"Stephen?"

"Hmm?" he asked, being jarred back to the present.

"What's bothering you?"

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Stephen hesitated at first, yet ultimately knew he would have to come clean. What was the point in lying to someone who could read your mind?

"Just a bit nervous," he started. "About introducing you to a few people at work."

"Introducing me?" She asked. "Anyone in particular?"

"Just.. well, there was this girl that I had a thing for. Had, as in past tense. I asked her out and she rejected me. There's a good chance she might be there, and I'm just a little nervous of what might happen when she comes face to face with you."

Grace listened carefully, nodding to his words. Finally, she spoke. "I don't think you should be nervous about that. If anything, I think she'll be the uncomfortable one."

"Why's that?"

"It's a girl thing," smiled Grace, knowingly. "If you rub her nose with something that she COULD have had, but now that she CAN'T have, it's going to drive her nuts. It might actually be rather funny," giggled Grace.

"Well, I'm glad you can see the comedy in the situation," replied Stephen, sarcastically.

"That is, of course, unless you still want to have her? Because I can make that happen," Grace insinuated, making a subtle snap of her fingers.

"No! I mean, that's okay. I'm well and truly over her," replied Stephen, quickly.

"Is that right? Already have your eye on someone new?" Grace teased.

"Shush you," chuckled Stephen, earning a hearty laugh from his genie companion.

Stephen pulled into the lot at Price Chopper about five minutes later and parked in the employee lot. As befit of his nerves, he was slower to get out of the car, while Grace practically bounded out, taking his hand in her own, and yanking him to the entrance.

"Don't worry, babe. It'll go just fine." Her eyes twinkled with confidence.