Apov
I don't know why I told Kate all that last night, I shouldn't have, but it felt like such a relief getting it off my chest and finally telling someone. I blame it on the alcohol. I usually never drink, it leaves you vulnerable, but it felt amazing to let my guard down for once. I'm glad she stayed with me, even though she saw my nightmares first hand, I didn't want to be alone after that.
It's obvious I'm getting closer to the people of this small town, more so than any other place I've been. Maybe I should leave now so it's not hard on me when and if I'm ever forced to leave. Just thinking about the possibility of leaving one day feels my heart with dread. I don't want to. I like it here and I'm beginning to actually enjoy my life.
I'm at work, my last day until I'm off for two full days. I'm only working the lunch shift today and I have no plans after work, pretty much like everyday.
The hostess seats a woman in my section so I make my way to the table.
"Hello, welcome to Mama Mia's," I introduce myself like I do all my costumers. "Can I start you off with something to drink?"
Before she can answer, Teddy calling my name interrupts her.
"Hi, Ana!"
I turn around hearing him.
"Hi, Teddy." I smile at him, his father following shortly behind him.
To my surprise they slide in the booth with this lady.
"So you're Ana?" She smiles at me.
"Yes, ma'am."
"My son has told me a little about you."
"Mom!" Christian shouts embarrassed.
"I meant my grandson." She corrects herself. "Calm down, Christian."
While I do believe Teddy has mentioned me, I wonder briefly if Christian has said anything about me to his family.
I giggle at them and the blush on Christian's cheeks. He's cute when he's flushed like that, I don't think he gets embarrassed easily so it's nice to see.
"I'm Grace, Christian and Mia's mother, I'm not sure if you've met my other son, Elliot. I know you met Teddy, my precious grandson."
"It's lovely to meet you." I tell her.
"You have no idea how lovely it is to meet you, dear."
I'm surprised I've not seen her around here, with her daughter owning the place, everyone in the family seems to stop by. But she does look familiar. Maybe she has been in here and I just haven't noticed. I've been keeping my eyes on anyone who looks suspicious and this sweet lady doesn't look suspicious at all. Maybe that's a mistake, I should suspect everyone, even the un-expectable.
"What can I get you all to drink?" I ask them all since it seems Teddy and Christian are having lunch with her today.
"Lemonade for me, please, dear."
"Chocwit milk." Teddy says seriously while he pretends to read the menu.
"I'll just have a water with lemon, thanks."
"Coming right up."
I walk away to get their drinks, but before I'm completely out of earshot, I hear them talking about me.
Grace saying, "You're right, she is very pretty,".
Followed by another, "Mom!" from Christian.
And then Grace going on to say, "What, Christian, you said she was pretty, I'm agreeing with you. It's not like she doesn't know you like her, besides, she can't hear us."
"Can you at least keep your voice down." Glancing over my shoulder, I see Christian run his fingers through his hair. "Maybe it was a bad idea having lunch here."
"Calm down." She laughs at his discomfort.
I try not to giggle because I can hear them and I don't want them to know I can, but I'm moving further and further away so their conversation is getting harder to overhear.
So it looks like Christian is talking about me to his family.
After I get their drinks, I quickly bring them back to the table and take their order.
I continue to work, even though we're not too busy we are steady, but I don't feel as tense as I would before. I use to think it was Teddy but now I'm thinking it's both of those Grey boys. I find myself drawn to them, and that they calm me. Even when I was so tense around Christian before when I first met him, it wasn't like anyone else. I think... I think the reason why I was so tense around him before, is because my subconscious mind knew...
Ding Ding
The bell rings letting me know food is up.
I grab the tray of food and make my way over to the Greys.
"We are goin' to da beach, Ana." Teddy tells me when I bring their food to their table.
"That sounds awesome!" I tell him, matching his excitement as I set their food down on the table. "Make sure you build me a sand castle while you're there, okay."
"You can come wif, too." Teddy offers.
