Loving Grant

Bad Behavior

Grant makes a displeased face as I adjust the seat. "Rinnie, do your feet even reach the break?"

I side eye him. "My fist is about to reach your break."

He burst out laughing until I give him a disapproving look. "Sorry, I'm just used to driving."

"I prefer you driving too, so let's not make you getting sick a habit, okay?"

"Can you sing to me?" He says as if it's not a super random request.

"You want me to sing right now?"

"No, I need you to sing right now."

I drum my fingers along the steering wheel. How could I say no to that?  "Any requests?"

"Something romantic." He pauses for dramatic effect. "Womanizer by Brittany Spears?"

I veto the song right away. "Try again."

"Toxic and I want you to dance to it." He counters.

"That's not a compromise."

He puts his hand lightly on my thigh. "If you do that, I promise I'll be on my best behavior tonight. I'll listen to whatever you tell me to do."

"Play the song." I say without hesitation. I really needed him to let me take care of him tonight.

His fingers speedily type in the song title. "FYI, this is just good for tonight. I'm a rebel again tomorrow."

"So is me performing for you, which is going to be difficult while driving by the way."

The song begins to play, and I sing and dance my heart out. I surprise myself with how much I enjoy it. When I pull into my driveway the mood is light and airy.

Grant hops out of the car and jogs over to open my door. "That did something for me."

"It's too bad you're on bedrest."

He looks thrilled as he follows closely behind me. "Well then so are you, Rinnie." He winks at me, sending chills down my spine.

"Not that kind of bedrest. You need to take it easy mister."

He shocks me by being quiet as we enter the house.

"Want something to drink?" He walks to the kitchen and opens the fridge.

"I'm okay, thanks."

I watch him pull out a coke. He looks at me, skeptical. "Okay, say it."

"Say what?"

The coke fizzes when he cracks it open. "You're dying to say something, it's all over your face."

I press my back against the counter. "I don't like the fact that you're on drugs."

"Really, because I hid it to surprise you."

"How am I supposed to be okay with something that could kill you?" My voice cracks when I try to force the words out.

I watch his expression darken. He's in front of me in seconds. "We all die Rinnie, I'd like to die calm."

"No." I press my eyes closed. "Don't act like this is okay, this isn't okay Grant."

I can feel his breath against my face. "It's just how I've learned to cope."

My eyes fly open. "I can't imagine growing up with your mother, but you can't keep doing this to yourself. It's clearly not working. You're not happy."

"I'm happy." He attempts an awkward smile. "When I was a kid, my parents gave me some Xanax to calm me down and I just kept up with it. It was one of the only good things they did for me."