Episode 13: Love Like Winter
February 15th - 19th
There is this weird time in my experience with basketball. The season has ended, and the postseason has begun. There is this small tournament in-between the end of the season and the state tournament. To me, it's a lot like life, that in-between time, between the big moments. Great and good things can happen to you, but they pale to what happened before and after. Anyone else has such an experience; please share it below.
RavenHussar
Chapter 491: Greenwich Village
Wednesday, February 15th, Early Morning
Fallon Stafford lowered and shook her head. "How long have you known?" she asked.
"I've known the whole time," Grant Coyle said.
Fallon picked up her head and looked at Grant. He looked down at her. Her eyes were questioning, and he just looked into her eyes, coolly. Fallon also felt that Grant looked deeply into her slowly.
"How, how, did you know?" Fallon asked.
Grant smiled a cool smile and chuckled, "You told me," he said.
Fallon tilted her head, "How did I tell you?" she asked.
Grant reached into his pocket and pulled out a business card. He offered it to Fallon; she looked down on it. She took it from him and looked it over. Grant studied her stoically. Fallon was shocked that it was her card from the Stafford Foundation.
"You gave me that at the party where we first met," Grant said, his voice flat and stern.
"Oh," Fallon said.
Grant nodded, "Oh," he replied.
"So, why did you go along?" Fallon asked, confused.
"I don't know," Grant said, "At first, I wondered why and just figured it was some sort of fetish or fantasy."
"Umm…." Fallon said.
"After spending time with you, I came to understand that it wasn't either," Grant said.
"Umm…." Fallon said.
"I checked back on your history and remembered you came into your legacy at a young age," Grant said, questioning.
Fallon nodded, "Yes," she said softly.
"So, you did what you did because of your legacy," Grant said.
Fallon tilted her head. "What do you mean?" she asked.
"I've been through it too," Grant said, "Coyle money isn't Stafford money, but I get it."
Fallon looked at Grant, "What do you mean?" she asked.
"You're hiding who you are," Grant said sternly.
"Umm, yes," Fallon said.
"You're hiding your money," Grant said, his voice hardened.
"Of course," Fallon said.
"So, why did you?" Grant asked a bit forcefully.
"Why do you think?" Fallon asked, her voice getting harder.
Grant shrugged, "I can't figure it out," she said.
"Really?" Fallon asked.
"Yeah," Grant said, "I'm drawing a blank."
Fallon sighed, "I wanted to know if someone was with me for me and not my money," she said, exhausted.
"Oh," Grant said.
"It's not that far of a leap," Fallon said.
"But I come from money as well," Grant said.
"Didn't know that at the time," Fallon said, "Also, I found the rich are almost as bad as the poor."
"What do you mean?" Grant asked, confused.
"There are rich men who want the Stafford Portfolio," Fallon said, defeated.
"I'd say that's call," Grant said.
Fallon shrugged, "You get used to it and grow a thick skin," she said.
"Yeah, I've met a few women who were gold diggers. My mother thought you were a gold digger," Grant said, "Actually still does."
"Yeah, well, I don't know," Fallon said, defeated.
Grant shook his head, "So, how often do you do this?" he asked.
"Do what?" Fallon asked.
"Pretend to be someone you're not?" Grant asked.
"Not that often," Fallon said.
"I will admit though you went rather elaborate," Grant said.
"What do you mean?" Fallon asked.
"The apartment, roommate, the out-of-date clothes," Grant said.
"The clothes were out of my closet, and I have had them for years," Fallon said.
"Really?" Grant asked.
"Yes, really?" Fallon said.
"You keep clothes that are out of season?" Grant asked.
"Yeah," Fallon said.
"Just for this?" Grant asked.
"No, because they still fit," Fallon said.
"The apartment?" Grant asked.
"The apartment is my step-mom's; my step-sister got me the keys," Fallon said.
"The roommate?" Grant asked.
"My friend Ellie," Fallon said.
"Okay," Grant said.
Fallon nodded.
"So, tonight, I'll pick you up here," Grant said.
"Okay, what time?" Fallon asked.
"I'll text you and make sure you wear what I bought you," Grant said.
"Okay," Fallon said, "I do have a fashion show to go to."
"Okay, I'll text you the time, and we'll work on the pick-up," Grant said.
"No problem," Fallon said in a business-like voice.
"I'll see you tonight," Grant said.
"So, what are we going do from here?" Fallon asked.
Grant shook his head, "We'll discuss it later," he said.
"Later?" Fallon asked.
"Later," Grant said, turned, and walked away.
Fallon shook her head hugged herself against the cold. Turning a bit, Fallon walked up to her front steps. She let herself inside and took her coat off. Fallon headed up to her bedroom. Once in her bedroom, she first fell upon her bed and cried.
