Chapter 10

“Sorry, we're so late. I got held up" I say, not willing to throw Cooper under the bus. As much as I'm annoyed with him for making us 20 minutes late to dinner, I know he was just being a good friend. Grayson gives me a small grin, then adds, "It's okay, I know who's to blame." He looks across the booth, and I follow his eyes to see that he's looking at Cooper with a knowing look. Cooper throws his hands up. "Okay, it wasn't completely my fault," Cooper defends as he looks between Axel and Grayson. Honestly, the way he looks right now, only confirms that it is in fact completely his fault. "Thea was wearing a shit outfit and I rectified the situation. So, you're welcome." I know Cooper is only joking, but a girl's got to defend herself at some point. "First of all, my outfit wasn't 'shit' as you put it. A bit casual, yes, but that's what happens when someone doesn't tell me where we're going. Second, you showed up late to begin with. So really, as Grayson said, it is all your fault," I retort. I lean back against the bench and cross my arms across my chest and give the darkest glare I can and direct it at Cooper. A little chuckle is released from my throat, and when no one else laughs I stare at Cooper's dazed expression. Cooper looks to be slightly sweating, and his Adam's apple bobs as he nervously swallows. Axel places a protective arm around Cooper and glares at Grayson. Wow, there's a lot of glaring at this table for just a joke! Grayson wouldn't actually hurt Cooper... right? Thankfully, the server came over and distracted everyone as he took our orders. Cooper ordered a Shirley Temple while Axel and Grayson ordered Corona's. I just asked for water. Once the waiter left to give us more time to peruse the menu, Grayson spoke to me. "You know, you can get a drink. Whatever you want, price doesn't matter." I look at Grayson and give him a small smile. "Thank you. I'm fine with water, though," I say. He's so sweet for thinking that I didn't order a drink because of the price... He was right, too. I open the menu and begin reading the options. It's an American restaurant, so they have options like burgers, pasta, chicken tenders- anything you can imagine. I honestly have no idea how I'm supposed to choose. My eyes dart around the pages- yes, pages- of the menu when I see movement in front of me. Cooper is holding up his menu so that I can only see his eyes, and he is widening them and motioning over to Grayson. With my eyes, I raise my eyebrow and give him the 'what?' expression. Cooper continues to look at Grayson, then at me. I still don't get what he's trying to say, and after 30 seconds of him doing strange eye movements, Axel swoops in to save the day and mouths 'talk to him while looking at Grayson. It's now my turn to widen my eyes. I look to Grayson who is obviously still checking over the menu. My heart flutters and my palms begin to sweat. I know Cooper is playing Cupid, and for some reason, I really appreciate his help. I know me and Grayson won't ever be in a relationship, though. He's too handsome, confident, and rich to slum it with someone who lives in a family that lives paycheck to paycheck. I'm average in looks and personality. However, Grayson makes me feel something that I have never felt before. I feel like a nervous mess, but I strangely trust him and want to get to know him- the real him, not the arrogant growly guy he shows the world. I decide that it's time for me to woman up and take Cooper's advice. Talk to him. How hard can this be? "Ahem," I clear my throat, and immediately Grayson turns his head to look at me with curiosity. "Um," I say as I put a piece of hair behind my ear. "Did you decide w-what you're o-ordering?" I question. Only minimal stuttering. Yes! “Yeah, I'm getting two of the build-your-own burgers. I actually come here a lot. I always get the same thing, yet I feel the need to look over the menu every time," he laughs. I grin at him. "So, you're one of those people? You find something you like and stick to it?" "Yeah, that's me," he says. "That's not you, I assume?" "Nope. I love trying new foods. What if I find something I like better than my original choice? I'll never know." "But," he reasons, "If you order something else and end up not liking it, then you're stuck with something you don't like." "I guess," I say. "At Java, I've tried all the drinks at least twice. I'm unpredictable with my drinks. I'll always keep you on your toes," I laugh, and a smile is mirrored on his beautiful face as well. That's when I notice the dimple in his right cheek, which only makes him more attractive. I internally swoon until he asks me a question. "What are you ordering to eat?" I bite my lip and turn to the menu, flipping through the pages. I'm on the page with the salads when Grayson puts his hand lightly over mine. "Order what you'd like, Thea." I was planning on ordering a salad, but not because I'm trying to be "thin" in front of Grayson or anything like that. I will proudly eat pounds of food in front of others and not be ashamed. "Okay, I'll order what I really want IF you promise not to make fun of me," I tell him, to which he tightens the hand gripping mine. "I will never judge you. Ever." “Okay. I was gonna get the same thing as you, but every time I eat a burger I make a mess." Grayson chuckles, and so do Axel and Cooper, reminding me that they're at the table too. I laugh with them as well. "No, I'm being serious, Grayson! Like, ketchup gets everywhere and the tomato never stays on the bun for longer than a few bites and my hands get all greasy and don't forget about the onions that-" I'm stopped by an amused Grayson as he places