I knew I shouldn't be staring at my security guard, Grant Ward, for the umpteenth time today, longing to be held by him. It wasn't fair to Lincoln, my boyfriend of a little over a year.

Grant Ward was more than just my security guard. He was always with me. He'd been by my side for three years but it hadn't taken me that long to fall in love with him. He was 6 feet 2 inches, all muscle, dark hair, brown eyes and all kinds of yummy. We'd been close once, until he decided that even being my friend would blur the lines of boss and employee. I'd flirted and admitted that I liked him and then he'd shut it down. Which is when he decided those lines were blurring. My career had taken off and he'd insisted that I needed more security.

I looked away from him before he could catch me staring and turned my focus on what I was doing.

I looked at Jemma and tried to pay attention to what she was saying. My friend hadn't even noticed my wandering eyes.

"Ok, so you just have rehearsal at four and then I have you for dinner with Phil, Melinda, Fitz, Lincoln and I to celebrate Audrey's birthday. But I've left today pretty open for you. I didn't know if you'd be up for anything." Jemma who is usually very happy and upbeat was giving me a sad smile. She had unshed tears in her eyes. Her face was flushed and sweaty.

"Stop it, Jem. Please. I don't want to cry. She wouldn't want us to cry." I blinked away my tears as I thought of my mother.

"You're right. I'm sorry." Jemma gave a sad laugh and a tear spilled which she immediately wiped away. "No tears. Ok, I'm good."

It'd been over a year since my mother had passed from cancer but this would be the second birthday, we would celebrate without her.

I looked over at Grant again and I shake my head at how standoffish he looks. The guy wouldn't let his guard down even for a minute and we were in a damn gym.

A chuckle escapes me before I can stop it. He wouldn't be Grant if he wasn't always on alert.

"What?" Jemma asks me as she slows on the elliptical.

I move my head in the direction of Grant. I slow and looks to see how long I've been on the machine. My legs are burning but it's a good burn. Forty minutes wasn't bad.

"He always looks so mean." Jemma finally says as she stops her machine. "Are we done? Twenty minutes of weights and forty on this thing makes an hour. I only agreed to the hour."

I roll my eyes. "Fine. Let's shower and get going." I say as I hop off the machine and wipe the sweat off my face.

Jemma is trying to catch her breath. "I don't understand why you still have to come to the gym on days you do rehearsal. That alone takes two hours and you're always drenched."

"Jemma, I'm going on tour soon. I have to stay in shape. It'll help me when I'm on the road." I explain to her as I've done in the past.

"Yeah. Yeah." Jemma groans.

I hold my smile back. Jemma had agreed to go to the gym with me before she started working for me. She said it would give her the opportunity to finally get in shape, when I asked her if she'd join me. What she hadn't known was that I went to the gym for at least an hour a day, six days a week.

We're both quick to shower and get dressed. When we exit the woman's locker room, Grant is waiting by the doors with Trip.

Grant takes my gym bag from me and Trip takes Jemma's. There's no use in arguing about who's carrying the bags. I know we will lose the battle.

"For the hundredth time, Grant." I try again, "this gym is private. They have their own security. I don't see why I have to bring you guys when I come." I like to complain and to give him a hard time.

Trip goes ahead of me and all I can do is roll my eyes. I know the rules Grant has set. My guards are always supposed to check the exterior of a building before I exit while one stays beside me. I think it's ridiculous. The damn car was parked about 20 feet from the door.

We exit the building and Hunter, is waiting with the car door open. He smiles at me as I approach, "Had a nice sweat, love?"

I nod at Hunter and he holds my hand as I get in the car. Hunter may talk like a jerk and act like a jerk but he could be a real gentleman. He was the only one to talk to me with terms like that because he wasn't afraid of Grant. The others were too scared of him to even try calling me anything sweet.

"Careful, Hunter. If you get too sweet, I might tell Bobbi." I teased.

"Go ahead, sweetheart. Bobbi and I have an open relationship. She wouldn't mind if I invited you into our bedroom." Hunter chuckles and I laugh because I knows he's kidding, that and because he always says the most shocking thinks.

"Hunter, enough," Grant warns.

I look at Grant and his facial expressions haven't changed. I wait as Jemma and Trip climb in behind me and Grant goes around the other side to sit next to me.

