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Chapter Fifty Four

Brooke

"So, nothing happened? They just ended up drinking in her room?" Grant asks, picking up a slice of pizza from the box on my lap.

"Yup." I nod, taking a bite of my slice and waiting to finish chewing before continuing my sentence. "She said they were both as shocked as we were to wake up next to each other."

"Well, that's disappointing," he mumbles, and I nod in agreement because we all thought maybe something would finally happen between them. We could all see there was a connection, apart from Gunnar and Cami.

We're in Grant's jeep, parked at the pizza place he took me to. After going back to his apartment this morning, he took a nap and then resurfaced to take me on our date. He showed up in smart pants and a shirt; his outfit looked great, but he still appeared awful and hungover. I made him change into comfy clothes and also changed our plans for the date.

So here we are, sitting with pizza boxes on our laps, sharing and chatting with no pressure from an actual date. After he told me he was nervous, I thought this would be a better idea.

"This is better than what I had planned," he smiles sheepishly at me.

"Oh? Where were we going?" I smirk, closing the box and turning toward him; he does the same.

"That fancy new Thai restaurant."

I can't help but laugh. "Grant, you looked hungover when you showed up. How would you have sat through a fancy dining experience?" I laugh, and he joins me.

"I would have done it for you," he says sweetly, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear and making me blush. He leans over and kisses me, and I deepen the kiss, having missed him over the last couple of days.

"I missed you," he whispers against my lips, as if he's read my mind.

"I missed you too," I whisper back, just as quietly, as I smile.

"Are we still having fun, Brooke?" Suddenly, I feel like someone doused me with cold water, and I pull back a little at the reminder that we haven't labelled this.

"Because I am." He grabs my hand before I get too far away and into my head. "I'm always having fun with you."

I nod, urging him to continue, my heart racing because I don't want to misinterpret this.

"This is something special to me. I know it started casually, but I need you to know that I am serious about us."

I'm grinning from ear to ear.

"Oh, thank God." I laugh, leaning forward and kissing him again, and he laughs against my lips. "I thought you were going to say it was still casual."

"How is this for casual?" he asks, cupping my face. "Will you be my girlfriend, Brooke?"

I cover his hands with mine and nod. He kisses me with quick pecks over and over, and I smile into every kiss he gives me. When he finally pulls back, he's practically over half the console, and I laugh as he repositions himself.

"It's going to be a busy couple of weeks for me." He sighs, running a hand through his hair. "I wanted to make sure we are on the same page."

I grab his hand and squeeze it. "We will make it work."

He brings my hand up to his lips and kisses it.

"You nervous?" I ask him, and he gives me a cheeky grin.

"Always around you." I playfully push his arm, signalling him to be serious. "Yeah, I am," he admits honestly.

"It's a lot of pressure, but the team’s got this." He nods, as if confirming it to himself. "My family's coming. You can meet my parents?"

"Do you want me to?" I ask timidly, and he smiles and nods, so I smile back. The thought of meeting his parents scares me, but I know if they're anything like him, then I'll be fine.

"Okay."