"I don't know," I politely turn him down, now holding the empty tray. "It's your family time."
"It's okay, you can come." He insists. "It's fun."
"Teddy, no," Christian tries to tell him.
"Please." He gives his dad the cutest pout and I wonder how Christian can say no to that face. Ever.
"Ana is working." Christian explains.
"Actually, I get off after lunch." I tell him. "And I'm not doing anything after work today."
Christian looks shocked that I actually and finally agreed to do something with them. He looks at Teddy and smiles.
"So you gonna come?" Teddy grins excitedly.
"If your dad is okay with it. I'd love to."
"Looks like Ana is going to join us at the beach." Christian says with a smile.
I smile at them and walk away to finish my shift.
...
I haven't taken on anymore tables, I'm just clearing the ones I have, helping the bus boy to give me something to do. My only table left is the Greys' and after they are finished, I'm done working for today.
"Was everything as delicious as it looked?" I ask them, coming to their table when they look like they are done eating.
"It was wonderful." Christian tells me with a smile.
"I'm sorry you were so busy, dear," Grace says. "I didn't get a chance to talk to you."
"Mom, you don't need to talk to her."
"Christian, hush." She shews him away. "Maybe we can have a girls day with Mia and Katie. Then I can get to know you a little better."
"Maybe." Though I doubt I'll be able to afford any 'girls day' with them. And if her girls day is anything like Kate's, count me out. No more drunk confessions for me.
"Are you ready to go?" Christian asks me.
"Almost. You're my last table so whenever you leave, I'll clean up and we can go."
"Great." Christian smiles at me and I can't help but return it.
"Oh, would you look at that," Grace calls everyone's attention. When we look at her, she's holding her phone up and looking at the screen. "I have a text from Kate-"
"Mom," Christian interrupts her and calls her bluff. "You don't know how to text."
"Christian, she sent me a text, I can read and I'm reading her text that she just sent me." She insists frustrated with him. "I have to go help her with something so I wont be able to join you at the beach today, as much as I wanted to. You three go and have fun for me. Maybe we can all do something together another day."
"What do you need to help Kate with?" Christian asks, it's obvious he doesn't believe her, but she gives him a look that I'm sure everyone knows as the 'quiet' look they get from their mother.
"You're not going?" Teddy asks with a pout.
"Next time, Teddy bear. But you will have lots of fun with your daddy and Ana. You be sure to tell me all about your time at the beach when you come over later, okay."
Before anyone can insist she stay, she gets up to leave, hugging her grandson and getting a kiss on her cheek from her son. Then she's out the door.
I suspect she's in on this plan of getting Christian and Ana together. Kate brought up Christian last night too.
I've decided to take Kate's advice and live. I've been surviving, but I haven't been living. I escaped and he can't find me here. I don't want to leave this place anyway, I've grown attached to Teddy, and his father isn't too bad either. I'm making friends and I don't want to leave them behind. I know it will be my Achilles heel if anything happens, but I've decided I'm going to stay and I'm going to live.
"Ready?" Christian asks me again, bringing me from my thoughts.
"Almost." I repeat. "But I don't have a suit."
He frowns, probably assuming I'm going to change my mind, so I continue,
"Luckily I was tipped over generously last night by this really cute guy." Christian doesn't look very happy. He must not get my hint that is was him so I continue, "He also happened to over pay me for watching is son awhile back too. So I'll just buy a swimsuit before we go, if you don't mind stopping at a store on the way."
It hits him that he's the one I'm talking about. He blinks then tilts his head to the side.
"Are you flirting with me?" He asks with a sexy smirk.
"Maybe." I bite my lip. It's been awhile since I've flirted, so I'm not sure if I'm doing it right or not.
Ding Ding
The bell rings and even though I know it's not for my orders, I walk away, swaying my hips a bit too much. Gosh, I hope I don't fall! I haven't flirted with a guy in so long, I'm probably crap at it. Not to mention, I need a minute to cool my libido, especially if we're going to the beach where minimal clothing is required.