Both Trip and Grant had given Hunter our bags. He puts them in the back and gets behind the wheel, looking at Grant (not me) in the mirror.

"Straight home?" He asks and Grant nods.

I keep looking at Grant for an answer and finally, he sighs and answers, "I don't care about their security." He has a tone. "I'm paid to take care of you and keep you safe and that's what I'm going to do. You can complain all you want but this is how it's staying until you fire me." He knows I'd never fire him and even if I ever did, my father would beg for him to come back.

My father loved Grant too much to let him go.

"You're crazy. Do you know what?" I lean over to get closer to him. I wanted to see if I could get a reaction out of him. He was so good at keeping his emotions in check.

"As long as you're safe I'm ok with that." He leans back in his seat and after a moment, he turns to me with a glint in his eye. "But if you're really worried about me, I can make an appointment to see a psychologist."

I scowl at him but a smile appears on my face when he finally breaks into a smile of his own. "Do I pay you enough to see one on a regular basis?" I ask teasing him. He doesn't do this often so when he does, I milk it for everything I can. "I think you'd benefit from a weekly visit. They can have you working on your control issues. And while they're at it, tell them you're way too overprotective."

He's shaking his head at me now but he's not annoyed at me yet so I keep going.

"Do I pay you enough for weekly visits?" I ask. When he doesn't answer, I turs back to Jemma, "Does that get covered under his benefits? Check on that, won't you?"

Jemma pulls out her phone. "Sure, let me pull up his file."

"You pay us enough." Grant sighs again. He looks frustrated but not annoyed. "Jemma, put your phone away." He turns back to me, "And the reason I'm controlling is because you make it a point to do everything possible to ruin my security plans. I'm getting gray hair because of you. Don't you worry your pretty little head about me, I'm fine." I like when he relaxes like this with me.

Jemma and Trip are saying nothing. I've noticed people usually stay quiet when Grant and I are like this, which again, doesn't happen often.

"Ah." I gasp in fake surprise.

"What?" Grant looks confused and looks around. He's probably looking around trying to see if he missed something.

"You think I'm pretty?" The moment the words leave my mouth, I know I've pushed too far.

Grant is back to his cold demeanor. His jaw twitches and I see anger flash across his eyes but he blinks and the anger is gone. He's got a blank expression on his face as he looks out the window and the conversation is over.

The air in the car gets heavy and I can feel my cheeks get hot in embarrassment. Everyone in the car can feel Grant's anger, I just hope they can't feel my shame.

I cowar against my door, leaning as far away from Grant as I can. I gulp down my pain. I'm stupid to push him. I know how it always turns out. I always end up wounded because I'm an idiot who still loves him. He sees me as his boss and nothing else. I can tell he hates me for putting him in this situation. His anger cuts me like a knife. Tears sting at my eyes as i watches traffic. He won't talk to me for a while, not until it's necessary.

The remaining twenty-six minutes to my house are excruciatingly quiet. As soon as Hunter stops the car in the driveway, I jump out of the car and walk as fast as I can towards the front door.

I can hear Hunter say something to Grant but I'm out of earshot and push it aside. It's not my business. I just want to get inside.

"Skye, are you ok? Where are—" Jemma starts but I interrupt her.

"I've got a headache." I call out. "I'm going to my room. I want to be alone. Come get me when it's time to go to rehearsal." I know I sound like an ass but I need to get away from everyone. I feel so stupid and so pathetic. I know my team can tell I'm in love with Grant.

I make it to my room before the tears of shame, anger and hurt finally fall. "Just stop." I tell myself. "God, I'm pathetic." I wipe my tears away and throw myself onto my bed and pulls out my phone. I check my social media as I try to ignore my feelings.

It would be so much easier if Grant wasn't in my life. If he were to quit, I'd be free of him. If he was gone, I'd finally have the space to get over him. But the thought of him leaving, makes my heart hurt.

I value family, loyalty, and trust over anything else thanks to her parents. I'd been lost without them. I knew nothing but anger and distrust before my parents and brother. So, when I found people I trusted, I held onto them tightly.

Grant Ward had become part of my family. My mom had loved him, my dad trusts him and he was one of Fitz's best friend. I trusted him with my family and my life. I'd give him my heart if he'd ask for it, not that he ever would.

Grant Ward had always taken care of all my needs not just my safety.

