A/N: Here you go. Tell me. How cute is Grant??? Just like his Daddy. And oh yeah - meet the twins!! Until 8! xox-G
Chapter Seven
"Oh my God! Grant. I can't believe you're finally here!!" Chloe beamed as she saw him walk in the door.
He smiled as he caught sight of her. He couldn't help himself. "What's up?" He asked, trying to sound casual.
"I couldn't wait to tell you. Mom's letting me teach her class today. Can you believe it!?!" She nearly bounced up and down.
She was so excited. And suddenly - so was he. Nothing made him happier than seeing Chloe happy.
"That's great, Clo." He said, shoving his hands in his pockets. He had to do that all the time when he was around her. Otherwise, he didn't think he could keep himself from touching her.
"I know." She said as she looked at him under her lashes, her bright green eyes full of life. She thought, for the hundred millionth time, how cute he was. Too bad Grant only saw her as a friend.
Despite how much she loved him, Chloe was always so confused whenever Grant was around, which was often since his parents owned the gym and her mom ran it for them. She got what she thought were signals from him all the time, but in the end, there was nothing. She was sure he was about to kiss her more times than she could count. But the minute she thought he would, he wouldn't. It drove her crazy and it broke her heart.
Chloe couldn't wait for Grant forever. As hard as it was to take, she had to keep telling herself that. That's how she ended up dating Doug. But the thing with him wasn't going to last much longer. She could already see it coming. She knew Doug wasn't the guy for her. Every other guy she dated couldn't compare to Grant. They didn't even come close.
Sighing, Chloe pulled her strawberry blond curls into a ponytail. Grant almost lost his breath as he watched her.
"Are you going to the game tonight?" She asked, her voice hopeful.
Unlike his cousin Quinn, he couldn't care less about sports. Was it basketball season? He didn't have a clue. He knew Doug played every sport so for Chloe he was sure it hardly mattered. Grant would rather kick box and work out at the gym. The bonus to that was, it was a great way to be near Chloe without her suspecting a thing.
"Are you cheering?" He replied with a grin.
What a silly question, she thought. Why else would she be going? "Of course." She laughed at him.
"Then I'll be there." He promised.
Suddenly uncomfortable, Grant moved to restock the shelves with water as Chloe sat on a bench and tightened her shoelaces.
Melissa came down the stairs and watched them stealing glances at each other. Those two. She thought with a sigh. How long were they going to dance around this?
"Hi Grant! " She called out brightly.
"Hey, Mrs. Ramsey." Grant said with a smile.
Melissa wished one of them would get up the courage to break down that wall they'd constructed already. She couldn't help but smile. To her - it seemed fitting that her daughter would end up with him. The whole reason Chloe was here at all was because of Grant's mother. Without Alison, Melissa would never have met Jack.
She watched Grant stare at her daughter for a few more minutes. As she did, her heart was melting. Hopefully something would happen between them soon. Melissa hated to interrupt them - but she knew they'd be fifty before they got together at the rate they were going.
Melissa glanced at the clock and spoke to her only child softly, "Sweetie. Are you ready?"
"In a sec, Mom." Chloe dropped the bottle of water she held. God! I'm such a klutz, She thought as she willed herself to calm down. How will I ever be able to teach anyone?
Grant could see how nervous Chloe was and wanted nothing more than to reassure her. He leaned down to pick up the bottle and handed it back to her, their fingers touching and holding for a few seconds as he did.
"You'll do great, Clo." He said softly as he pulled away.
Grant felt like he was 500 feet in the air, looking down and about to jump. He took a deep breath and stepped off. It was time he took Kate's advice.
"Thanks." Chloe turned to walk towards the studio but stopped when she realized he wasn't done talking.
"Hey Clo?" He called out, willing his voice not to shake "Maybe we could go get something to eat tonight after the game." Chloe turned back around and stared at him.
His face got red. He felt the need to explain himself. "You know - if - if - you and Doug don't have plans or anything." Feeling like a total idiot, Grant tried but he couldn't stop talking. "Or maybe he could come too - if you wanted him to."
"Sure. We can go get something." Chloe said, her heart pounding like crazy even though she hadn't begun to exercise yet.
She felt like she'd waited her whole life for this moment. She looked deeply into Grant's eyes. She loved his eyes. They were so incredibly blue and filled with kindness. "And thanks…" She continued, her voice soft. "…but Doug doesn't have to come."
"OK. Cool." Grant said when he finally could breathe again. Relieved and now willing the clock to speed up so it would be tonight right now, he grinned at her. "You really will do great. Just have fun."
"I will. Thanks." Chloe replied with a huge smile as she finally made her way.
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"I'd tell you what I'd do. I'd rip his heart out." Julia said, her voice announcing that she couldn't be more serious. "Actually - come to think of it, I'd rip off something else." She qualified.
"Lia!" Lynnie scolded, her voice shocked.
"Stop it. Don't talk about him like that. He loves her." Kate said with a sigh as they finally found seats in the crowded food court. The mall was a zoo today.
"He loves her!? What about you Kate!?! Up until Christmas break, he loved you." Julia always got so angry whenever anyone she loved got hurt. "I can't believe you're defending him."
"You guys - I know it sounds ridiculous - but I understand. He and I? We weren't meant to be."
"I get it, Katie." Lynnie said, pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose.
There were only two ways you could tell her and Julia apart. Lia's eyes were brown flecked with gold and Lynnie's were sapphire blue. Lia got contacts the minute she was able and Lynnie preferred to wear glasses, just like her mom.
"I know exactly what you mean. Now…" Lynnie continued with a sinister grin. "Tell us about the bus guy."
"Oh you mean, Colin?" Kate said nonchalantly.
"Yes. Colin." Lynnie shoved her slightly, her eyes got dreamy. "How hot was he? In person I mean. You know, I've already seen him in my mind."
"Incredibly." She sighed. "He's playing at that bar right outside of town Wednesday night. We have to go." Kate said with a grin.
Always a worry wart, Lynnie said softly, "We can't get in there. It's a bar, Katie."
"It's a bar and restaurant." Kate's eyes filled with mischief. "Here's the plan. We go for dinner around 8:30 or 9:00 and then just keep ordering stuff until his band comes on at 10. As long as we don't try to order drinks I don't think they'll kick us out."
"No drinking?" Julia said with a pout.
"Lia. Kate's right. It's a long ride out there and oh - by the way? Let me introduce you to our parents." Lynnie said with a sigh. "You want to be grounded till you're 30?"
Julia leaned back in her chair grumbled. "You're just still mad about that time I wore blue contacts and got you in all sorts of trouble."
"Yeah, and you stole my glasses too so I couldn't even see." Lynnie was getting furious all over again. "That made it even worse. Face it, Julia. You're dangerous when left to your own devices."
Kate laughed at her cousins. They loved each other dearly but were constantly at each others throats. This was serious business. She needed to get them to focus.
"OK. Now the only way my dad will let me go is if you guys go too. We have off from classes on Thursday so curfew shouldn't be a problem. So - Lia. I'm serious. Be on your best behavior. "
Julia blew her hair out of her eyes. "Why is everyone always so worried about me? What about Lynnie?"
"Lynnie's no saint but she's an angel compared to you." Kate said with a laugh.
Julia reached across the table to steal a bite of her sister's sandwich. "Well - someone's got to have fun, it might as well be me."