Lovely Empire

Aren't you kind.

Grocery items falling out of her hands and onto the dirty concrete, Georgia jumped violently, throwing her hands into the air just like the officer had yelled at her to do. The last thing she expected when turning the corner would be a gun pointed at her, and once she finally gained her wits, and slowed her breathing, Georgia sent Lovely a more than angry look. 

Grant took in the scene, but his main focus was on getting the man and keeping the bystander that Georgia had turned into safe. He made sure that she wasn't near either his or the gunman's range before storming past her and tackling the man to the ground. He didn't even have to shoot, which was the good part, and it didn't take much of a fight to restrain the guy.

Ever since he talked to someone about something going on in Eris, Cole had been spending a lot of his time there. Trying to dig up something, anything. When all of a sudden, he was being yelled at. Turning around with an amused look on his face, he raised his hands. Oh, is there a bust happening? Mind if I tag along?

They were wearing the same clothing, he wasn't sure how the other man and Cole had switched spots somewhere in the chase. Grant dropped his gun after a few moments and put the safety in before running his hand across the sweat on his forehead. 

Edie blinked and turned around, slowly, raising her hands up a little bit. 

It only took Grant a split second to recognize the girl there. The other man took advantage of Grant's distraction to run. Fuck. He cursed under his breath. 

I’ve been okay, I guess. How was work?

That's good, and busy as usual. But for some reason, coming home is always a vacation even though the load is pretty much the same.

I- Uh. I’m okay. 

Edie, I've been meaning to talk to you. ...About what you said.

I’d tell you that I’m pregnant, but I think you’re too young to have your first heart attack. 

I would murder Logan so fast no one would believe it.

I think there might be cake in City Hall tomorrow. Does that count?

The best surprise I've heard all week.

I'm flattered, but I'm positive I'm not who you were looking for.

No, I don’t fucking enjoy myself. I wake up every day knowing that I have to go into work to throw myself at a bunch of skeevy old men who are looking at me like I’m some piece of meat. But it’s the only thing I can do. I’m not good enough anywhere else. My family has no money, and I… I can’t get a job because I can’t afford to go to college. 

You're right, except I'm not judging you. I can't judge you because I don't know you, Edie. I've been trying to, but then you shoot something like that at me when all I knew were the superficial facts. 

Y-You’re not? I… It’s not your dad’s fault, Grant. I chose this.

You chose it. So you like it, you enjoy yourself? Can we just... you didn't have to tell me that.

Edie’s lip quivered, and she didn’t know why she was so upset. She had never felt this way before.

I'm not— I don't look at you differently. Not... I'm more mad at my father to be honest.

Edie looked down, feeling even worse for telling the truth than she had been for lying. Or at least hiding it from him. Swallowing, she shook her head, and her voice was quiet. 

It all clicked then, and it was as if he could audibly hear his heart sink.

What? No! I’m not rejecting you!