When Gracie Met The Grump

She was my favorite antihero. She did what she had to do, even if she bitched and complained the whole time.

If I’d learned anything in all the romance books I’d ever read, it was that you wanted someone to pick you. But I could pick myself, and that’s what I was going to do.

“But I’ve been training my nose to ignore most scents my entire life, so it isn’t overwhelming.” I turned to him. Maybe a normal person would have asked what kind of training he’d endured, but that wasn’t what pressed down on my nosy soul. “Who has the worst farts you’ve ever smelled?”

You have my permission to use my body as a human shield if I’m gone. I won’t care.”

“First of all, you’re hobbling around, but I’m not stupid. I know you could kill me in the blink of an eye. You don’t fool me. I see it in you; I hear it in your voice. The Primordial seems like she’s an angel, but you don’t. You guys don’t have the same look in your eye. I thought maybe you’re just crabby because you’re in pain, but I don’t really

“Yeah, you were. All that crying… and sniffling?” He made a dismissive sound. “Disgusting.”

“It isn’t, but I know you. And you’re not supposed to be anyone else’s Gracie, you’re my friend. My Gracie. I’m too heavy to be a good swimmer, but I’ll never let you drown. I’ll never leave you. I’ll never keep secrets from you again.”

I wiped at my eyes even harder. “Anyone ever told you… that you cry ugly?” he fucking asked. If I thought it would actually hurt him, I’d kick him in the nuts. Instead, I slouched forward even more, squeezed my hands into fists so tight my nails dug into my palms, and gritted out, “I. Know. That.”

I think my heart broke a little bit. “Why are you so beautiful?”