I froze, unsure what I should do. If I asked Grant about the text from Trisha, he'd know I was snooping on his phone. How would I explain it? I thought I probably already knew what had happened though. It just didn't make sense. She couldn't be the one he had over. The panties couldn't be hers. Grant and Trisha broke up. She cheated on him with one of his closest friends. Grant wasn't even the type to go back to someone even if they ended on good terms, which they didn't. I sort of already knew I wouldn't be able to pretend I didn't see the message.

Grant entered the room. "Why do I always get my shirt wet when I do the dishes?" He had a huge wet mark on his shirt.

"I don't know, maybe you're a little careless."

He laughed. "Me? Careless? I'm literally so careful Rinnie." He smirked.

I looked at his phone. I knew I had to say something, if I didn't it would kill me. "Can we sit?" I motioned to the couch. Grant went and sat on the table, next to the couch. I knew that was the best I would get him to follow directions, so I ignored it. I went and sat on the couch. He looked at me, eyebrows raised.

"Who's panties were those Grant?"

Grant choked. "What?"

I just stared at him.

He took a deep breath. "Trisha's."

My heart sunk and I regretted asking. I was kind of hoping it was just some big mistake. This confirmed the worst. Grant always did what was bad for him. Why should Trisha be an exception? "She texted you, she's coming to pick them up tomorrow."

"You read my messages?" He looked at me, suddenly serious.

I moved my head in agreement. "Just the one. I'm sorry."

He shrugged. "You're allowed."

I felt myself smile. It was good to know he trusted me so much. I decided to push my luck a tad bit more. "Thanks, I really appreciate you not getting angry with me about that. It's none of my business. However, I do have an opinion on the matter if you'd like to hear it."

Grant smiled. "You have an opinion, huh? I'm way too curious not to hear it."

I modified my words to be as sensitive as possible. I meant to say them like that, sensitively. When I went to speak, they rearranged themselves to be much blunter. "I don't think you should be sleeping with her."

Grant sat back, looking stunned. "Trish? Why?"

"She's not worth it."

He sat silently a moment. "I didn't sleep with her."

Relief flooded over me. The mistake I'd been hoping for had been there the whole time. "You didn't? But her panties...."

"She showered here."

I was brought back down to reality. She was over here. Why would she use his shower? Didn't she have her own? The most irritating question of all; how do you forget your underwear? "Did her shower break?"

He shook his head. "No. We ran into each other at the fair. We came back here to talk. We made out, but that's it."

"You guys made out?" I wasn't sure how he convinced himself making out wasn't a big deal.

He shrugged. "For like a minute." He paused. "We're, umm, kind of together."

I felt myself shake. "Grant, why? Why would you take her back?"

"I like her. I never really stopped. I was just mad. Then I realized that I'm no saint. She made one mistake." He spoke passionately. I felt sick. The good butterflies I normally got around Grant were replaced by the horrible ones. The ones that tell you something is very wrong. While I was getting Grant decorations to help him with his room, he was making out with his cheating ex. The part that hit me hardest though was the part where he said he never stopped liking her. My hope was completely lost. He had never liked me like that. It was always her.

"Just be careful." I said, praying my eyes didn't water.

He moved closer to me. "You know I'm never careful Rinnie."

I laughed, irritated that he could make me laugh. "Well, learn to be."

He ignored his dinging phone. "I'll be okay."

"Why didn't you sleep with her? If you like her so much, why not?"

He shook his head. "Too soon."

I squinted at him. "It's not like you guys haven't before. I think that's smart though, establish a relationship before you move to the bedroom."

"Not like that."

"Not like what?"

Grant sighed. "It's not too soon because we just started talking again. It's too soon after you."

His words messed up the rhythm of my heart. It began to miss beats and speed up. It was hard to breath. I wasn't exactly sure what he meant by his words, but what I interpreted compensated for everything else he said.

"Too soon after me?" My voice came out raspy.

He began fanning out the wet circle on his shirt. "I can't hook up with her after I was with you."

I was tongue-tied. We agreed we would never talk about what happened between us again. The topic was dangerous territory. "Then don't." 

I knew what I was saying was selfish, but I had to try. It'd be hard enough knowing he was with somebody else. The fact that he was back with someone who hurt him so badly was devastating to me. Grant was by no means a perfect person, but he had more love and compassion than anyone I'd ever met. He cared so much about everyone. I hated the misconceptions people had about him. To anyone doesn't know him, Grant comes across as rude, careless, and apathetic. He's not though, he's misunderstood.

"So you think I should just never have sex again?" He shook his head at me.

Yes, I thought. "I didn't say that. I'm just saying if something feels wrong, it probably is."

Grant propped his chin on his hand. "Hmm, I see your point. When something feels wrong, normal people don't do it. The thing is I'm not normal."

"Stop." I rolled my eyes. "You can date whoever you want. I'll be here when it crashes ready to help pick up the pieces."

"You seem angry."

Maybe I was coming across too harsh. "I'm not. It's okay, I support you. I just want you to know I'm here for you, always."

He put his hand on my knee. "I'm here too. You're stuck with me forever."

I covered his hand on my knee with my own. "Good."

"Glad we talked." He patted my knee with his hand then removed it.

"Why aren't you ever inappropriate with me?"

His pupils grew to the size of soccer balls behind his glasses. "Huh?"

I shrugged. "We have more to talk about."

"What do you mean about me not being inappropriate?"

"You treat me like your little sister. I just want to know why."

Grant laughed. "I do not treat you like my little sister."

"Grant."

"I have no idea what you're talking about Rinnie."

I threw my hands up. "Okay, you're right. You don't."

"Thank you." He said, sitting back on the table.

"Yeah, I'm sorry for accusing you of that." I said standing up.

He laughed. "Hey, it's okay. I'll forgive you eventually."

"Gosh I hope so." I walked into the bathroom. "I'll be right back."

"Okay."

I closed the door. I opened the bathroom cabinet and pulled out a pair of scissors. I took my t-shirt off and began cutting. When I was done, it was a very cropped crop top. I pulled off my sweatpants. Underneath I was wearing spandex shorts. I'd worn them in case I got hot, but now was as good a time as any to show them off. I smirked looking in the mirror. I slowly opened the door and made my way past Grant.

"Woah Rinnie, where are you going?" He jumped up and moved towards me.

"Out." I said making my way towards the door.

"Out where?"

I feigned nonchalance. "The bar downtown."

"Where'd your clothes go?" He asked, bewildered.

I looked down. "What, you don't like what I'm wearing?"

"Rinnie, it's pretty showy."

I nodded. "I rest my case. You treat me like your little sister."