Oh gosh, maybe the beach wasn't a good idea. Maybe that boat Teddy mentioned, The Grace would be better. Is it too late to change my mind?! Oh my gosh, I'm so nervous.
...
Cpov
After leaving the restaurant, Teddy and I take Ana to a store where she can purchase a bathing suit. I'm hoping for a skimpy bikini, but I know she'd opt for a one-piece that covers most of everything. At least I'll be able to see those fine, fine legs of hers. I still can't believe she agreed to go, to the beach no less. Elliot was right, I have the perfect wingman in Teddy.
We're in the store together, 'helping' Ana find a swimsuit. Teddy is picking anything with yellow on it, his favorite color, Ana is looking at one-piece suits, as I predicted she would, while I'm over here fantasizing about tiny bikinis and it being her and I alone on the beach.
I've given it a lot of thought, being with Ana, and as much as I've considered being only friends since she didn't want to date me, I know it would never work. Especially considering the way my body reacts to her and how attractive I find her. There's no way I could be just her friend, and fuck that if I was forever in the forbidden friend zone. She doesn't want to date, but I want her.
However, I know I can't have her once, a 'get her out of my system' type thing, that shit never works and I would only want more. Not to mention, she might leave and Teddy wouldn't be happy if he knew I was the reason she left. I've never done this romance thing before, but for the first time in my life, I want it. It's going to be tricky, especially since she's against it, but I'm determined. I just don't know where to start...
Continuing to look through the suits, I see the tiniest scrap of fabric, and it so happens to be a thong string bikini.
Must be for indoor tanning.
Deciding to be funny, I grab the bottoms, and only the bottoms, leaving the tiny top on the hanger.
"Ana." I call to her, hoping she doesn't get offended or call me a name. I'm pushing my luck with this joke and I'm shit at jokes, that's Elliot's area of expertise.
When she looks at me, I hold up the thong bottoms.
"I found the perfect suit for you." I make my voice sound husky, but I swallow my nerves down hard. Surely she wont smack me in front of my son.
She looks at what is in my hand and then snatches it away, looking around to make sure nobody saw. Then she looks at the tiny piece of fabric in her hands.
"Where is the top?" She asks casually.
Holy fuck! Is she considering? No way. No. Fucking. Way.
"There is no top." This time there is no nervousness in my tone, it's completely husky and filled with lust.
At that, she pops her head up to look at me, blue eyes wide in shock. I slowly lick my lips and I know my eyes are darker than usual with visions of her wearing only these bottoms. This causes her to look at my lips, and she tries hard not to blush but I can see it forming on her cheeks.
She shakes her head as if to clear her thoughts and smiles. That's a good sign, at least she wont call me a name, smack me and leave.
"It's not a topless beach, Christian." She actually giggles. "And I'm not wearing a thong."
"Now? Or to the beach."
She bites her lip and puts the offending garment back without answering my question.
"What 'bout dis one?" Teddy calls our attention, holding up a yellow suit. That's my boy, picking a bikini. He's the perfect wingman.
"Oh, it's-" Ana tries to come up with a word. I can tell she doesn't like it all that much but I'm not sure if it's because of the bright yellow color or if it's because it's a bikini.
"Yellow." She blurts out, "I mean, perfect."
"You will look beautiful in dis. Don't you think so, dad?"
"Absolutely."
Ana gives me a look, and I'm not sure what it means.
Teddy smiles, handing the bikini to Ana. She takes it, looks at the price tag and frowns. She looks back at the other suits while biting her lip, but before she can say anything I take the suit and walk towards the register. That fucking lip biting was making me hard and I really need to get us out of this store. Not only that, I need to find a way to control my urges around her. I've had control of my body for over 14 damn years, surely I am capable of doing it now.
"What are you doing?" Ana trails along behind me with Teddy holding her hand.
