Loss and Longing

Stevie turned to look at his back, as he poured the coffee, and again she got the feeling that this was a man who led a solitary existence. She sensed that much of the time, Scout was his only company and as before, couldn’t help but wonder why.

Grant passed her a mug and then took a seat on the stool next to her. “So was the car fixed okay?”

“It’s perfect, thank you. I’m sorry, I forgot to say that earlier.”

He smiled, “don’t worry about it. You had other things on your mind.”

“Yes” she said looking down at her mug.

“I’m sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable by organising it without telling you first. I just wanted it fixed as soon as possible for you.”

“Thank you” she said, her eyes still averted “and I’m sorry for being so rude to you. I think what made me so touchy about it was the man at the panel shop assuming...” she stopped not knowing how to put it.

Grant watched her for a moment and when she didn’t continue, he prompted “assuming?”

She blushed and turned her head to the side “assuming there was more to it” she said knowing she wasn’t being very clear and feeling stupid. “I didn’t want people reading more into it than they should.”

Grant didn’t say anything and when she dared to look at him, expecting to see an amused expression, she was surprised to see he looked anything but.

He was frowning as he asked “you didn’t want people thinking we were involved, romantically?”

She nodded.

“Why?”

She looked away again and said “because we’re not and that’s not why you paid for the repairs.”

“Would it be so bad?” he asked in a soft voice.

“Of course it would” she said turning back to frown at him, “it’d be an incorrect assumption that would make me look like someone with no values.”

He shook his head. “No I mean would it be so bad if we were romantically involved?”

Stevie’s breath evaporated and as his gaze slipped down to rest on her lips, her heart rate went through the roof. Swallowing she said “what?”