We pulled out of the gym and headed left on Reseda. He had decided on a mexican grill that was only a couple of blocks away. Needless to say, I didn't have much of an appetite. I WAS pleasantly entertained by a fangirl seated at a table adjacent to ours. She was clearly unhappy seeing me dining with Ross. If looks could kill, I'd be in serious peril. Ross was a little less amused than I was. Deciding to get our order to go.
We took our meal to our hideout. It looked different here during the day, and this time we did have places to be. So our lunch was rushed, which was fine with me. Even in a crunch, he had time to squeeze in a bit of awkward. "So, uh, I'm kinda pickin up on you diggin on me a little bit." he spurted out. "Whaaat?" I said, a little shocked at his forwardness. "No, I'm not 'diggin on' you." I answered, complete with his signature air quotes. "what are you even talking about?" I asked. "I saw you checking me out back at the gym." "Kinda like how you were checkin me out IN MY ROOM?" I replied. "Oh, what, a guy can't look at a beautiful woman these days without being accused of checking her out? I glaaanced at you in your room, you looked like you were studying me so you could paint my picture." he said laughing. Again, heat rose to my face and I felt myself turn bright red. "Well, like I said, me coming into the gym was a bad idea. You forced me. Can we maybe change the subject?" He shook his head. "Nope, I'm enjoying this way too much." he laughed again.
At this point I started gathering our things and headed back to the car. "You're gonna be late for the shoot." I called back over my shoulder. He jogged past me and opened my car door for me. "I was just playin with you. Relax." I didn't reply, just drove to the shoot, in silence.
This time, I did wait in the car. I took the opportunity to call my cousin, he had rehearsal tonight, so I figured it would be the perfect time for she and I to catch up.
A little more than a half an hour after he entered the building, he returned to the car. He looked exhausted. I felt so bad for him. He needed a vacation in a bad way. This guy was always on. "Debating on taking a nap before rehearsal." he spoke, sounding like he could pass out at any moment. "Probably a good idea. I told him. "You still mad?" he asked. "Can we just drop it?" "Sure" he answered. We drove back to the house. He filled me in on the shoot. Apparently they had had him in just a pair of swim trunks, with a beach backdrop. They were obviously playing off of his surfer boy look.
As we pulled into the driveway, Stormie walked up to the car. She waited for us to get out, and the lecture began. Before she finished, I was sure I was fired. But after telling us how disappointed she was in us for staying out all night, she told me how happy she was that Ross had found a confidante. She then turned and walked back into the house. Ross and I only shrugged at each other before following her inside.
After Ross had made his way upstairs for his rest, I joined Stormie in the kitchen. "I'm really sorry about last night. I was just trying to help. It seemed like he really needed to get something off his chest." "I know, he's been wound pretty tight lately. He almost seems like the old Ross today. Whatever you did last night, it helped." I stared down into the cup of coffee I had poured myself. "Hes so amazing Stormie, they all are. You and mark did a great job raising them, really." "Well thanks" she said, smiling. With that she stood up and left me sitting alone there.
