He’s enjoying himself that much already that he’s thinking of a second date?
That’s a good thing, because I’m feeling exactly the same way.
Chapter 11
Lincoln
Wepullupinfront of a large farmhouse style home, and I’m immediately impressed. Gram’s got style. The house is artfully decorated with lights—though it’s not quite dark enough for them to be lit—festive garland, and wreaths on every window. While some houses can look cluttered with all of these things, the house looks just right. Like it was made for Christmas and the holiday season.
I even notice a menorah in the window, which seems like it should be out of place with the otherwise full-on Christmas decor, but somehow, it fits in perfectly.
“Are you also Jewish?” It’s an important detail I should know. Something that’s likely to come up if she is.
“My cousin Jeremy married a Jewish girl named Sarah. They celebrate both religious holidays, and Gram embraced Sarah and her religion, so she puts up a menorah, lights the candles, and makes latkes every year.” She says the whole thing with a beaming smile. I can tell how much Valerie loves her Gram.
“That’s really nice of her.” I nod lightly to myself. “Okay, so you’re ValerieAnderson. Is that Gram too?”
“Yes. She’s my dad’s mother.”
Perfect. Mrs. Anderson, it is. Before my parents died, they instilled manners. And that means all elders are to be referred to as Mister or Missus until told otherwise.
“Anything else I need to know before we go in?” I make direct eye contact and feel a flutter in my chest.
“Oh gosh. I don’t think so. Maybe let’s just try not to get separated.” She says it like it may be a bad thing, but I’ll be okay being close to her all night long.
Though the likeliness of that is probably slim to none. It’s been a while since I’ve gone to a girlfriend’s house, or even home to meet a family, but there’s a lot of talk that goes into it and even more of the “what are your intentions” questions the older we get.
Before I can ask her what made her join the app, something I’ve been insanely curious to know since a few nights ago—and what I should have asked during the ride over—a thin older woman appears, wrapped in a sweater shawl and looking at us with sharp eyes.
“Uh oh, we’ve been spotted. We should probably get out of the car before she comes and bangs on the window.”
Valerie’s already undoing her seatbelt and opening the door, not giving me the chance to open it for her. But I see what her sights are set on the moment she leaves the car, somehow jogging in her heels to wrap her arms around who is surely her Gram.
With a deep breath, I turn off the car and step out. “Here goes nothing.”
Chapter 12
Valerie
Itakeoffatsuch a fast clip that I don’t even think about how likely I am to kill myself in my fuck-me heels. Why I wore them, I couldn’t truly tell you. Except it’s been a while and maybe I’m hoping on some subconscious level I get somewhere with Link tonight.
Oops. I forgot Link in the car.
I turn toward him, but Gram traps my face between her hands, turning me from side to side while she gives me a thorough examination.
“You’re not eating enough vegetables. And you need a haircut. That hair is far too long for a woman of your age. It shouldn’t be almost to your behind. But otherwise, you look good, pumpkin.”
“How do you know I’m not eating enough vegetables?” I give her a side-eye, but she’s right. On all counts. It’s been almost a year since my last haircut. And subsequently, Gram told me the same thing last Christmas.
“You never really took to them. So it’s always a solid bet you’re not eating enough.”
I giggle at this wonderful woman’s assessment. A throat clearing behind me draws my attention. Shit. I forgot Link again.
As he comes up to stand next to me, I wrap my fingers around his forearm and rest my other hand against his firm bicep. “Gram. This is Lincoln. My date.” That seemed to come out smoothly. I’m not sure Gram suspects anything.
Though, what is there to suspect? She’d never in a million years guess that I used a dating app to find him just for tonight.
“Nice to meet you, Mrs. Anderson.” He extends a hand to shake with her and holds a bouquet of flowers in the other. Where the hell did those come from? I’m overly oblivious tonight.
