Free It's Not About You by Olivia Reid Page A

images of grounds and times. I looked at the pile in my hand, picked a time and measured out the amount and tossed it into the carafe. Grabbing the hot kettle, I poured the coffee to the appropriate line and Michael set a counter on his phone.  
    We stood watching the steeping coffee in awkward silence.  
    "I'm sorry." His voice was soft, barely a whisper.  
    I saw his hand on the counter and reached over to touch his pinky. "I'm not." I looked up at him and he looked down at me. "But we need to talk."  
    He nodded as his timer went off. Kyle came back in to grab forks and small plates as I put the press into the carafe and then slowly eased it down. The grounds were trapped under the strainer and the coffee sieved above.  
    On cue Kyle grabbed a nice ceramic coffee service out of the cabinet, the one that matched the small plates, and after a quick rinse in the sink I poured the coffee into it. Michael took his cue and grabbed the small carton of creamer, I grabbed the sugar and substitute and together set the coffee table as a nice after dinner desert area.  
    The conversation turned to work and I sat patiently, not understanding any of it. I'd catch Michael looking at me from time to time but he kept things very social and Kyle's nervous laugh petered down into a more casual chuckle now and then.  
    Forty-five minutes later Gerald was ready to head home. Since he drove, he insisted on waiting when Michael said he wanted to help clean and get his French Press.  
    "Hey, why don't you go on ahead," Kyle said as I started putting food away. "I can give Michael a ride home. It'll give us time to do a bit of brainstorming on that new broadcasting software."  
    "Are you sure?" Gerald looked from Kyle, to Michael and then to me. "I don't want you two keeping the little cougar up. You know…two young viral men in the same house?"  
    I dropped a spoon at that moment. Kyle knew I was pissed but it was Michael who answered, "Mr. Almondrode…though I'm new at the company, and I don't have much of a say so in the workings of the day to day operations, I would very much appreciate it if you didn't call Grace that when in my presence. It's demeaning to me, and I'm sure to her. She and Kyle have a good working relationship and I think using that kind of language is offensive."  
    My jaw, Kyle's jaw and even Gerald's jaw dropped. I thought for sure Michael had lost his job right then. Kyle put his hand to his forehead and I…well I just stood there and blinked.  
    Gerald was the first to close his mouth and looked at me. His expression wasn't angry, but concerned. "Grace…please tell me…do you think the term's offensive?"  
    "Well…I don't like it. I've never considered myself as such and I've only dated three men in my entire life."  
    "I don't like it," Kyle pipped up. "Grace is special to me. And age should never, ever matter when it comes to love."  
    "Then I am so, so sorry, Grace. I had no idea. And leave it to the new guy to point out that I'd been making my best employee uncomfortable all this time." He offered Kyle his hand. "Please accept my apology. I promise not to call her that again."  
    He and Kyle shook hands and I seriously needed another hit of tater juice.  
    Kyle and Michael walked him to the door and Kyle stood there until the man drove off. He shut the door, locked it and ran up the steps to the kitchen and pointed at Michael. "You know we're not like really girlfriend and boyfriend, right?"  
    "I picked that up from within the first week." Michael laughed. "That you were gay. When Gerald said you had a girlfriend living with you…I didn't know what to expect." He looked at me. "And I didn't expect to see you."  
    "I bet not."  
    "Especially after Tom said you lived with a guy. I just didn't know it would be…" He said as he shook his head and his smile…good God that kind of smile was illegal. "This is one twisted situation."  
    "I'll say." Kyle crossed his arms. "You know Gerald's a