"We're already behind schedule. We have to get going." I pay for the bikini before she and Teddy arrive at the counter. Thank fuck Teddy walks slow.
"What schedule?"
"The schedule I just made up." I turn around handing her the little pink bag containing the suit. "Go change."
"You have to stop doing this." She gently scolds me, taking the bag without further discussion and going into the back to change.
Teddy and I wait for her near the dressing rooms, but she doesn't keep us waiting long.
When she comes back out, I can see the hint of yellow through the fabric of her white top, and she's holding the pink bag in her hand. Fuck me, I know she has her panties in the bag.
Okay, I need to work faster, but I've never done this before, I don't know what the fuck I'm doing.
We walk out together, getting into my Audi SUV and this time, Ana sits in front with me. I'm fighting with myself not to reach over and touch her thigh, hold her hand, anything, I just feel the need to touch her, so I hold the wheel firmly with both hands. My veins are nearly popping out of my forearms as I drive. Ana squirms in her seat and when I glance in her direction, I see that she's looking at the muscles in my arms.
She quickly looks away when she realizes I've caught her looking and turns her attention towards Teddy.
I know she's attracted to me, why wont she just give in, what could possibly be stopping her from dating me?
Ana and Teddy are talking about all the things they plan to do when we get to the beach, swimming, building sand castles, looking for shells. This all feels... good, normal. Almost like we're a family, a real family. I never thought I would have this. Then again, I never expected to be a father. Maybe my mom is right, I deserve some adult time.
I pull up to the beach and we all hop out once I've parked.
Ana and Teddy help carry the lighter things, like the towels and the bag I filled with water bottles and snacks, while I carry the chairs and umbrella. Luckily my mother was supposed to come with us so I have an extra chair and towel for Ana.
I know my mother was lying about getting a text from Kate, everyone knows she doesn't know how to text so we don't send them to her, instead we call. Not to mention, my mother is not a very good liar, she's too kind hearted. I don't know the reason behind why she chose not to join us, because I would think she'd want to see how Ana and I interact together, but I can't complain now that I see Ana on the beach with us.
Ana helps me lay out the chairs, towels and umbrella. There's not many people on the beach today so we have a large area all to ourselves. One of the reasons I love this place. Peace and quiet, no hustle and bustle of the big city. I loved living in Seattle but my life has changed drastically to what it was before. I needed the changed.
When my family moved out here with us, they all got jobs doing what they love. Elliot still runs Grey construction but it's still based in Seattle so he takes a lot of business trips, however, he opened a local hardware store here. His wife, Kate runs the newspaper. My father retired but still takes on a few pro-bono cases. My mother tired to stop working but she couldn't, now she works part-time at the clinic. Mia just came back from culinary school when Teddy arrived. She knew she wanted to run her own restaurant but she didn't want a fancy place. Mama Mia's was perfect for her so she had Elliot do the remodeling. I don't have any work here but I still attend to the few things at GEH when I'm needed.
I get out the sun screen. I brought the spray so it would be easier to keep applying it to Teddy throughout the day, but right now I'm wishing I brought the lotion so I could rub it on Ana. She'd need help with her back, right? I could untie that little string and rub it all over her smooth alabaster skin- FUCK! Stop it, Grey! You're at a fucking family friendly beach with your son, for fuck's sake! You don't need a fucking hard-on right now! Especially in these trunks!
I watch as Ana helps Teddy take off his shirt and put on the silly swim shirt my mother insists he wears. He and I are already wearing our swim trunks under our shorts, both matching blue, so she helps him take off his cargo shorts.
When she's done helping him, I spray my son with the sun screen then send him on his way.
"Don't go into the water without me, Teddy." I remind him.
"Or Ana." He yells back as he starts searching the sand for shells.
"Or Ana." I agree then look at her. She's still dressed in what she was wearing at the restaurant.
"Well..." I say to Ana when she just stands there.
"What?"
