is filled with her asking me questions about Grant and ‘everything I know about Beau.’
“I don’t need intricate details about him. Just give me a little something.” I rolled my eyes and put the car in park, “I promise you know more about him than I do by now.”
We made our way into the bar and took a seat near the back. Walking through the establishment reminded me of the night spent talking with Grant. I passed by the couch where we almost had our first kiss, and I felt my neck and ears getting hot. I thought of him sitting so close to me and how the dimmed lights did favors for his tan skin. I remembered his hands the most; every crease in his long fingers, how his veins would be more prominent when he flexed, the way he would pop his strong knuckles with one hand. I could daydream about those hands for hours.
Wait, am I drooling?
I snapped out of my trance and pulled out a stool next to Ashley. I climbed up to the bar height and let my feet dangle, swinging them leisurely.
Ashley ordered her favorite beer on draft, but not without first ranting about why draft beer is good for your bones because it has a substantial amount of silicon in it. And I ordered the best sugar-free vanilla Coke that the world could offer: in a can, with a cup of ice to pour it into. But not just any ice; it was the chewy ice that makes you wish you were in the hospital just so you can have an unlimited amount of it.
I must have smiled when I received my favorite drink because Ashley turned to me and pointed at the cup in front of me.
“You have a problem.”
“It is sugar-free, that means it isn’t bad for me.” I shrugged back at her.
She rolled her eyes and proceeded to tell me all of the facts about artificial sweeteners, but I blocked her out by listening to the bassy music playing in the speakers above us.
Thankfully, she stopped her diabetes rant as we watched Beau and Grant walk in. Suddenly all the air in the room feels like it had been sucked out. Every woman in the bar turned their way, but neither of them paid any attention to them. Their eyes focused on Ashley and I. Beau waved over to us and flashed us his bright smile, Grant’s face lifted up in an almost grin when we made eye contact. They made their way over to us and Beau took a seat on the barstool next to Ashley, forcing Grant to grab the chair beside me.
Ashley looked up at Beau and smiled; she seemed almost shy tonight. It wasn’t something I was used to, and I had a feeling it was going to be entertaining to watch her get flustered over a man, for once.
Both men ordered their own beer and Ashley turned her head away from mine toward Beau, where I could no longer hear her.
I took a glance up at Grant, who was already looking my way and showing me my favorite dimple. He glanced down at my dress and back up to my face. He was the first to speak.
“Look at you, not dressed in polka dots or a shirt with puns on it.”
I playfully pushed his upper arm, pretending I didn’t notice how it flexed underneath my hand.
“You and Ashley both always got something to say about my wardrobe, huh?”
He grinned down at me, “I never said I didn’t like it.” Butterflies were fluttering in my stomach and I took a sip of my drink in hopes of calming them down.
Grant grabbed his beer and leaned back into his seat, holding a dark gaze. If I were anyone else in this bar I would be terrified to look twice at the man. I couldn’t imagine anyone testing him, his intimidating, dark eyes made his face look harsh and unapproachable. But, upon meeting him, he was so much more than that. He seemed like the type of man to not even know what romance is, and yet there he was; bringing me dinner, fixing my oven, smiling when I entered the room. This crush was getting dangerously bigger the more time I spent with him.
Grant sat next to me, quietly talking with me and every now and then would let out a small grin before quickly taking it away. I made a mental note to count as many of those grins as possible.