Page 21 of Not A Whisper

By the timeI park in front of my apartment building, my anxiety is back, full force. My nerves are absolutely frayed. I don’t know why having Grant know what I’ve been up to has gotten under my skin, but it has. Now, I’ve overthought everything and my head is killing me.

I trudge up the stairs, rubbing my temples as I do. Just as I unlock my apartment door and step inside, my phone rings. I pull it from my jacket pocket to see Pianna's name on the screen. My heart swells as I answer, putting her on speaker phone.

"Hey, you. I'm surprised I haven't gotten any pictures of your vision boards for your wedding yet."

"What are you talking about?" Pianna asks in fake shock. "I've had a vision board of my plans since we were kids. I kept it on my wall foryears. You didn’t memorize it?"

Oh god, Idoremember it. Mrs. Gonzalez was so mad when she realized that Pianna had glued her purple, pink, and glittery board to the wall. I also remember how ridiculous all of it was.

I snort. "Do you still want one of those cupcake dresses?"

As I move further into my apartment, I kick off my shoes and peel off my jacket. It goes on the hook and my purse drops to the floor. Already I’m starting to feel better. All I need is a glass of wine. Pressing my phone between my shoulder and ear, I head to the kitchen while reaching under my shirt to unsnap my bra.

"Absolutely not. How can I show off my curves inthattype of dress? I want to lookhot. Like cause a spike on the heat index, impact global warming type hot. Those icecaps are going to melt faster than ever on the day of my wedding. Which is why I'm calling you. When can you take off? I need my Maid of Honor when I go dress shopping."

My groan of despair is met with laughter. “God, dress shopping with you is going to be a nightmare.”

“Yup, of epic proportions. It’s why I need you for at least a week, if not longer.”

“Pia! A week?” I shake my head in disbelief as I slip my bra out of the sleeve of my shirt. “Youmightget a three day trip from me if I can manage to take off on a Friday.”

“Threedays? That’s not even enough time to hit all the places I've scheduled to do cake tastings!”

She’s going to be a bridezilla, I can already tell. Still, I can’t help but smile. Pianna is a go big or go home type of girl. "I don't know, Pia, I'll have to?—"

Someone steps into the kitchen, coming from the direction of my office, just as I enter the space. My bra falls to the floor as I yelp in surprise. But even as I open my mouth, my fear vanishes. Grant smirks as I cover my heart with my hand.

"Bri? Bri? Are you ok? What's going on?" Pianna asks.

"Why would you just pop up like that?" I whack him on the shoulder as I pass him to head to the cabinet. “Are you trying to give me a heart attack?”

“Bri,who is it?”

I roll my eyes. “It’s Grant.”

“Oh, is he coming around now?” The heavy judgment in her voice is hard to miss. “Well, go spend time with him. Heaven knows you have a lot to catch up on since you haven’t seen each other in… How long has it been?”

“Alright, Pia,bye.” I hang up before she responds.

As I toss my phone onto the table, Grant asks, “Did I hear something about dress shopping?”

“Yeah, Pia’s getting married. She needs me to fly out to help her pick a wedding dress.”

“Ah. Well, send her my congratulations.”

I force myself not to grimace as I come to a stop in front of my cabinets. With how salty Pianna feels about my guys and their lack of involvement in my life, I’m not sure his commendation would be well met.

Grant catches my hand as I reach for a bottle of red wine. I turn toward him suspiciously, not sure what to expect. My wariness falls away as I get a good, up-close look into Grant’s face.

I’m shocked at the person staring back at me.

With bloodshot and sunken eyes, hollow cheeks and skin an alarming shade of white—Grant lookssick. Even his hair, which is usually styled, is in disarray, like he’s been constantly raking his fingers through those auburn locks. Did he look this way this morning? Sleepy and anxious, I had an excuse not to look too closely. But now? I step toward him, my eyes searching his face with concern. My free hand comes up to rest on his chest.

“Jesus, Grant, you look?— “

“Like shit? Yeah, I know.” His smirk is weak at best and doesn’t last long. “There’s a reason for that.”

He surprises me by bending down and giving me a swift kiss on the lips. My breath catches in my throat as my heartsomersaults. God, I’ve missed him. The tension that’s gathered in my body all day ebbs away in small increments until I’m practically Jell-O by the time Grant pulls away.

---