"You too, missy." I hold up the sun screen and shake it, gesturing that it's now her turn.
She rolls her eyes and it brings back memories. I want to take her over my knee and spank that sexy ass of hers, but not in the way I use to, no.
I watch mesmerized as she unbuttons her jeans and shimmies them down her legs, kicking them to the side. Then she slowly, oh so slowly, takes off her shirt and reveals that bright yellow bikini that Teddy so graciously picked out.
I check to make sure Teddy is still doing okay and when I see he's still looking for shells close by, I step up to Ana and start to cover her body in the sun screen. It looks as if she's holding her breath.
"Your turn." She says when I'm finished.
I've gotten past my fear of touch with Teddy and therapy, but only family has ever touched me since. And they still keep their distance, years of accepting my fear, but my mother enjoys that fact that we can now hug. Still, they haven't touched me bare chested, only Teddy has. But never has a woman touched me. I almost regret not bringing the lotion now, wanting to feel her hands on me. Something I've never experienced before.
Handing the spray can over to Ana, I watch as she stares at my hands, now on the button of my shorts. Once my shorts are off, and I'm left wearing my trunks, I grab the back of my shirt and pull it over my head, tossing it onto a chair near by. It takes her awhile to move but I stay quiet, letting her enjoy the view of my body.
She shakes her head again, as if scolding herself, then steps up to me. I thought she was holding her breath before when I stood up to her, and now I know she was because I hold mine. Something about her being close to me takes my breath away. I have to fist my hands to keep me from touching her.
When she's done, she puts the can down and walks away without saying a word, just like that. Like nothing happened.
She starts to look at the shells with Teddy now. They're smiling and looking at a few he found already.
I walk towards them and start looking for shells too, all while trying to think of how to convince her to give me a chance.
...
We're in the water now, splashing and playing around. Teddy so brilliantly came up with a game of shark. I'm the shark and I'm to capture my prey; Teddy and Ana. She's doing her best to keep Teddy away from me and I'm toning it down a lot for him. I know I could get them easily if I really wanted to, but Teddy and Ana's laughter is like sweet music to my ears.
"Na-na Na-na boo-boo." Teddy taunts me. "You can't get us."
I end up laughing as I make my way towards them. He's so sweet and innocent, he really believes I can't get them.
"Run!" Ana shouts to Teddy as they start to get out of the shallow water we've been playing in, only waist deep on Teddy. He's a great swimmer at only four years old, but with this game we need to run so we have to be where he can reach the bottom sand under the water.
Teddy gets away, running back to our spot on the beach that they've claimed as being a safe-zone, but I grab Ana before she makes it out. She falls down on the soft, mushy sand and I pull her back to me.
"You're mine now, baby." I growl. It slips out but she doesn't seem to notice or say anything about it. She just keeps laughing and tries to get away from me, even calling Teddy back for help as she turns onto her stomach and tries to crawl away.
"Teddy!" She giggles, like he's not going to help her.
I look up and see he's found the snacks. Yeah, he's not coming to help her any time soon.
I flip her over so she's on her back again and then hold her hands down so she can't fight me off. Something flashes in her eyes and her smile fades, but it's gone just as quick as it came and she's smiling again. Though this time it looks forced. Regardless, I release my hold on her and start to tickle her. Teddy likes it when we have tickle fights and I don't want to ruin the good mood with whatever memory just haunted her.
"Christian!" She's laughing, genuinely now, so I know she's having fun again. "Christian, stop, please!"
I do as she asked, stopping from tickling her but still hovering above her. She's back to smiling a real genuine smile that makes her beautiful blue eyes light up.
God she's beautiful.
With her brown hair sprawled across the wet sand, I've always been attracted to brunettes, I can't help but wonder if it's natural. Did she dye her hair to match Anastasia's?
"What are you thinking about?" She asks me.
You, who you really are, your past, I want to say. But I don't. She'd shut down and that's the last thing I want.
"Let's build a castle!" Teddy comes up to us, breaking our connection.
