Fall From Grace(32)

I dressed in a pair of black yoga pants and a plain purple tee shirt.  I ran a brush through my hair and let it air dry.  I put on my slippers and made my way into the kitchen.

Shane was grabbing water bottles for us from the refrigerator when I walked in. Two plates were on the table filled with turkey and lettuce wraps with a delicious looking olive salad on the side.  Wow.

“Sorry, I took so long.  I really didn’t think you were going to stay,” I said.

Shane shook his head, chuckled softly and looked up to the ceiling, as if he was searching for some divine intervention.  “Is that why you took so long, so I’d leave?  All you have to do is ask me to leave, Grace.  I just thought after a two hour run on an empty stomach that you’d like some food.”

I gave him a smile.  “No, ass.  I didn’t stay in there because of you.  Not everything in this world revolves around you, you know.  And thanks, I’m starving,” I said, sitting down.

He watched me closely as I took my first mouthful of food.  Delicious.  “Will you be joining me or are you just here to watch me eat?  It’s pretty good, by the way.” I teased, motioning to his untouched plate.

Shane made no move to eat. He just sat and stared intently at my eyes.  I stopped chewing and swallowed my food.  I should have chewed more, because I immediately started coughing; my eyes tearing.

He jumped up and moved in front of me, “Are you okay?  Is it that bad?”

I burst out laughing, and wiped my teary eyes.  “Oh God, Shane.  It’s delicious.  I’m choking because you’re sitting there staring at me like the taste of your turkey wrap depends on your life.”

Shane laughed too and sat back down.

“Man, you made my eyes tear up,” I complained.

Leaning his elbows on the table, he moved closer to me, “Those are such gorgeous eyes, there should never be tears in them,” he said.  “Your purple shirt is reflecting into them. It’s making them look lavender.”

I smiled.  “No wonder you were staring at me like that.  Yeah, I can change my eye color if I wear certain colors, but most of the time they’re dull gray.”

It was his turn to burst out in laughter, choking, “Grace, there nothing dull about those eyes, and you’re right, this shit is delicious.  You’re welcome.”

After we finished, I helped him clean up and we made our way into the living room.

He grabbed his coat and his bag and turned to me.  “Have anything planned today?”

“No, not really.”

“I was just going to play around at the studio, wanna come?”

“Studio?”

“Yeah, we have a sound proof studio apartment. that’s where we practice every day.”  Yes.  Yes.  I want to bring my guitar and play those notes that make you sing like that.

“How many apartments do you guys have?” I wondered out loud.

“Tucker’s father owns the building, so they’re reasonable.  So, do you want to hang out?”

I grabbed my coat, put on my shoes, and nodded.  “Tucker and his family seem like they have it all, huh?”

Disappointment flashed across his features.  “Yeah, Tucker has it all.”

We stepped out into the windy February day and walked down the street towards his building.  He glanced at me sideways, “Did you have a good time with Tucker last night?  I saw you left the bar with him.”

I looked at him and shrugged.  “Yeah, he took me for a drive.”