Eleanor & Grey(62)

But either way, I planned to keep showing up. When we were kids and I was lonely, that was exactly what Greyson had done. He had showed up for me, even when I tried to push him away.

Maybe all people needed sometimes was for someone to keep showing up for them during the hard days, even when they tried their best to push everyone away.





37





Eleanor





Each day I showed up to the Easts’ home just as the sun began to rise. Every time I saw it coming up, I said a little prayer for them. I found gratitude in the little things, because that was what Mom had taught me to do. I tried to appreciate all the small moments, because at the end of the day, those were the ones that count the most.

One Friday when I walked into Greyson’s house, I first made my coffee, like I did every morning, and then went to wake Lorelai. As I rounded the corner toward her room, out of nowhere came Greyson. I crashed straight into him, spilling hot coffee all over his suit.

“Shit!” he hollered, jumping back a bit.

“Oh, my gosh, I’m so sorry,” I exclaimed, placing the mug down, and rubbing my hands all the way down his chest to try to sweep the spilled coffee off of him. I paused my movements as I realized I was patting down Greyson’s privates.

Oh my gosh, stop rubbing coffee off his crotch.

Oh my gosh, it’s moving!

I leaped back as I felt my face heating up from embarrassment. “Oh my, I’m so sorry.”

Stop staring at his crotch. Ellie. Look up, look up, look…

I looked up and Greyson appeared furious.

In that moment, I much preferred the lower half of his expression.

Look down, look down, look down…

“Jesus, you need to watch where you’re going!” he barked, angrier than really needed. It was clear it wasn’t my intention to spill coffee all over him and grope his privates.

“I’m sorry. Obviously, it was an accident.”

“That doesn’t make it better. This is a seven-hundred-dollar tailored suit that you just ruined,” he snapped once more, his harsh tone grating on me.

“Well, why the heck would anyone buy a seven-hundred-dollar suit to begin with?” I barked back.

Being around Greyson was so confusing. You never knew if you were going to get the heartbroken version of him, or the angry one.

“Plus, there’s a thing called a dry cleaner,” I said.

“I don’t have time to deal with this or you.”

“Why are you being so rude?” I asked.

“Why are you so clumsy?” he responded, pushing past me. He rounded the corner leaving me there, stunned.

“Way to act like an asshole, Grey,” I muttered to myself, shaken by Greyson’s unnecessary attitude. Sure, I spilled coffee on his ridiculously priced suit and tie, but there was no need to be nasty about it.

Mistakes happened.

“What’s an asshole?” a small voice asked.

I turned around to see Lorelai yawning with her butterfly wings on, rubbing the tiredness from her eyes.

“Oh, nothing, Lorelai. I said askhole. It’s like a person who asks a lot of questions,” I quickly stated, trying to cover up my mistakes.

“My dad is an askhole?” she wondered, her K still sounding quite a bit like an S.

Great.

“Well, no, I mean…well what I meant was—”

Before I could remedy my actions, Lorelai went marching off, speaking loudly. “Daddy! Daddy! Did you know you’re an askhole?! You’re such an askhole, Dad!”





That evening I wasn’t at all surprised when I opened my email and saw one letter from Greyson in my inbox.



FROM: [email protected] TO: [email protected]

DATE: March 8, 7:34 PM

SUBJECT: Really?



Eleanor,

Askhole.

Really?

Strike two.

Warm regards,

Mr. East



I closed my laptop and slightly shrugged my shoulders.

Well, okay. I guess I kind of deserved that one. But still, I got a strike for saying askhole, and not one for his daughter missing weeks of school. I was starting to think this strike system was flawed.

I went about the rest of my Friday evening doing what I did best—I tried to call my father, and when he didn’t answer, I went back to reading. Shay was locked away in her bedroom working on her next screenplay for the remainder of the night. Us single gals really knew how to have wild weekends, that was for sure.

I sat on the living room couch reading my novel late into the night, and around midnight, my phone dinged.

I picked it up to see a new email.



FROM: [email protected] TO: [email protected]

DATE: March 9, 12:04 AM

SUBJECT: Today



Eleanor,

I apologize for snapping at you today.. I was dazed and confused after after a night of not sleping. I couldn’t shut my brain off, and I took it out on you.

You confuse me.

When you’re in a room I don’t know where to look.

I don’t know hoow to act.

I don’t know how to be in the same sppace as you without feeling some kind of way.

I don’t know what it means that you’re here after all of this time, and that drives me insane.