I groaned as I push myself onto my back. I had to get over Grant. He was an impossibility. He had a girlfriend for God's sake.

I pulled up Kara's Instagram and thumbed through her pictures. She was gorgeous. I wished I'd never met Kara Palamas, wished I'd never brought her around.

I try not to make a face when I get to posts what included Grant, on Kara's account. I closed the app and threw the phone on the bed.

I grabbed a pillow and stuffed it under my head. Maybe I should take a nap. I was going to need energy for dinner. We were celebrating my mother's birthday tonight. It was tradition to go out as a family to celebrate birthdays, rain or shine.

Tears welled in my eyes as I think of my mother. Audrey was always meant to be my mother. You didn't have to be blood to be family.

I drifted into sleep thinking about my mother and was woken up by Jemma sometime later. I went into my closet to grab my rehearsal bag that I'd packed this morning and met Jemma out in the hall.

As I exited into the hall, I saw Deke was with Jemma. He'd only been with them for about six months. Jemma needed help with setting up her schedule and was getting a bit overwhelmed. Jemma would soon be going on vacation and Deke would be taking over while she was gone.

"Hey, Skye." Deke gave me a sweet smile. "How's the head?"

I gave Deke a lop-sided smile. He had a crush on me but it was quickly fading.

"It's better. Everything ready?" I asked him, as I passed both him and Jemma and head downstairs.

"Hunter is already waiting for you outside. Your outfit will be waiting for you when you're done and I left Jemma's with yours like you asked." He updated me.

"My what?" Jemma grabs me by the arm. "Unbelievable."

"What?" I shook my head. "You wouldn't buy it so I took the liberty of doing it for you."

I was not surprised to find the guys—and by guys, I meant my security team, playing pool.

I stopped to smile at them. They were horsing around and stuffing junk food in their mouths.

I cleared my throat. "Having fun, are we?"

The guys lived in the back house. It was a guest house with two bedrooms, a kitchen, and an office. The office had been turned into another bedroom. But the guys were seldom there. Usually, they stuck to the main house because I have a game room, which included a pool table, an Xbox, darts and some vintage video games.

The guys had straightened out when I walked in.

"Sorry." They all mumbled almost together.

Grant walked in from the kitchen and shook his head at the guys. "If you don't mind, she's on a schedule. And you," he pointed at Mack, "are on the clock."

Mack rubbed the back of his head and winced. "Sorry, boss. I'm ready to go."

I gave Mack a wry smile. I arched a brow and stepped up to him, "Talked to Elena recently?"

Mack seemed to blushed and cleared his throat. "No. Why?"

"So, you going to rehearsal with me has nothing to do that I signed her up to go on tour with me? Or that she's back in town?" I asked as I headed toward the door.

Jemma laughed as she held the door open for me. "You're horrible." She told me as I walked through the threshold.

I avoided Grant all the way to rehearsal and went over my schedule for the following day with Jemma. I'm was due in the recording studio. My new album was almost finished. I couldn't wait to release it and finally go on tour. But before the actual tour started, I had a twenty-day shoot for a romantic comedy I was appearing in.

I met my choreographers and dancers in the studio. Tyler and Karlos, her choreographers were going over some dance moves when I arrived.

"Hey, everyone. Sorry." I waved and semi ran through the room. "I just gotta change." I threw over my shoulder as I exited through the door that led to the dressing room.

As I'm dressing into my dancing clothes, I see two garment bags hanging in the corner. I smile at them, remembering my mom. My mom always insisted on us girls going shopping for new dresses when her birthday came around.

Rehearsal took about two hours but it wasn't exhausting. The tour still hadn't been announced and this was just discussing the set list and learning the choreography that Tyler and Karlos had come up with.

I didn't miss all the looks and flirting Mack and Elena were doing. I watched them because they were cute. I hated myself for looking at Grant throughout the two hours, just to see if he was watching me. He wasn't. He went out a couple of times while we were here. He liked to walk around the building to make sure nobody was there that wasn't supposed to be.

I cursed myself every time he got up to leave. I should not be angry at him. I have a boyfriend. Lincoln and I had been together for over a year. He'd been great after my mother had passed away and I cared about him a lot. The only problem was that I was in love with someone else.

