The flight to Savannah on Brian's personal plane was short and took less than an hour. As the hired car drove them to their hotel through the streets of the city, Grace's memories began to return. The moss on the trees and the tourists walking the squares were both so familiar that she got a little panicky. Why did she think she could do this?

"So," she cleared her throat, "is your business based in Savannah?" she asked it in hopes that a conversation would distract her from the heaviness in her chest.

"No, New York, but my lawyer had some other business in Savannah so he asked if I would meet him here, and since he is my best friend, and I owe him more than a few favors, I agreed." He smiled over at her.

Grace returned his smile, not realizing how desperate hers looked.

The car pulled into a fancy hotel that was perched above the Savannah River.  It was dusk and the sun was just starting to set.  She could hear the cicadas in the trees and the music from the restaurants along River Street which was below their hotel. All of it was so familiar even though she had not been home in twelve years.

Brian held out his hand as she exited the car, putting an arm around her waist as if he sensed she needed support. They were passed by a couple of drag queens leaving the restaurant, and Brian leaned down and whispered in her ear, "I always forget how crazy this city is, it always seems as if the crazier it is the better it is."

Grace gave a smile at his accurate description of her city.

They breezed through check-in and agreed to meet in the lobby in half an hour for dinner.  "Where would you like to go?" Brian asked.

"There's a pizza place just around the corner, I used to love going there when I was younger," Grace suggested.

"Vinny's?"

"Yes." She smiled, he knew it which meant it must still be there.

They parted and Grace went to her room. The view was stunning.  It looked down on the river below and the large bridge was on her left. She leaned her head against the cool glass.

Home, it felt the same.

She freshened up in the bathroom, unpacked the few clothes she had, and then it was time to meet Brian in the lobby. He was on the phone when she saw him and he waved her over but by the time she reached him he had hung up and took her hand.  "I hope you don't mind if we're a few more at dinner?"

Grace shook her head. She didn't mind. In fact, the more the merrier which would make it less likely that she would have the chance to let her mind journey down memory lane.

"Are you ready to show me your city?" 

They walked out of the hotel and into the hot and steamy night.  Savannah was not like Atlanta.  They were right on the coast so the nights could be very humid. Grace was glad that she had brought a hair clip as she wound her hair up loosely and fastened it to the top of her head.

Brian looked at her with a grin. "Ready?"

She nodded and he took her hand again as they walked into the mob of tourists on the streets. Grace led him through the scenic route to the restaurant, walking through a few squares and past a few bands.

When they arrived at the restaurant they were told that they had to wait for the rest of their party to arrive before they could be seated so Brian and Grace sat on a bench people watching.  She wasn't sure which one of them had started the game but they had their heads together, laughing at a lady in spandex whose face looked like it had been painted on after one too many beers. They leaned into each other laughing as her boyfriend tried to catch her and failed.

Grace was laughing so hard that she snorted, covered her face and looked at Brian as they both started laughing so hard that Grace actually started crying.

"Ever the lady, Grace," Brian gasped between laughs.

Maybe she would have a few good memories when she left to take the place of some of the old ones.

"Grace is that you? Grace Winston?" Grace looked over her shoulder to see a girl that looked vaguely familiar.  "It's Connie, Connie Monroe from high school."

Grace searched her memory bank and eventually remembered.  She had not been a nice girl in high school, she had been one of the popular girls who loved to make Grace feel inferior.

Grace gave her a cool smile. "Connie."

"Grace, it's so good to see you." Connie gave her a hug as if they were long lost friends. Grace gave Brian grimace that made him have to hide a chuckle.

"Aren't you going to introduce me to your friend?" Connie asked, eyeing Brian like he was a tasty treat.

"Brian, this is Connie, Connie this is Brian." This time Connie gave him a hug and he looked flabbergasted while Grace tried to hide a laugh.

"Connie, come on our table is ready," A few girls called from across the outdoor seating area. Connie gave them a wave then joined her friends, almost walking into a table since she couldn't take her eyes off of Brian.

"That's what you get for being so handsome, random girls hugging you.  I think she was politely feeling you up.  Did she grab your butt, I couldn't tell?" Grace put her arm around Brian's waist and looked up at him.

"Ha, ha, ha, very funny, next time we'll pretend that I have tourettes or something."

"What are you going to call out?"

"I'll let it be a surprise, shall I?" he growled into her ear making Grace laugh again. "And here is the rest of the group."

Grace turned with a smile on her face for Brian's friends.

"Grace!" Cassie all but screamed as she threw herself at Grace. "Mason, its Grace!"

"It seems we share friends." Grace smiled weakly at Brian over Cassie's shoulder.

Grace was spun around by Cassie to see Mason and Bryce joining their group, a group that was attracting a lot of attention.

Grace didn't notice anything but Bryce. He wearing shorts and a t-shirt. The t-shirt did little to hide the muscles in his arms and chest; she had never seen him wear shorts before.

Her eyes met his but she saw only a look of friendly regard.

"Gracie!" Mason greeted, swinging her into a friendly hug then passing her on to Bryce who put his arm around her with a squeeze. Grace's heart actually stopped.

Cassie gave Brian a hug then moved back to Grace, pulling her away from the men who had moved to get them a table.

"Brian Alexander, Grace? You are a sly one. Are you trying to make Bryce jealous by going after his best friend?"

"Brian and Bryce are best friends?" Grace looked at the two men who were joking with Mason. So much for trying to leave the state to get away from Bryce.  It seemed the harder she tried to the bigger she failed.

