Free The Long Way Home by Daniel Dickson Page A

figure out what he was after.
    "I don't want to start with the easy ones. There is one question I have only before I ask it you have to promise two things; one that you answer it honestly and two that you then ask me the questions." Jill said.
    "Fine, but how will you know that I am being honest?" Grey said teasingly.
    "Because before I ask you you're going to pinkie promise to tell the truth." Jill held out her right pinkie over the table. Grey reached across and they interlocked pinkies. With them still interlocked Grey said.
    "I promise to be honest at all times with you." He said then let go.
    "With that out of the way here's my question. Why me, why did you fall in love with me?" Jill braced herself for his answer. She felt like she made a wrong move.
    "I can see why you were hesitant in asking that question." Grey said trying to buy time, right then the waiters started bringing out the food. The waiters were taking a long time and Jill was getting annoyed. After the waiters left Jill looked up at Grey expectantly. He saw her and decided to return to the question at hand.
    "Well to be totally honest, it's because you're with me." Grey wasn't sure she would accept that. But he knew that he loved her because she simply existed in his time. He could have been horribly unlucky and she could be sixty now.
    "What the hell does that mean?" Jill was a little upset and she didn't know why. She wanted a better answer wasn't getting it.
    "What I mean is that when you around I feel that I can just be myself. That you are is enough to make me happy. I have been wondering myself and that is the honest truth. Besides when you're gone I don't feel, the only feeling I have is the anticipation of seeing you again. You make me feel safe, you make me feel like I belong here, and you make me feel like I am home. You also have to take into account that I haven't really gotten to know you so that is all the material I have to work with." Grey was looking down but now looked up to meet her eyes. She was so moved by his answer that there was a long pause then they ate for awhile before anyone said anything.
    "I know if I love you..." Jill was afraid that he would leave or get mad or something. She didn't know what but she was scared.
    "I don't expect you to be as foolish as me. Like I said earlier I am just happy you're with me at all. Is it getting better do you feel the same as you did when you first met me? Do feel that you could spend more time with me? That's all I am asking for now." Grey had never been a religious man but now he prayed to countless gods that she would stay. That she wouldn't run away he had too many girls do that to him.
    "I know that we should spend more time together. I know that I would love to get to know you. I know that you have definitely swept me away. Can we do that? Can we really get to know each other?" Jill said hoping that he wasn't taking this the wrong way.
    "I think that would be good. I will only ask to do one thing. That is that you tell me when your feelings change." Grey was just happy that she hadn't run out. He thanked all of the gods he had names for.
    They were done eating now and Grey had other plans. He wanted to show her the city that he loved.
    "I will tell you, but for now I think you know how I feel." Jill said.
    "Sure, now lets get out of this place it's too dark." Grey said getting up. He paid for everything and they went back out to the car. Once in side Grey had one last question.
    "When do I have to give you up and take you home?" He looked over at her. She was looking at her lap again.
    "Before midnight otherwise my parents will get mad." Jill said.
    Grey drove them back to the city and drove her all around the place showing her some of his favorite place. He showed her lake Hollywood. He took her up to the top of the Hollywood hills and showed her the view of the city.
    They talked about Mike and how funny he was. They talked about music and Jill found out that he had the same taste in