I sent Greyson a quick text when it looked like he was running a few minutes late.
Grey: Sorry, Mia. I lost track of time. I'm on my way.
I decided to keep myself busy until then. I helped one of the guys clean off the tables and pick up the dirty dishes, etc. About twenty minutes later, I heard a tap on the glass as I was putting fresh flowers into a vase at one of the tables.
I looked up and saw Grey with his pointer finger on the glass and a huge grin spreading across his face.
He was so freaking cute.
I mirrored his smile and waved.
Grey stood back from the glass, and I watched him mouth the words, "I missed you."
My heart started galloping in my chest.
I never blushed so fast in my life. "Stop!" I said out loud in between my light laughter. I knew he couldn't hear me, but he could read my lips.
Looking smug, he shook his head. I hadn't expected any other response from him.
I held up one finger and mouthed, "One second." He gave me a single nod. I watched him walk to the passenger door of the truck and leaned up against it with his hands in his pockets.
I ran to clock out then told everyone goodbye.
When I stepped outside, I saw Grey open his arms wide for me, and I ran right into them, letting the familiar warmth comfort every inch of me.
"You hungry?" Grey asked, nuzzling my neck.
"Hmm." I nodded against his chest, inhaling his scent like the total weirdo I was.
"Okay, let me take you out," he replied smoothly.
I pulled away slightly to peer up at him. "Is this a date?" I asked in feigned shock, whispering the words like it's supposed to be a secret between the two of us.
Grey's face broke out into a handsome grin. "Just dinner, sweetheart. I want our first official date to be more special than this," he teased.
I quirked a brow. "So what you're saying is you already have something planned?"
With a chuckle, Grey leaned in to place a tender kiss on my forehead. "Yeah, I do," he confirmed.
"What is it?" I tugged on his arm excitedly.
With one arm against my lower back, he drew me into him. I felt his lips gently brush my cheek, and goosebumps exploded all over my body, sending shivers up and down my spine as he brought his mouth to my ear. "I'm so not telling you anything," he whispered before pulling away.
I pouted. "Tease," I mumbled.
Grey barked out a laugh then took a step back to open the car door for me. "It's called a surprise for a reason." He gestured for me to go inside.
"I hate surprises," I grumbled, letting the lie roll off my tongue while I climbed in.
Grey stood next to me, resting his hand on top of the roof. "You love my surprises," he countered with a wink.
I folded my lips into a thin line, successfully restraining myself from smiling.
I couldn't deny it.
I lived for his surprises.
***
Greyson took me to this seafood place on the outskirts of town. One of those restaurants he looked up before we moved here said he wanted us to check out.
When I had picked up the menu, Grey said, "Order whatever you want." Four of my favorite words.
This place wasn't overly pricey, so Grey told me to order both when I had trouble deciding between the fish and chips or the fried shrimp with fries. I regretted nothing, and I ate almost everything. Grey had ordered shrimp scampi with a side of broccoli. I tried a bite, and I felt like my taste buds had been sent to heaven.
During dinner, Grey told me about his bandmates and the practice. I could tell he really liked them about how animatedly he described them. It was pretty adorable. There might be a bromance in the making yet.
Grey also mentioned that they have a gig at that same bar in a few days, and he wanted me to come to support them and meet the guys. Plus, there was this girl named Mari, a friend of theirs, that he thought was cool and that we would get along.
When Grey asked about my day, I kept it simple. I briefly mentioned catching up with my dad but conveniently left out the parts about my mom. Then I told him about work and that little girl I met. She kept popping up in my mind, on and off. It was the strangest thing. He had asked if I had gotten her name, and I was upset when I realized I didn't think to ask. We skipped introductions, launched into a conversation, then a quick tutor session. Then in the blink of an eye, she was racing out of there.
"Maybe next time," Grey said. Always the optimist, that one.
Back at home, I kicked my shoes off at the door and braced one hand against the wall as I massaged my foot.
"Does it still hurt?" Grey asked with concern before swooping in behind me to lift me. We sat on the couch with me in his lap.
I watched him slip my socks off one by one before stuffing them into each other and putting them off to the side.
Softly, Grey picked up my semi-injured foot from yesterday, examining it.
"I'm fine," I said, finally answering his question. "My feet were just pulsating earlier because I did more walking today than yesterday."
He nodded with understanding. He pulled me up against him, cradling me in his arms, and instinctively, my head landed on his shoulder as he rested his head on mine.
There was a comfortable silence between us for a little while until I opened my mouth.
"Greyson?" I asked softly.
"Hmmm?"
"Thanks."
Grey laughed briefly, lifting his head. I angled mine up to look up at him. "For what exactly?" he asked, slightly amused but more confused than anything.
There was a list of things I could have said, but I went with, "For being you." I thought that covered all the bases.
He smirked, and I earned myself a forehead kiss.
"But if you had to be specific..." Greyson urged me to elaborate
I giggled. "How about the fact that you told Freya to take it easy on me yesterday."
"Oh..." Grey smiled a little, hanging his head bashfully.
I couldn't help but smile too. "That was very sweet of you."
"I guess. But if someone hadn't been stubborn in the first place because she was trying to avoid me and her feelings for me, then I wouldn't have felt the need to step in." Grey tilted his head to the side. I could only imagine the following few words that would be coming out of his mouth.
Grey made a scene out of dramatically clearing his throat, "Now that we're dating, I think you can come clean about all of those times you failed to avoid me because you didn't want to own up to your feelings. Chicken." His Caribbean blue eyes twinkled with humor.
"Greyson." I caressed his face with one hand, and he leaned into my touch. "I have no idea what you're talking about," I told him, keeping my face as neutral as possible.
The twinkle in his eyes faded. His face became kind of like that emoji with the two straight lines for eyes and the single straight line for the mouth.
I bit my bottom lip, effectively holding back the laughter bubbling up inside me. Grey snickered. As an apology for messing with him, I leaned in to kiss his cheek, but he dodged it.
Rude.
But that didn't dissuade me. I decided he was going to get one anyway. I brought my other hand to his face and pulled his forehead down to my lips, and Grey just let me.
A few seconds later, I admitted that he was right and that I was being stubborn.
Grey was all too happy to hear it. His smirk made a comeback.
"Yeah yeah, whatever. Moving on," I rolled my eyes.
His grin grew wider. He was relishing the moment.
"AGH!" I'm leaving." I hopped out of his lap, and he didn't make a move to stop me.
"I'm going in the shower," I told him over my shoulder.
"Okay," Grey replied. I didn't need to turn back to know that he was still smiling. I could hear it in his voice.