I had to break up with Lincoln. I felt like I was stringing him along and he deserved so much better. Besides, we've been fighting too much lately. He was jealous of Grant and always accused him of being up to something. Although he had reason to be jealous of Grant because I was in love with him, Lincoln didn't know that. Grant was nothing but professional at all times. We weren't even friends, so to say that Grant liked me and was trying to steal me away was absurd.

I'd tried so hard to make the relationship work. It wasn't a total mess. We had some really good times but I wasn't in love with him.

He'd told me "I love you" a handful of times and I hadn't said it back. The first time he'd said it, I tried telling him that I didn't feel the same way and he'd said he'd wait for the words. He was so perfect. He was everything I wanted in a boyfriend, so I'd stayed this long.

When it was time to go, I'd talked myself into giving Lincoln more time to fall in love with him and forget all about Grant.

I watched as Elena walked over to say goodbye to Mack. I gave Grant a wary eye. Everyone knew that Grant was always on the clock and those with him were held to the same standard. Elena was going to get Mack in trouble.

I watched Mack slightly shake his head. He cleared his throat and said, "I'll call you later, Elena."

Elena gave a small pout, threw an angry look Grant and started to the exit.

I approached the guys and called Elena back.

"What happened? Did you need something?" Elena gave me a curious look.

"Mack, why don't you take the rest of the evening off. I'm sure, Grant can manage dinner on his own." I suggested.

Mack started to disagree, telling me it was ok.

"Grant?" I turned to him. "There's no problem with him going, is there?"

Grant shook his head but he didn't look happy. "Mack, you can take the rest of the day off."

Elena broke into a wide smile. "Thanks, Ward."

"Ward, I can stay." Mack tried one more time. He missed the look Elena gave him.

"It's ok, Mack. Take the night off." His eyes were back to normal, which said his anger was gone.

Mack watched Grant to make sure it was ok before nodding and leaving.

"You have to be easier on them, Grant," I suggest as I walk toward the locker room. Grant walked closely behind me.

"It's not the job. He's paid to protect you. He can't protect you when he's off with his girlfriend." Grant's tone was bordering on angry.

"Relax. It's not that serious." I tried to tease.

Grant stopped me by the shoulder. By his face, it was clearly the wrong thing to say. "Not that serious?" He repeated. I notice his eyes dilate. Grant was pissed. "This is your life, Skye."

I took a deep breath. "Grant, I didn't mean it like that. And really, you're being dramatic. We're going to dinner with my family. I don't need two of you there. I'll be fine. Don't be angry. If this was a big event, I wouldn't have given him the night off because I know how serious you take this but it's not. I wanted them to have a good time. Besides, you won't be sitting with us at the restaurant because of your many rules, so I thought I'd do something nice for them."

I didn't know what part of that had calmed him but his eyes were back to normal. "Get dressed, we don't want to be late." Grant sighed. "I'll meet you in the hall."

Jemma was already ready when I entered the locker room. So, I quickly shower and get dressed. After our makeup was on, we started to finally make it out of the locker room.

While crossing the room, my phone rang with Lincoln's unique ringtone. I smile at Lincoln's face displayed on my screen. "Hey, babe."

"Hey, Skye." Lincoln's voice warmed me up inside. "Where are you?"

"We're just now leaving rehearsal. Are you already at the restaurant?" I ask.

The line was quiet.

"Lincoln?"

"Oh my god, baby. I forgot. I was calling to tell you I can't come over tonight. I'm stuck in the office for a couple of more hours." Lincoln apologized.

I stop in my tracks. "Lincoln, please be joking."

"I'm not. I'm sorry. I'll make it up to you."

"Lincoln, it's my mother's birthday. I really need you there. Can't you do the work tomorrow?" I felt tears coming on. I hated crying. It showed weakness. I wasn't weak.

But, I did need Lincoln tonight. This day was hard enough. I didn't want to deal with it alone.

"I can't move it to tomorrow. You'll be fine. You have your dad, May, Jemma, and Fitz." Lincoln brushed off my plea.

"Lincoln—"

"Skye, I can't go. Look, I'm sorry I forgot. It's—"

"How can you forget? We've been talking about tonight for the last week. I reminded you twice days ago. And you wait till I'm heading to the restaurant to cancel on me?" I was hurt and angry.

"I don't know what the big deal is? I've already apologized. Skye, I can't leave. I'm stuck here. I'll swing by tomorrow and we can spend the day at home, ok?" Lincoln offered.

