Saving Grant Ward

Chapter Eighteen

I woke up the next morning and found Grant already gone. I hoped last night wouldn't make him weird around me, but either way I was glad we'd had the conversation. I felt like I understood him better, and hopefully, he felt the same way about me.

I rolled out of bed and ate a banana in the kitchen, then pulled out my phone to call Grant. Hopefully, he remembered our conversation in Greenland and had brought his phone with him.

It rang a few times and I couldn't hear it in the hotel room, so I hoped that meant Grant had it.

"Hello?" asked Grant, picking up.

"Hey Grant!" I chirped. "Thanks for taking your phone this time."

I could practically hear him rolling his eyes.

"You're welcome. Now what do you need?" he asked.

"Where are you?"

"Coffee run."

"I hate coffee."

"Yes, I remembered the cream," he said, fake laughing at the end.

"What?" I asked. I thought for a second (like seriously, what conversation was he having?), then I remembered that he had to maintain his cover. "Shoot, never mind, I get it now. Am I gonna have to drink coffee as part of my cover?"

"Yeah."

"Damn. See you when you get back."

"Alright, I'll hurry."

****************

"So, where are we going today?" I asked Grant as we stood together in the kitchen of our hotel suite. He had both cups of coffee in front of him while I'd made myself a tea instead.

"Around town. We're just going to wander today and see if we can pick up any conversation bites that might give us a clue as to where the orb is and, more importantly, who's looking for it," he answered.

"Sounds good," I replied. "Finish your second coffee, and let's get out there."

Grant just shook his head as I moved past him to get dressed. Neither of us had said anything about last night, but Grant also hadn't been acting weird or differently around me either, which was a relief. We'd had a good conversation and gotten to know each other better, with no regrets or discomfort hovering over us in the light of day.

Once Grant and I both got dressed, we headed out of the hotel together and into the streets of Spain. I smiled, pausing to take in the moment. This place was beautiful, but even better, it was warm.

"It's so nice here!" I noted as we walked. "It's like eighty degrees!"

"Yeah. It's a nice change from Greenland."

"No kidding! I mean look! I'm wearing a dress!" I pulled at the hem of my skirt to emphasize my point. "I was wearing winter jackets to bed in Greenland."

Grant just laughed. "I gotta admit, it does feel nice to have the sun on my face."

We walked a little farther, hand in hand, just taking in the sights and basking in the absolutely gorgeous day. Then, I saw a moped go speeding by.