Irene’s statement sends her and Granny straight into another fit of cackling while I die a fiery death of granddaughterly embarrassment.
“The actual booty or the spoils?” Granny asks when she can talk again past her laughter.
“Just the plunder, honey. I’ve had enough of looking after other people’s booties for a lifetime.”
“Okay, box forts it is,” I cut in. Things are getting too out of hand. You know it’s bad when you have to reel it back to the topic of getting into a wildly inappropriate relationship.
“If you go down to the moving supply stores, they have huge boxes. Or just order a freezer. That should give you enough cardboard to really play around with. You could get them when he’s gone to work and then construct all day, so when he comes home, he’d have his surprise. Speaking of which, why are you not jumping his bones right now instead of calling me?”
“Because I miss you.”
Granny snorts. “That sounds like a load of tosh.”
“I really do miss you, and he already warned me this morning that he was going to be swamped in the mossiest bog of work swamps because he has missed so many days. He told me this morning that he wasn’t avoiding me. He knows we need to talk.”
Granny smacks her lap enthusiastically. I can’t see it, but I can hear it. “Ooh! That sounds wonderfully promising. Does he have any hot brothers?”
“He doesn’t.” Thank fuck.
“He doesn’t as in he legit doesn’t, or you just don’t want to tell me?”
“He legit doesn’t.”
“Hot uncles?”
“I thought the only variety of uncle was a dirty old uncle,” Irene’s disembodied voice comments again.
“I’d take one of those.”
“I don’t know about the uncles.” Patience is a virtue, one I need to cultivate instead of letting the mortification soak into my bones. “And I’m not going to find out.”
“Humph. I’ll just have to live vicariously through you.”
“I was asking for advice on heart stuff, Granny, nothing else.”
“Well, if you’re ever in need of the latter, I have some great books I can recommend. Lordy, they’ll make even the most experienced blush.”
“Ugh, my god.” I have to hide my face in my hands. I can’t even look at Granny right now.
“Truthfully, if he’s attracted to you and you’re attracted to him inallthe ways, not just physically, then you should both go for it. Make each other happy. I know you won’t hurt him. The backlash might, but the backlash be damned. People can be cruel all they want. If they’re ignorant over something like that, then they’ve always been horrible, and they’ll always be wretched. You can’t let them define your happiness. They’ll get over it. And if they don’t, then they’re missing out. Just remember that it’s not your job to fix anybody.”
Fix him? No. Warrick is…I don’t quite have words for what he is, but he’s not in need of fixing or saving.
“Warrick doesn’t need fixing. He needs to start learning how to let joy into his life. He needs to not care what other people think and find the strength to choose a path that’s his own creation. Not something his family wanted, or…or something someone else basically blackmailed him into.”
“Rich people are a sorry state. You’re far too good to get dragged down into that kind of nonsense. And by good, I mean big-hearted.”
The only mess I want is War.I can say it in my head. I. Want. Him. I unequivocally want him in every way.
“I hugged him, Granny, and it seemed like the world was ending for him, in a good way. He’d never been properly, well and truly, goodness to gracious, hugged before. How on earth am I supposed to stand up against that? My heart is a total goner, and it’s been like five hot minutes. I’m not talking about love.”
“I know. But to get to that point, you have to step, and you have to fall, and you’re going to have to fight like hell. A little hot box fort smex would relieve a lot of the stress, good and proper.”
Irene pops into the background, grinning widely. This is probably the most entertainment she’s had in a good while.
“I’m hanging up now. Let the record show two point oh that you’re impossible.”
“Impossibly awesome!” At least this time, she tones the cackle into a laugh. “I love you. Get your tush back here soon and bring that man so he can experience some proper granny hugs. There’s not a lady in this place who wouldn’t hug a man as fine as Warrick. If he wants grandpa hugs, those can also be arranged. For free. Or rides in his sportscar.”
