After I finally blew up and was able to give Gray my apologies for that night. I felt the weight lifting off my shoulders. My mind takes me back to yesterday when I have finally corner the slippery vermin.

"Grayson! Let me apolo." I am immediately cut off from saying anything further.

"How about you keep that apology because I don't need it. Nor do I need to see your face every second. You stay over there and I'll stay over here. We don't know each other and that's how we will keep it. Got it?"  He snaps back.

Ouch.

Okay, I did deserve that but still! Was that seriously necessary? I watch as he takes off out the store. It takes my mind a few minutes to get over the shock of his words. My feet move on their own and as I inch closer to him I yell out across the parking lot.

"Grayson! Wait up!"

I watch as his back stiffens and he freezes in the center of the parking lot.

"What?!" Is the only word that comes out his mouth.

"Listen, just let me explain and apologize for once. You're so damn big headed and stubborn." I demand with no room arguing.

"Actions speak louder than words. Yet your words cut deeper than a knife. I don't think I can listen to your reasonings or apologies." He fires back.

I stand in my spot yet again, watching his back as he walks away from me. Before he could close his truck door; my hands are already pulling his door open. The fire within is blazing. I am going to get out my apology one way or another and I dare him to challenge me.

"Listen, you're going to listen to what I need to say. If you accept my apology, good. If not, oh well. At least I have given you an apology to begin with." I ramble on and demand again.

I watch as his cold exterior begins to melt. A faint smile is placed across his lips. He looks to be at a debate with himself as I have a staring contest with a stubborn bull as I'm ranting.

"Get to the point Phoebe." He finally cuts me off.

"Oh so I'm allowed to say what I need to say? Great. Now listen Gray as I talk." I ramble with excitement over finally getting to apologize.

"Pheebs, you have to get to the point. I will have three girls waiting for me at home. I will have three angry angels after me if I don't deliver their chocolate milk to them soon." He cuts my rambling off yet again.

Oh right! I noticed the chocolate milk earlier when he picked it up. The girls always have to have chocolate milk. How could I seriously forget?

"Oh right! How can I forget about your girls? How are Avery, Oakleigh, and Sydney?" I ask.

"Pheebs." He says with a pointed look.

"Oh right. Look, what I said that day shouldn't have came out my mouth. As soon as the words left my mouth; I immediately wanted to scoop them back into my mouth. Even though I was having a rough day. I shouldn't have said what I said. I shouldn't have taken it out on you. Just because my brother's death anniversary was that day; I shouldn't have done what I did. For that I am truly sorry." I finally ramble out my apologies.

Before he could respond to what I have said. I turn on my heels and scurry back around the parking lot with my bags in tow. I didn't need to hear his refusal on my apology. I just needed to get my apology of my chest so the weight of the world will be lifted off me. Like I said earlier, the guilt was eating me alive since the words came out my mouth. I needed to apologize before I exploded with emotions.

Come to think of it I shouldn't have walked away from him. I should have stayed and listened to what he had to also say.

What kind of person am I?

Good Heavens! I'm going to have to apologize for walking off like that! I slam my head against my car door as I realize how rude that was of me.

"You're going to dent your car door with that big melon of yours Pheb!" Jackson calls out.

"More like she'll need to replace the door from the damage she's done. I mean her head is like Thor's hammer." Lorelei jokes. I let out a frustrated groan. Of course I had to face plant my door in front of the diner. In front of everyone. My mind snaps back to reality when I hear a chuckle. My head pops back up to that certain someone's chuckle.

"Jackson, are you going to arrest her for assaulting her door?" Gray jokes.

"Miss Phoebe!" Sydney squeals her deadly squeal.
I hadn't even noticed the three girls clinging to their father. Before Gray could stop Sydney; she's already collided with my legs.

"Are you going to be our waitress today?" Oakleigh asks.

"She most definitely will!" Lorelei answers before I could.

Just grand!

Just have the awkward walrus serving the king of the jungle why don't we. He's going to eat me and not in the ways I'd like. He's physically going to eat me and spit me back out. My flight or fight instincts kick in as Sydney lets go of my legs and walks inside with everyone else.

Flight!

Wave the white flag and run!

Instead of listening to my brain, I walk inside and try to find Lorelei. She has to have someone else serve him because I just can't deal with his snarky self. Maybe it's my mind making me think things will end horrible. However, my heart is battling my mind and instead of begging for a different table..... I throw my apron on, grab my notepad, and pen. I walk over to their usual table that's always in my section. I don't know why I'm taking their order; it's always the same.

"Usual?" I ask.

"Usual." He responds.

I walk back to the kitchen and scream out usual for Gray and the girls. As I place their drinks on the table for them; I make eye contact with Gray. He has a soft smile on his face. I return the smile and walk back to my position at the counter.

Maybe, just maybe we're heading in the right direction. That smile gives me hope.

As their food is placed on the kitchen's bar; I grab all four plates and balance them as I walk. I place their plates in front of the respectable recipients. Again, Gray has a smile on his face. I walk off again back to my position at the counter. I look like a creepy stalker watching his table from afar. I watch as he boops cheese on Avery's nose. I watch as Sydney says something that causes him to laugh. This is the only time you ever get to hear his real laugh or see the smile that reaches his eyes. These girls are the only ones who can make him do such a thing. As they head to the counter to pay; Gray leans over and whispers to where only I can hear him.

"Just because you apologize doesn't mean I want to be friends. We'll be civil because of our group of friends. And because my girls seem to adore you. We're just acquaintances."

With that he walks out the door and leaves. One step forward and ten steps back.

What just happened?