"You didn't know?" Cassie sounded confused.

"No, I didn't even know that you all would be here this evening.  I was told by Brian that he had a few friends that would be joining us but that was all." Grace met Bryce's vacant glance. "Is that what Bryce thinks?" Grace asked mortified.

"Who knows, all we knew was that Brian had brought a friend with him, and we were all eager to see who he would invite to travel with him.  He pretty much keeps to himself." Cassie shrugged.

Grace had to talk to Brian. What if he thought she had planned all this, that she had used him? She looked at Brian and he gave her a friendly smile. He seemed pleased by the coincidence. But she didn't have the chance to talk to him due to Mason and Cassie being with them which meant that they were quickly escorted to a table.

"Now Grace picked the restaurant, so if you're dissatisfied with it you can blame her," Brian teased.

"Thanks Brian, no pressure right?" Grace muttered.

"Relax Grace, sometimes life is full of crazy coincidences and where better than crazy Savannah," Brian whispered in her ear before giving her temple a kiss.

Grace had been seated between Brian and Mason, directly across from Bryce. When she looked up from her menu it was directly into Bryce's blank gaze.  She was suddenly transported back to a year ago when she had first met him. He had almost looked right through her then too.

She listened as everyone was deciding what to order. Grace noted that Bryce's hair was a little long, he looked tired, and had a little more grey at his temples.

"What about you Grace?" Mason asked.

"I think I'll just have a slice of pepperoni." She laid her menu down as more choices were thrown about.

Finally they had a pitcher of beer and an order placed.

Grace was quiet as she listened to Brian filling the other three in on how they met.

Grace asked what everyone else was doing in Savannah.  She found out that Mason was filming a movie and Cassie had joined him for the duration. Bryce had business with Mason as well as Brian so he was combining the trip. The more they talked the easier it became for Grace to return to some semblance of normal.

There were a lot of questions about Savannah that Grace did her best to answer.  It came out in conversation that she had given ghost tours of the city when she had been a teenager and they were all determined that she give them one after they were done with dinner.

They finished dinner and rose to leave when she saw Connie making a beeline right for them.

"Quick Cassie, block Mason." Brian put Grace right in front of Bryce and then put Bryce in front of him. She could feel Bryce's body pressed against her. He didn't step away. Why didn't he step away?

"Coward!" she hissed, leaning around Bryce who had to put his arm out to steady her.

"Grace!" Connie cried, slurring the word so it came out Gwace and weaving from side to side. "Come meet my fwends, I'm sure you wemember them from high school." Connie giggled.

Grace felt her whole body tense.

"I'm afraid that we don't have time Connie, we have a walking tour that's starting in just a few minutes, and we have to walk to get there. In fact, why don't you all go ahead and I'll catch up." She nodded to the rest of the group.

"I'll stay with Grace, you all go ahead," Bryce insisted. 

"Oooh a Brit, how sexy," Connie bobbed a little, heading for a fall towards Grace.

Bryce's hand shot out and caught her. "Where are your friends, we would be delighted to meet them," he said with utter politeness. Grace could sense the tension in his shoulders.

Poor Bryce, he turned up just in time to save her again.  No wonder he hadn't contacted her in over seven months. Don't kid yourself Grace, you all but told him not to contact you. No benefits, remember? She mentally kicked herself.

Bryce kept his hand on Connie's elbow helping steer her towards the table that she had approached them from.

"No, they want to meet Cassandwa and Mason Stevens not Gwace.  We all know Gwace alweady," Connie cried.

Bryce had her back at her table and seated quickly. "Ladies," he greeted the other two women who looked a little embarrassed.

They both greeted Grace a little sheepishly and shook Bryce's hand.

"Tell me, Gwace," Connie had risen from her seat and was poking her finger into Grace's chest. "How did a giwl like you," contempt was shining bright in her eyes, "get fwiends like those?" She motioned to Bryce and then the table where they had been sitting earlier.

Every muscle in Grace's body went tense, matching Bryce's.  Ten years ago, maybe even a year ago, she would have closed in on herself,  given a polite smile, and walked away, refusing to acknowledge Connie's question, but not anymore. She could feel Bryce standing next to her and knew, that while he may not love her, he thought she was worth common courtesy and maybe even friendship.

"Oh, I don't know, Connie," Grace looked her up and down taking in her drunken appearance, knowing that she wouldn't remember any of it tomorrow but her friends would. "I guess I just made good choices and had a little bit of luck on my side. Now, if you ladies will excuse us we'll rejoin our friends."

Bryce took Grace's hand and led her away from the table.

Her hand in his was a shock to her system.  How could such a simple act make her heart feel as if it was going to beat out of her chest? She had held Brian's hand earlier and felt nothing but a few calluses.

Bryce didn't say a word as he led them both in the direction the others had taken. It was as if he sensed there was nothing he could say to make the situation she had just been placed in any better. He let go of her hand just before they rejoined the group

"So, did you get treated to a drunken hug too?" Brian asked Bryce, looking from one to the other.

"No, I guess I am not as irresistible as you," Bryce said with a quirk of his lips.

"Probably true," Brian said with such a serious face that they all laughed, even Bryce gave a warm chuckle.

"Do you remember that time with the redhead-?"

"That's enough, there are ladies present." Bryce's grin didn't reach his eyes. "Besides, I don't want my little brother running to mom and telling tales."

The three men continued to banter as the five of them strolled through the streets and squares.  It was a lovely night, and when Grace had them at the perfect spot she started to regale them with all of her favorite ghost stories of Savannah.