She clears her throat. “My, a person might think you had feelings for the boy considering how excited you’ve become, Sophia. Should I start knitting something in white?”
I heave a sigh toward her. “Grandma, please!”
“All right. Godmother left your room, and Arden and your parents went in. I’d just come out of the bathroom. Seven stepped off the elevator, looking like he might fall over at any moment. The man wasn’t well, honey. Bruises everywhere. Swollen eye. And Godmother was in his face. She told him that if he loved you, he would leave it alone. She said you were free, and he should let you be happy. I thought the poor boy was going to pull his hair out. He took one last look at your room and then turned and left.”
My mouth drops open. “Why didn’t you tell me this before?”
She raises her shoulders to her ears. “You know me, honey. I don’t like to get involved in other people’s drama.”
I huff incredulously. “Grandma, you literally live for other people’s drama! Your nose prints are all over your front window from watching the neighbors so closely!”
“Hmm, well, maybe I was worried you’d try to go after him, and you were in no shape to leave your bed.Now, however, you are in fine shape, and if I were to speculate, he is likely feeling much better as well.”
My throat makes a little squeak as I try to respond and find my brain has turned into a jumble of nonsensical impulses. I can’t believe my grandmother kept this from me! Then I narrow in on her crooked little smile, and think I can definitely believe it.
“You’ve been sitting on this for days!”
She slants me a mischievous grin. “It took a righteous amount of stamina, I’ll tell you that.” She nods her gray head. Our conversation is interrupted by the doorbell. Grandma and I exchange curious looks.
“Who could that be?” I ask.
“Maybe he’s feeling better.” Grandma bobs her gray brows.
She’s insufferable. I hoist myself off the couch and hobble to the door. When I open it, a runway model is standing on the other side, shiny red hair falling over one eye in a wave, svelte body poured into a violet dress with a satin belt above tall black boots with stiletto heels. Radiant emerald eyes find mine, and she smiles. It’s like the lights come on.
“Hi Sophia! Just who I came to see.” She brushes her hair back behind her shoulder.
“Evangeline? What are you doing here?”
“I came to drop off your key. My assistant was supposed to do it, but we’ve been so swamped redistributing job responsibilities after what happened with our father that all of us are overwhelmed. I had an appointment in the neighborhood and thought,What the hell?” She pulls a large envelope from her purse and hands it to me. I tear it open to see a key and a short stack of papers inside.
“Seven told me to tell you not to go to the room yet because the work crew is still in there. Something with the flooring.” She waves a hand. “I don’t know. Anyway, it will be a few more days until we can get tables set up. Then I’ll want to bring in a photographer for some pictures and video for social media. You should be ready for your first class by the end of the month.” Her teeth are so white. What the hell sort of toothpaste does she even use?
I shake my head. “I’m sorry, but I don’t know what you’re talking about. What room? What class?”
She juts her chin out incredulously. “You’re going to give poker lessons to humans at the casino! Why do you look like this is the first time you’re hearing about this?”
“Because it’s the first time I’m hearing about this!”
“Huh.” She looks confused. “Seven’s been selling it to the board since the second you two got back from your mission. I’m sure if you tell him you don’t want to do it—”
“Oh, Iwantto do it.” The thought of playing my favorite game again, legitimately, in Dragonfly, is too good to be true. There has to be a catch. I can’t believe Seven pulled this off.
“Good,” Evangeline says with a sigh. “All the details are in there. Salary, benefits, hours of operation. It’s all negotiable. Let Seven know if something isn’t to your satisfaction; he’s heading this project. Someone from my team will be in touch about the advertising blitz.” She brushes her hands off. “Great to see you again, Sophia. Welcome aboard!” She turns and strides gracefully toward the parking lot.
I slowly close the door, the manila envelope heavy in my hand. Grandma appears by my side. “What in carnations was that all about?”
“Tarnation,” I correct.
“Huh?”
“The expression is what in tarnation, not what in carnations.”
She rolls her eyes. “You say it your way; I’ll say it mine.” She tears the envelope from my hands and pulls out the letter inside. She starts to giggle.
“Why are you laughing?”
“You’re going to be making more than your mother and father combined!”