We both look up at him and laugh at his messy face, but his innocent smile lets him get away with just about anything.
Ana turns her body from underneath me so she can get up. I close my eyes tight and fist the sand when her ass brushes against me.
"Ah!" I feel her body suddenly move away from mine.
I snap open my eyes hearing Ana cry out in pain and see that she's holding her hand.
"What's wrong?" I finally get off of her and sit beside her.
"I cut myself on that shell." She tells me, nodding towards the culprit. The shell is jagged and dyed red from her blood.
"Let me see." I pull her hand toward me. Shit, she's bleeding. "Let's take you to the clinic."
"What?!" She panics. "No. No, I'm fine."
"Ana, you're not fine, you cut your hand."
"I'm fine." She insists.
She gets up and walks to our stuff, getting out the paper towels I packed and wrapping it around her hand, trying to clean it up.
I grab the jagged shell and throw it as far as I can into the water. I know I should've tossed it into the trash, but I needed to let out my frustration. She's fucking scared to go to a fucking doctor, for fuck's sake. What if she really needs medical attention?!
"My mother is a doctor," I tell her when I make it back to our area. "she can look at it for you."
"I'm fine, Christian, really. It's not that bad."
"Well, then let me look at it at least. I have a first aid kit in my car."
"Okay." She nods in agreement so I take off running to grab the first-aid kit I keep in the trunk before she changes her mind.
When I get back she has it mostly cleaned up. I sit beside her and examine the cut. She's right, it's not that bad, only a small cut. I clean it up properly then apply a bandage.
"Daddy, you have to kiss it," Teddy tells me. "to make it better."
Teddy is an amazing wingman. I smile as I lift her hand up and kiss gently on top of the bandage. When I look up at Ana, she's blushing and smiling too.
"There." I whisper. "All better."
"My hero." Ana smiles at me.
"Can we still make a castle now?" Teddy may be a good wingman, but he's also distracting our moments.
"Of course." Ana tells him. But I don't want her to.
"You have to wear this glove." I insist, pulling out the latex glove for her injured hand.
She giggles when I help her put it on.
I help her up and together we all get to work on making a sand castle for Teddy.
We have fun building the castle together. Teddy names all the rooms and when he gets to the kitchen he asks about dinner tonight. It gives me an idea.
"Ana, would you like to have dinner?" I'm vague, leaving out Teddy, so hopefully she will agree if she thinks he will be there too. I know I shouldn't trick her like this, but she already turned me down the last time I asked her out, I wouldn't want a repeat of that, and I want to get to know more about her. There's an attraction between us, she can't deny that.
"I'd love to have dinner."
"What's for dinner?" Teddy asks.
"Whatever grandma and grandpa make," Because that's where you're going, Ana and I are having dinner separately.
I just hope she wont be too disappointed when I drop Teddy off and she realizes it's just the two of us having dinner together. Maybe I should tell her... No, she said she didn't want to go on a date with me, she wont be happy if I tell her we're going to have dinner alone... I've never been on a date before but this is not a date, it's just dinner. Besides, we had lunch together before, but Teddy was with us then... Fuck, it's a date, she's not going to be happy at all when she learns of that fact.
"I- um. I have to change first." Ana interrupts my thoughts. "I can't have dinner in this bikini and I don't want to wear what I wore to work."
"We'll all change." I say in agreement, further portraying Teddy will join us.
Ana bites her lip in thinking and when she finally comes to a decision, she looks at me.
"Can you give me a ride home?"
"Sure." I quickly agree. "I'll drop you off and pick you up in about an hour or so." It will give her time to get ready and me time to drop Teddy off and plan dinner, not to mention I'll finally know where she's been staying.
She smiles and together we all pack up our beach equipment, then head towards the SUV.
I can't believe it. I'm finally going on a date after 31 years of not dating, albeit she doesn't know it's a date yet, and I will finally know more about this mysterious girl.