Page 51 of Grumpy

“I didn’t realize you were awake,” Kelly exclaimed.

Grumpy frowned, the action making the skin grafts on his face pull tight. “We talked after I woke up.” He hadn’t meant to frighten her.

“That was almost forty-five minutes ago. I assumed you went back to sleep.” Kelly took a deep breath, and her voice was calmer when she spoke next. “I’m sorry. I don’t know how you stand the silence, and I got caught up in my head. Sorry.”

Grumpy didn’t like or understand why she was apologizing. His back seized uncomfortably when he tried to sit up more. “Don’t apologize. Do you want to talk through what’s going on in your head?”

Her laugh was dry. “What isn’t? Getting us checked into the hotel, then the debate about the king versus the queen beds again, then if I should shave again before we have sex, then worried it’s been so long for me that cobwebs have grown in unseemly places, then where to touch you or if I’m just supposed to be still and you move me like a sex mannequin…” She shook her head. “Trust me, if there’s a thought to be had about tonight, it’s currently in rattling around in my brain.”

Grumpy wished he could see her, could hold her and reassure her beyond just reaching his hand across the console. As comfortable as the SUV was compared to her Yugo, the wide divide was definitely a downer.

“Good to know, but I have to wonder if you’re aware the hotel is back that way by two exits.”

Kelly jumped again, glancing down at the GPS. Grumpy had learned that she preferred to leave the sound off on the GPS so it didn’t disturb her music or audiobook. It was now silently yelling at her to turn around.

Cursing under her breath, Kelly took the next exit. The GPS recommended they return to the highway going northbound instead of taking sideroads to their hotel. As she brought the cage to a stop at a red light, she leaned forward to place her head on the steering wheel.

“Not exactly radiating sexiness, am I?” she mumbled.

The light turned green, but Grumpy didn’t say anything. From what he could see in the mirror, Jackson’s bike was the only other vehicle around.

“You’re the hottest woman I’ve ever seen.”

Kelly let out a long groan. “You’re just saying that.”

He wasn’t, but he could understand why she would think that. With his scars, grafts, and current medical needs, Grumpy had his moments of doubt too about how she could find him attractive. Though it hurt to do so, Grumpy adjusted himself so he was fully facing her. “Do you remember when the walk-in broke at the diner?”

Kelly lifted her head off the steering wheel a little to look at him. “What?”

“I think it was about two years after I moved to Mount Grove. Maybe three.” He tried to remember who was prospecting for the club around that time.

“It’ll be eight years in March. What’s your point?” She sounded tired, confused, but also annoyed. The sun had already set and the streetlamp cast her in shadows.

“You were so flustered that day. Hell, everyone was. Trying to save food while also serving food. Then there was a commotion in the kitchen. If I remember correctly, one of the servers had knocked over a tub of flour.”

“It’s what made the Grovetons close that day,” she added softly.

Grumpy hadn’t known that, but he supposed that made sense. “You came out white as a ghost, completely covered in flour.”

Kelly’s eyes narrowed on him. She was still leaning forward onto the steering wheel. “Why are you telling me this, Grumpy? I already feel like I’m walking on eggshells, and now you’re taking a trip down memory lane to one of the most embarrassing moments of my life.”

“I think that’s when I started falling in love with you.”

Kelly stared at him like he’d just admitted he had magical powers and his best friend was a unicorn named Pete. “What?”

“You were so flustered, completely covered in flour, trying to help the other staff instead of yourself… And I remember thinking to myself that I’d never seen a more beautiful sight. I’d noticed you before, certainly, but I wouldn’t call it love. Not until that day, at least.”

The light turned green again. Thankfully, no other vehicles approached except for a couple who made right turns.

“You’re right that I’m biased,” he continued. “Pretty sure you could wear a brown paper bag and I’d still think you the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. Well, besides Maddie, but she’s my daughter and that’s a very different type of beauty.”

Kelly’s chuckle was light, almost airy. She sat up more. “I’ve learned a lot about you today, Grumpy. Please don’t take this the wrong way, but I think the biggest thing that I’ve realized, or at least acknowledged today, is that you’re a very simple person. I don’t mean ‘simple’ like mentally challenged, but that you’re direct, straightforward. You like what you like and fuck anyone else. It’s refreshing. You don’t change for anyone, not even me.”

A cage pulled up behind Jackson, but the light had already turned back to red.

Grumpy cocked his head. “I don’t want to change for you. Even if I could, I wouldn’t.”

“I know.” Her lips twitched, not quite a smile. “I wouldn’t want you to, either. I want you to grow with me, not change who you are.” This time, when the light turned green, Kelly sat upright and made the turn. Jackson and the other vehicle followed. “And I don’t even know how you did it, but somehow you made me feel better about tonight.”