State of Grace (Complete)

Reunited

Ch 48

"Sorry, Ian, I didn't realize..." a familiar but embarrassed voice trails off, my eyes blink open. "Grace?"

"Kyle?" I jump up and dash over, launching myself at him for a big hug, all my reserve gone.

"Oh Angel, I'm so happy to see you," he tells me as he laughs, holding me close and kissing the top of my head.

"What are you doing here?"

"I live here," he grins.

I'm incredulous, "You're the roommate?"

"Yeah, didn't Ian tell you?"

Now it's my turn to be embarrassed, "Um, we haven't really talked much."

Kyle laughs, "Let me introduce you to Anna, my girlfriend." He gestures to the girl next to him, and I recognize her almost right away. She's the girl from Ian's driveway last year.

"So nice to finally meet you, Grace," she says with a grin. I must look confused because she explains, "I've heard so much about you from these two, I feel like I know you."

"Nice to meet you, too, Anna," and I shake her hand.

"Gracie, you look good, better than I've seen you in forever."

"Kyle," Anna chides, "that's not how you compliment a girl."

"It's okay," I smile, "I know what he means, and Kyle, you look great, too."

I walk back towards Ian and his eyes follow me like I might disappear. I don't want him to think that's an option, so I sit almost on top of him. He laughs and pulls me onto his lap, his arms wrapping around me. I rest my head against his shoulder and listen to the chatter around me, Kyle, Anna and Ian falling into an easy banter. She's obviously very used to being here, which is verified by the way she moves through the kitchen making tea.

"Grace, want a cup?"

"Sure."

"Milk and sugar?" she asks.

Ian responds before I can, "one of each." Anna lifts her eyebrow.

"So, the two of you," she wags her fingers at us, "how long has this been going on?"

"An hour?" I answer, uncertain, biting my finger.

Kyle laughs, shaking his head, "Since Grace was four."

I learn all about how Kyle and Anna met, how Ian and Kyle became roommates, the politics of the arts and business programs, and a bunch of other things I've missed in the past year and a half. Ian plays with my hair gently while the conversation continues, driving me crazy. Aria was a short term fling and Kyle was glad when Ian dumped her, shortly after I met her at the bookstore. She wanted him to take down the pictures of me, but he refused. It gets later and later, time slipping by and eventually Anna and Kyle go into Kyle's room, leaving us alone on the sofa. Ian shifts and now I'm facing him.

"Gracie, what are we doing?" anxiety fills his voice and his eyes search mine.

"What do you mean?" I'm confused, I can't take rejection from him, it's like I just started breathing again.

He buries his head in his hands and I reach out, rubbing his back, just like when we were little. I don't want him hurting. Finally he speaks, his voice soft but full of longing, "I can't have this be a fling, I can't be this close to having you again only to lose you. Please tell me this is real."

"I'm here." I trace my fingers from his shoulder down his arm gently, and I can feel him quiver. "What do you want from me, Ian?" I whisper.

I need to hear him say it, the same thing I need from him. He lifts his head and his deep shining eyes bore a hole right through me, and I can see into his soul. "Forever, Grace. I need forever. I can't walk away from you again, I can't forget you. I can't watch you leave," his voice wavers.