“Yep. No one will ever love Piper like I do.”
Jenna fidgeted. “No offense, but you haven’t seen her in nearly twenty years. You don’t know her. Coming back to town to marry someone you haven’t seen in so long... That sounds a little stalkerish-obsessive.”
“I know.” Grant sighed. “Look, I’m a little different than your average guy. I plan. I make plans. And I don’t stop until my plans succeed. It’s how I’m wired. And no, I’m not on any neurodivergent spectrum. I know because I was tested.”
Simon laughed then sobered quickly enough. “Oh, wait. You’re not kidding?”
“No, I’m not. I had a friend in college with autism. One of the smartest and nicest guys I’ve ever met. We used to talk about neurodiversity a lot.” Grant sometimes thought Andy had been the only guy who’d ever really understood him. No judgements about Grant’s many quirks. And he’d been a hell of a beer pong player. “I’m just a driven kind of guy.”
“No kidding. You’re a pro baseball player! That’s incredible.” Simon watched him with approval. “I know how hard that is. My stepdad and uncle used to play football professionally. And they love telling me how tough it is.”
Yet the boy looked excited by the challenge. Grant liked him. He turned to Jenna. “I’m what your aunt needs. I’m not a cheater, I care about family, and I care about Piper.”
“But you don’t know her.”
“Unless she’s changed completely from the sweet, caring girl she was at thirteen—and yes, I know she’s a mature woman of thirty-two now—she’s the one for me. She’ll see I make a lot of sense.” Just as soon as he explained it to her.
“I’m with you, man. But have you met Piper Mason?” Simon asked. “Because that woman—no offense, Jenna—is stubborn and direct. She says it like it is while smiling, but she rarely changes her mind about stuff. I don’t know how you’re going to convince her to marry you when her ex dumped all over her the night before her wedding.”
“Yeah, what he said.” Jenna sat back, still sipping her cocoa. She looked a lot like her dad, and thus Piper. Intelligence, heart, and conviction rang in her voice.
“You just leave it to me. I only need time and space to convince her I’m honest.” Jenna looked doubtful. “Look, if she sincerely hates me and the air I breathe, I’ll leave her alone. For good. But I’m telling you, your aunt hasn’t found the right guy yet because it’s me, and I haven’t been here in a while.”
“You know this is all very, very strange.” Jenna watched him.
“I do. I also know I’m strange, and a long time ago, your aunt seemed to like that. I’m counting on the fact she still does.”
“I guess.” Jenna looked at him, deep into his eyes, and sighed. “You look and act like Uncle Cade.”
“Yep, same genes.”
She shrugged. “Fine. I’ll help.” Simon cleared his throat, and she amended, “We’ll help. But you hurt her at all and we’ll end you.”
He held out a hand, and they all shook. “Perfect. Now to start, I need you to be scarce tonight while I enjoy Chinese food with your aunt.”
Jenna groaned. “Oh man, I love egg rolls.”
“I’ll save you some.”
“And fried rice?”
“And fried rice.” He nodded.
“Fine.”
“Jenna will be at my place,” Simon said. “I’ll bring her home late, though.”
“I can pick her up if it’s too late for you to drive.”
“I’ll manage my ride home,” Jenna said firmly. “I’ll call if I need you.”
Yep, direct and independent. Just like her aunt. Grant swallowed a smile and stood. “Sounds good.”
“We’ll come up with some good date ideas for you. After all, we managed to get Simon’s mom and aunt married to the perfect guys.”
“I’m in your hands.” Even better. The teens had matchmaking successes under their belts. Grant grinned.
“You’ll want to use the kid,” Simon mentioned before Grant left. “Your nephew is cute and little.”