I tried to calm myself. "I'm busy tomorrow."

"You're busy tomorrow? You want me there today but I can't make it so now you're angry and won't see me tomorrow? So, you'll see me at your convenience?" Lincoln was upset and getting loud.

"My convenience?!" I blew up. "Yes, because I planned for my mother to die. I decided when her birthday would be." The nerve of him. "I need you today, Lincoln." I hung up the phone. I was done arguing with him.

I turned to Jemma. I could feel my body shaking in fury and sadness.

"I'm so sorry, Skye." Jemma gave me a sad look and I shook her head. I would not be pitied.

"Let's go." I hurried toward the hall with Jemma trying to catch up behind me.

I didn't stop when I saw Grant like I usually do.

"Slow down," Grant warned me. "There's only one of me and I haven't checked the entrance of the building. I need you to get behind me."

I stopped in my tracks. "Sorry I gave Mack the night off. It must be so difficult for you." I lashed out.

"This is his job. This is what you sign up for. His girlfriend could have waited." Grant argues. He's back to being upset but I don't care.

I know I'm angry because of Lincoln but Grant makes everything so much harder, not just for me but for the rest of the bodyguards.

"The job is covered. You're here." I half yelled. "Do you see any paparazzi? Do you see a million fans?"

"Don't forget you have a stalker." He reminds me. "A stalker who has gotten past security before and has made threats to you." Grant's voice is now full of venom. He got like this when he spoke about Bakshi. "This job would be easier if he was here but he's not. You gave him the night off before thinking of what that might mean. You don't think about your safety and that's why I'm here. You're stubborn and fail to see the world around you. You're ignorant when it comes to these things."

I stepped back at his words. I felt her heart break a little more. He really hated me.

"You can always go. I'm not holding you here. I can't fire you because my whole family loves you. So, quit." My voice was softer but I'm still angry.

I didn't miss the flare in Grant's nose.

"Maybe I would if I hadn't promised Audrey, I'd keep you safe before she died." Grant spat back at me and the knowledge of that, stopped my heart.

He really didn't want to be here. The acknowledgment of that was more painful than I thought possible.

"Don't do me any favors, Grant." I hated this feeling. The feeling that people didn't want to be around me. "I don't want people who don't want to be here."

I stormed out of the hallway and out into the sun. I held back my tears but barely. I spotted Hunter and jumped straight into my seat as soon as he opened the door.

Lincoln wouldn't be here. Grant didn't want to be here. "Fine." I said to an empty car. "Screw them."

WARD POV

I watch Skye semi run out of the building. I look back at Jemma for answers to what just happened. Jemma can fill in the gaps. Skye was being overly dramatic. I'd missed something, but didn't know what.

Skye would be fine. I'd told Hunter through comms that we were headed out the moment Skye and Jemma had emerged from the back room.

"Lincoln called. He forgot dinner was tonight. Said he was stuck at work." Jemma explains.

My body shakes. I take a deep breath. I try to calm myself. I look towards the door Skye ran out of, "That stupid, worthless piece of—" I stop and looks back at Jemma. "Sorry."

She shakes her head. "Don't be. I feel the same way. She lashed out at you for the wrong reasons, Ward. You were an easy target."

I nod at Jemma and gestures for her to walk with me.

Skye couldn't handle tonight alone. She's still dealing with Audrey's death. The woman was everything to her. And although Skye said she was dealing with the death, I think she needs someone to talk to.

I wish I could beat the crap out of Lincoln but that's out of the question. I've never liked him but nothing had come up when I'd run a background check on him. Lincoln was clean. Maybe it was time to get Hartley on it. Lately, Lincoln had been standing Skye up and acting weird.

I tried to forget Lincoln. I had to help Skye now. An idea hit me. I was going to break my own rules tonight when it came to Skye but that was ok. I'd deal with the consequences tomorrow. Tonight, I had to take care of Skye.

Hunter held the door open for Jemma and closed it softly once she was in the car.

"What's going on? Skye looks like she's about to lose it." Hunter asked me. My friend was known for his crassness and honesty but he cared about Skye.

"Lincoln is standing her up." I answered.

Hunter stopped walking and pivoted to face me. "What? Tonight? Are you joking?"

I shook my head as I continued to walked around the car.

