[Never has Grant been so relieved to be pulled aside so someone can ask him what the hell he's doing. At least it means he can't keep making more of a fool of himself.]

I don't know! [His voice comes out so strained it threatens to crack, which is certainly something coming from an adult man with a voice as deep as his. Goddammit, he can feel his eye burning. He swears, if he cries right now--] I-I'm not trying to, I just-- I shouldn't have done that! I was just setting myself up for disappointment, getting him to indulge me and this stupid plant--

[He scrubs his palms over his face, because, frankly, if he's gonna cry in public he'd rather hide it for at least a moment.]