Stages of Grace - By Carey Heywood Page 0,63

center had gone up. I wasn't ready for how different it seemed."

"What did you do?"

"Try and stay busy in the beginning. Too much free time lets you over think things."

"I don’t even have a job yet."

He hesitates. "Would you like to work with me?"

"You don’t have to do that" I say, shaking my head.

"Seriously."

My mouth drops "But I know nothing about boats or the water."

"I can teach you" he replies, tilting his head to the side.

"I just—I don’t know."

"Come on. It'd be fun" he's smiling now.

His hand is still on mine. He moves it when I look down at it "Are you sure?"

"Absolutely."

"You can fire me if I'm awful."

"Grace, don’t be silly." he stands and hesitates before pushing the chair back.

I smile, I have a job. I don't give care how much it pays. The idea he would hire me at all…My head turns when I hear the knock at the door. Our food has arrived. I feel a little better. Talking about it had helped. Pancakes too. After we eat, I call Kate let her know we're staying in Georgia for the night because of traffic. Kate is so excited I’m coming she is fine with waiting another day. At this point, we're only five hours away, depending on traffic. We will get there just after lunchtime tomorrow.

Ryan and I stay up talking that night, each in our beds. Ryan doesn’t wear a shirt when he goes to bed, just pajama bottoms that hang low on his hips. It feels strange, lying down, turned on my side, talking to him. I have to remind myself not to stare at him. It’s hard not to, though. He's turned on his side, head propped up on his hand. He's excited about me coming to work with him. He says we can carpool, and he can teach me everything he knows.

His enthusiasm is infectious, temporarily banishing my gloomy mood. I have to believe I can do this. It’s too far to turn back now.

"Grace?"

"Huh?" I squint at him.

"Did you fall asleep?"

"I'm just resting my eyes" I mumble.

"Mm hmm."

"I was." I yawn loudly. "Just a little."

"Alright, Grace. Sweet dreams."

"I'm up. I am," and I’m asleep.

The next morning, I wake up first. I turn to watch Ryan as he sleeps. He's on his stomach with a pillow under one of his arms and head. His hair is in his eyes, and I have the sudden urge to brush it to the side. Recognizing how absolutely creepy that would be, I get up to shower instead. Once I’m dressed I open the bathroom door to let some steam out. I’m brushing my hair when Ryan pops his head in the door, making me jump.

"Didn’t mean to startle you. Just wanted to know if the john was free."

"Of course. Here, let me get out of your way."

At the doorway, we both move in the same direction. First left, then right, until I am able to squeeze past him. I feel warm from being so close to him in all of his shirtless glory. I tell myself to slow down when it comes to Ryan. Sure, he flirted with me when I was in Florida. I can still imagine his forehead against my own after our dance. However, since then, he has been nothing but friendly, and now if I'm going to be working with him, it would not be wise to be lusting after him. Most of all, my attraction to him makes me feel guilty. My relationship with Jon, while troubled, has only just ended. What kind of person does it make me to forget those feelings so quickly?

"I'm sorry, what?"

Oh my God, I had been thinking out loud. I clap my hand over my mouth, eyes wide. What had he heard? My reaction seems to confuse him. He cocks his head at me.

I lower my hand. "I hadn't realized I was talking out loud."

"No worries, Grace. I heard you, but I didn’t hear what you were saying."

Thank God! "Whew. I was just thinking."

"What were you thinking about?"

"Um, the move" I lie.

His forehead creases. "Okay."

I can tell he doesn’t believe me but am grateful that he doesn’t press the issue. How embarrassing. Once Ryan is dressed, we head to the lobby together. This hotel has a complimentary breakfast so we won’t have to worry about stopping on the way out. It’s strange to think I’ll be arriving at my new home today. I’m looking forward to seeing Kate and sleeping in that bed again but,