Perspective Switch: Grant gets talking

We finished up our shopping pretty quickly after that. We bought a spare toothbrush, since Grant was only 80% sure that he had a spare, and didn't feel like making a second trip, and then that was basically it. I was tempted to ask about getting plants for me to take care of, since I did enjoy gardening at my mom's Mistress's house, but I figured that could wait until we were more settled. I didn't need any skincare products, makeup, or the like. I cheekily told Grant that I was naturally this beautiful, giving a little twirl as I did so.

"My sister would hate you for that," he chuckled while we waited at the bus stop.

"Oh really?"

"Oh yeah, she used to take up half of the bathroom with all her products, and woke up an hour and a half early to put her face on before going out anywhere. Oh, and to clarify, when I say she took up half of the bathroom, I don't mean half of the counter, or half of the medicine cabinet, I mean half of the bathroom. I could barely find a place to step to knock over some $300 face cream or some nonsense," he said, "Honestly, I never really saw the point of all that makeup stuff. Sure it's great when a woman looks beautiful, but, at the risk of sounding cliche, it's what's inside that counts."

"Uh-huh," I said skeptically. It was a big cliche, and as much as I loved Grant, I always doubted a cliche.

"Actually, you're a great example," Grant said excitedly. How am I...? "You are obviously incredibly beautiful, practically achieving the platonic ideal of feminine beauty."

My cheeks inflamed at this, but Grant didn't seem to notice as he continued speaking animatedly, gesturing passionately, "But that isn't what makes you so attractive." Is he even listening to himself right now? "What makes you attractive is your confidence, your boldness, and your willingness to show affection. Even if you kept a paper bag over your head, your personality would have any guy, well, any heterosexual guy, wrapped around your finger like that!" he said, with demonstrative snap of his fingers.

Any guy, except, apparently, the one I want the most. The bus pulled up at the right time to prevent me from having to respond to this. We got on, him sitting on a seat, and me in his lap, cuddling close to him. He casually wrapped his arms around me, idly stroking my bicep with his thumb. I relaxed into his touch, until I felt his stroking stop. I looked up at his face, and saw him trying very hard to not have a look of horrified realization.

Welp, looks like he just realized what he said to me. Before he could start frantically apologizing, I spoke, cutting him off at the pass, "I haven't heard you be honest like that before. It makes me feel safe."

That came out more blunt than I was intending, maybe I should --

Grant's arms tightened around me, "You're always safe with me. I promise you."

Huh...I guess blunt is the way to go.

Noted.