Page 36 of Crash and Burn

"You know it." Grant pulled me into his side with a squeeze, shooting a look at Evan as he did so. "Hey man, why don't I show you around the bar? Liz probably has stuff she needs to do to get ready."

Grant practically herded him away from me. Evan turned his head and tossed me a single wink.

My head was still reeling, astonished by how possessive Grant had acted.

Was he really that jealous?

I had a feeling our conversation at the diner was going to be an interesting one.

12

Grant sat at the table across from me, eyes down and focused on shoveling food into his mouth. I took a small bite of my own.

After work we'd ended up at the diner just like Grant had suggested. The staff had our usual order ready for us within minutes without having to ask.

Our conversation so far had been brief. Grant was preoccupied with something. I could practically hear the gears whirring away in his head. Every so often he would lift his eyes from the plate, part his lips, but always closed them and went back to his food, looking frustrated.

He was clearly struggling to say something. And I was pretty sure I knew what.

If Grant was jealous, it meant he had feelings for me. Were they feelings he would act on? If I said anything, would it scare him off?

I didn't want to push him. I was willing to give him the time and space he needed to work through whatever thoughts were running through his head.

"You want to order more pancakes?" he asked suddenly. "I'm craving carbs."

"Only if we order chocolate chip," I said. "I'm sick of blueberry."

"It's a chocolate chip kind of night, is it?" he asked.

"No," I said. "Just craving chocolate, is all."

I usually ate chocolate as a comfort food whenever I was upset about something. Grant always kept a stash of chocolate-covered raisins in the back for me.

At least the raisins are healthy,he would say.Raisins are dried grapes and grapes are a fruit.

I always laughed at his reasoning.

Grant flagged down the server and ordered. After she left we went silent.

I took another bite of food.

"Apparently Mason booked this new indie band to come and play soon," Grant spoke up. "I think they're calledBeyond The Lies. Have you ever heard of them?"

My eyes went wide.

"They're coming to Sin and Tonic?" I said, my voice rising in pitch. "For real?"

"You've heard of them?" Grant said.

I nodded my head emphatically.

"I hadn't," he said. "But Mason played me some of their songs. They're really good."

"They're amazing," I corrected him.

Grant cracked a smile.

"Are you having a fan girl moment over here?" he asked. "Should I warn the band to be careful around you? Are you going to try and grab a lock of their hair?"