two fingers on my lips to shut me up. His strategy works to stop my talking but does nothing to stop my thoughts from racing. He's touching my lips. He's TOUCHING my lips. He's TOUCHING MY LIPS! Grayson seems to have the same thoughts as mine because his eyes slightly darken and his focus shifts to my lips. He slowly slides his fingers down my lips, catching the bottom one slightly and causing it to be pulled down before being released. Grayson takes in a sudden breath and slowly, ever so slowly begins to lean forward. His trance only lasts for a second before the waiter comes back to take our orders. Grayson groans when I look towards the waiter, and Axel smirks and whispers something into Cooper's ear which causes Cooper to laugh in response. After we all order, the conversation picks up again. I should mention that I was the only normal one in the group who ordered one burger. The guys all ordered two burgers and six sides for all of us to share, which is insane if I might add. Cooper and I started talking about school, and Grayson also talked about his college years. I learned that he studied Business and graduated in three years instead of four. He used his degree to help him with his family business, which was passed down to him by his father. He told me that his father died a few years back. He seems devastated. I know I would be if it were my mom who passed. The mood lightened after that and before I knew it, the food was served. All the guys dig into their meals while I remain staring at the monstrosity of a burger that lay before me. “You gonna eat, babe?" Grayson questions. "U-um, yeah. I just, um... Don't know how to..." Grayson gives me the strangest look like he's super confused yet is still trying to understand what I'm saying. "It's huge!" I clarify. "Just grab it with your hands, Thea," Cooper says as he takes an inhumanly large bite out of his burger. "Okay, well I don't have monster hands like you all do, so it's not going to be graceful by any means" I grumble under my breath, but I think they all heard me based on their smiles. I grab the large burger in my hands and can already feel the grease seeping into my fingers. Just how I like it. I open my mouth as wide as it will go and attempt to bite into the burger, but my mouth doesn't even reach around the entire thing. I bite down anyway, which begins to squeeze ketchup out of the opposite side of the burger and drip onto my plate. "See!" I say, motioning with my eyes at the mess I've already made with one bite. We all eat our food in comfortable silence as we all enjoy the amazing meal. I finish half of my burger and a handful of fries before I'm full, all the while the boys polish off their double orders and the sides, too. Grayson wipes his hands on his napkin, then looks over to me, then to my plate. His head reels back when he sees the complete and utter mess on my plate. The bun fell off of my burger, and various condiments are spread out in disarray all over my plate. It looks like an animal ate the burger, not an 18-year-old girl. "I told you!" I tease Grayson as I push his shoulder lightly. "Pfft, and you call us monsters?" Cooper laughs. "Look at you! What the fuck did you do to that poor burger?" "Pfft, and you call us monsters?" Cooper laughs. "Look at you! What the fuck did you do to that poor burger?" “Okay, do you see these hands?" I hold up my small hands in front of Cooper. "I physically cannot grip the entire burger, so things fall out. It's not my fault!" I whine. Grayson grabs one of my hands and holds it in his. His large, calloused hand completely envelops my small one. "I like your small hands," he mumbles. I blush at his words. There's something so attractive about his hands. They are so big and warm. And muscular. Is that a thing? Muscular hands? Well, I think it's a thing. “But, since you like trying new foods, for our next date maybe you can eat something that doesn't result in its destruction," he says with a small smile. That comment makes Cooper lose it. His laugh attracts half the restaurant, which in turn makes Axel laugh loudly along with him. The quiet, reserved Axel is full out laughing- at my expense! I scrunch up my face in "anger" and remove my hand from his and cross my arms. I attempt to give him a glare, but Grayson's smile only grows. This reminds me that he told me that I look like an adorable kitten when I glare at him. Which only gets me more upset. "Stop the presses! Grayson Dark just told a joke!" Cooper screams. "Oh my god, this will go down in history, folks!" "Shut up," Grayson grumbles. Shortly after, the waiter comes to take our plates away. He does a double-take when he sees the mess on my plate, but after a low growl from Grayson, the waiter doesn't remark on it and cleans the table. The waiter returns with dessert menus, and even though I'm not hungry, I still look at it. "I thought you said you were full," Grayson asks me. "Tsk tsk tsk. Grayson do I have to teach you everything?" I question. "Okay, I'm going to give you an anatomy lesson." I back up slightly on the bench so that Grayson can see my stomach area. "Especially you, Cooper since you're pre-med. This is important," I motion over to Axel and Cooper. I point to different parts on my body and say the corresponding names. "Ribs are here, then there's the small intestine, the large intestine is down here, and above that is the stomach."I then point to slightly below my stomach. "And this is the dessert stomach. It's a slight extension of the stomach, but it's a place where no real food is allowed. Only sweets. Therefore, I am full, but I have my dessert stomach that is still completely ready for dessert."