Wrong Babysitter
1312 Words
The displeasure on Grant's face is evident. "How conceded would you feel if I said I wasn't planning on kissing you?"
I can't see them, but my cheeks are no doubt fire engine red. "Were you? Trying to kiss me that is."
His eyes light up with mischief. "Yeah, someone has to get this whole Aiden thing out of your head before you get hurt. I just thought maybe I could."
My brain is too foggy to decipher what he means so I don't even try. "It's called a crush for a reason; this isn't my first rodeo you know?"
The corners of his lips curl up, exposing the dimple near his left cheek. "I'm not going to kiss you, Rinnie. That would be stupid of me and I'd like to think that I'm not stupid."
"Stupid? Interesting word choice. I was thinking more like unnecessary. I don't need to be protected from Aiden, he's harmless."
Grant shrugs and yawns. "Fine, it was unnecessarily stupid. That sound good? Where was Aiden's date by the way? I can only imagine how he managed to break this one." The underlying challenge in his voice is evident.
"No, not good. Let's just call it a bad idea and leave it at that." I can't answer his question, he'd for sure use that to say he was right. He wasn't right, Aiden wasn't that bad. He was misunderstood. "You'll have to ask Aiden about that one."
He takes large steps in my direction, towering over me. "A bad idea implies that it wouldn't have been effective, so let's not call it that. I can assure you that if I kissed you, you'd forget all about Aiden. I'm just not sure I can handle another girl obsessing over me." He grins, then a serious look crosses his face. "I will ask him. I want to add to my list of girls who want to kill Aiden."
An unavoidable wave of exhaustion passes over me. I can no longer argue anymore, I forfeit to sleep. "Can we please just pretend this conversation didn't happen? I need to refuel."
He says nothing but walks towards me in slow, steady steps. I look up at him when he reaches me, feeling a small flutter in my chest. Grant doesn't seem to notice how close he is, he looks as if it's the most normal thing in the world for him to invade my space. I wonder how one person can be so confident all the time. I stumble back a little, causing him to groan and lift me into his arms. He carries me into my bedroom with ease and sits me carefully on my bed as if I were made of glass and he is afraid to break me. My eyes stay locked on his face, analyzing his features. I've never been this close to him before and it was unlikely I would be this close to him again, so I soak it in. I guess most girls would find him really attractive; dreamy light blue eyes, impossibly white teeth, strong arms, maybe even abs under his tight-fighting shirt. He's no Aiden, but I can see the appeal for sure. He's pretty.
Grant looks at me quizzically, making me question how long I'd been staring at him. "Why are you staring at me like that?"
I break eye contact, embarrassed. "You should get a girlfriend."
He snickers. "Oh yeah? Why is that?"
"You're pretty."
More snickering as he tucks me in tightly. "I'm...pretty?"
"Yeah, I think there are a lot of girls who would want to date you."
He sits on the edge of the bed. "I'm confused, are you asking me out?"
I throw a pillow at him. "No! I like Aiden remember? A guy who happens to look basically the opposite of you. I just want to put the idea of dating in your head because I feel like there's a really gorgeous girl who's waiting for you to sweep her off her feet."
He catches the pillow. "So, does that mean Aiden isn't pretty?"
I roll my eyes. "Grant, you're missing the point! Don't you ever think about putting yourself out there? I'll even help you find the perfect girl!"
"Rinnie, is this a trap? It's starting to sound like you're up to something."
I shuffle my way beside him. "No trap, just a strong suggestion."
He nods, not at all looking convinced. "Well, thanks for the suggestion, but I think I'll stick to sleeping with girls for fun. Seeing how wonderful feelings have been for you, I think I'll pass."
His harsh words make me go instantly on defense. "Feelings have been fun for me, Mr. Robot. Seeing how wonderful sleeping with girls for fun has been for you, I think I'll avoid the STD's. Now will you stop pretending you don't care about anything and get real? You want love just as much as the next guy."
"Can we please drop this? This whole conversation started about you having a crush on Aiden that makes you do stupid, reckless things. I'm concerned Zephyrine."
He never says my real name, it startles me into submission. Hearing Grant say my name makes me look at his lips, to make sure it really came out of his mouth. "I can't remember the last time you've said my full name."
His eyes focus on the bed. "Yeah, well, I'm seriously concerned."
"Don't be. You didn't even know I have a crush on Aiden until tonight. It's not like I'm stalking him or something." That wasn't completely true, I'd been known to show up places I knew he'd be. We're friends though, so I tried to reason it as less weird.
Grant runs his hands across the bedsheets, appearing preoccupied. He had ADHD so keeping his attention has always been a feat. I don't expect him to talk, but he does. "Okay, I get it."
"You get what?" Although his focus wavered my attention was all his.
His eyes found their way back to me. "I get what it feels like to be obsessed. I'm an obsessive person and what you've been doing is insane, but I relate."
I can feel my smile forming. "What are you obsessed with?"
"How much time do you have because I can go on for hours?" He smirked.
Grant and I have never really talked about romantic stuff like this, it makes Grant and I's friendship feel deeper for some reason. "You're not going to tell me, are you?"
"Nope."
I sigh. "Eventually?"
He draws circles with his finger on the sheets. "Eventually."
"Grant, I'm drunk and have a really bad idea."
"This ought to be good."
My adrenaline kicks in, mercilessly encompassing my mind and body. "I need you to get Aiden to spend the night here."
He stands up off the bed. "Goodnight Rinnie."
"Grant, please! I just need to talk to him alone. Aiden won't let me do anything stupid, you can trust him." I am on my knees with my hands clasped together, pleading.
His arms cover his chest. "You want me to drive home this late so you and Aiden can talk? You're drunk and also a crappy friend."
I am wounded by his words, but he's right. "I'll make it up to you and spend the whole day with you, doing whatever you want and paying for everything." I don't let him look away from me. "You said you knew what it was like to have an obsession."
He drops his arms. "Whatever, I'll get him over here. I'm staying here though, in the other room."
I don't really want Grant to drive home in the this dark the more I think about it, so his compromise is perfect to me. "Yeah, I like that idea."
He takes his phone out of his pocket and calls Aiden.
- Writer