"What's the plan?" Hunter eyes me, knowing I'd be doing something about it.

"I'm going to be sending you an address. I need you to go there as soon as we're at the restaurant."

Hunter nodded and we both hopped in the car.

The drive was silent. Skye looked out the window the whole time and Jemma was texting away in the back seat. She was probably texting Fitz about Lincoln.

I had to get ahold of Deke but I want what I had planned to be a surprise to Skye. So, I looked for the contact information that I needed before sending the address to Hunter.

Once at the restaurant and out of the car, I ask Hunter to walk Jemma inside.

"Skye, I need to talk to you for a minute."

She stayed quiet, so I started my apology.

"I'm sorry about what happened back there. I shouldn't have snapped at you." I was using the softest tone I could. "I want to be here, Skye. This isn't just a job for me. I enjoy this job. I enjoy protecting you and I care about you and your family. Today's going to be a rough day as it is. I don't want to add to that."

Skye finally looked up to look me in the eyes. "She told you, didn't she? That Lincoln wasn't coming?"

I nod, I don't like lying to Skye. "But that's not why I'm apologizing."

I watched her gulp before she speaks. She's trying to hold herself together. "I need him tonight." Her voice is trembling. "I don't want to be alone. He's my boyfriend. I don't want to be alone."

I let myself go and trust my instincts and pull her into a hug. "I'm sorry, Skye."

"It's so stupid. I know it is. I'm having dinner with my family. We're all going to be in the same boat. But Dad will lean on Aunt Mel, Fitz will lean on Jemma and I will have nobody." Skye loops her arms around my neck and she cries against my chest.

I squeeze her closer. This is it. I'm going to break the rules. All my rules. "You can lean on me." I suggest.

Skye pulls away a little to look up at me. "What do you mean?"

I shrug. "I know you feel alone. You won't be but if it helps, I can be your shoulder to cry on—your shoulder to lean on."

"Really?" She wipes her tears away.

"Which one do you want?"

"Does that mean you'll sit with us for once?" She asks.

Normally at a restaurant, I sit a couple of tables down with someone near the front door. I've never sat with Skye and her family.

"I'll sit with you."

Skye gave me one of her biggest smiles. "I'm sorry too."

I pried my arms from around Skye and stepped back. "Let's get you inside, I have a phone call to make."

Hunter must have been waiting by the front door because just then, he opened it for Skye to go in.

Skye turned to me with a shocked expression. "Am I safe with the driver?"

I stopped the smile from appearing on my face. Even when Skye hid away from the world, it usually wasn't for too long. Her sarcastic and teasing nature usually came back first.

"He'll do for now." I answered Skye and turned to Hunter, "show her to the table, please."

As soon as Hunter and Skye were inside the restaurant, I had my phone to my ear. The phone rang and was answered in the second ring.

"Ward, hey. What's going on?" Deke asked on the other end.

"Deke, listen to me. I need you to write some things down. Do you have something to write with?" I pace the length of the car and back again.

"Yea. Yes." Deke answered confused. I'd never called Deke or ever gave him something to do so this was out of the norm.

"I need you to call, All Things Sweet. Their contact info should be on your work phone. I need you to tell them that Grant Ward asked you to place an order for the Coulson's. Ok? I need you to ask for Sophie or for Evelyn. If neither are available, you tell whatever manager is there to call and verify who I am. Give them a contact number they can reach you at. You getting all this?" I ask as I keep pacing.

"Yea. Sophie or Evelyn. What's the order?"

"I need their smallest round Pink Champagne cake. They'll also have to give you a pint of ice cream of the following flavors, pistachio, rocky road, mint chocolate chip, strawberry swirl, and two of the cookies and cream." I ramble on the names from the top of my head. "Let them know someone will be there in about twenty minutes to pick up the order."

"Wait. Twenty minutes? What if they don't have a cake ready." Deke's panicked voice is loud and shrieky.

"Deke, just tell them you're calling for me and the order is for the Coulson's." I run my hand through my hair. I want to do it myself but I can't leave Skye. "Make sure you talk to Sophie or Evelyn."

Hunter is back by my side.

"Ok. Got it." Deke hangs up.

I fish my card out of my wallet and give it to Hunter. "Pick up the order at the address that I sent you, it's under my name."

"On it." Hunter jumps into the car.

I take a deep breath and head into the restaurant.