“What? I’m right. I see the way they stare at each other when they think I’m not looking. I’m not stupid. They called itstudyingin my day too, but I know what really happens.”
Ezra smothered a laugh, and I shook my head. “Grandma, you’re incorrigible. We are friends. That’s all.”
“Bah.” She waved her hand to Ezra. “You’re quiet. You tell me I’m wrong.”
I watched as Ezra met my eyes, and with an expression I didn’t like, shook his head. “No, Nettie, you’re not wrong. We’re together. I’m sorry, Roe. I know you didn’t want to say anything, but I couldn’t hold back any longer.”
And before I could say anything, the fucker kissed me, murmuring against my shocked, open mouth, “Don’t fuck this up in front of her. Go with it.”
His hand slipped around the nape of my neck, and damning myself, I let his lips move over mine in a sweet, innocent kiss that set my heart pounding. He let me go, and dazed as I was, I didn’t miss the broad smile on my grandmother’s face.
“Surprise,” I said weakly, and I felt Ezra’s arm tighten around me.
* * *
The next day, after I finished teaching my morning class, I sought out the one person I knew could help me. I knocked on her door.
“Come on in.”
“Hi,” I said to Carmen, peering into her office. Her walls were covered with photographs of her meeting the mayor, governor, and president, as well as vacation pictures of her and Amy. A tall ficus tree sat in the corner, sunlight shining off its glossy green leaves. “Do you have a minute to talk?”
“Of course. I’m on the phone with Amy. Hold on. It’s Roe, honey.” She smiled into the phone. “She says hi.”
“I’d like her take on it too.”
“Okay. Babe? Roe wants to talk to both of us, so I’m putting you on speaker.”
“Hi, Roe. What’s up?”
I thumped into the chair in front of Carmen’s desk and dropped my backpack, then gave them a brief outline of my grandmother’s mental state and the talk Ezra and I had last night, culminating in the kiss in front of her, where I sort of gave in to Ezra’s plan.
“Kissing him in front of everyone isn’t ‘sort of’ giving in.” Carmen smirked, but her grin faded, and her already expressive brown eyes widened with shock. “I’m sitting here shaking my head. I can’t believe you’re seriously considering keeping up this farce. I think you’re kind of nuts, honey.”
I found myself arguing against her, even though I’d made the same points to Ezra the previous night about why I thought his idea was dumb. “You haven’t seen her. She gets all worked up at the thought of Ezra and me not being together. He thought to play along with it for a while until she gets more stable.” My voice sounded weak. “She was so happy when I said we were a couple.”
“Then what? You break up two weeks from now? You don’t think that will upset her?”
I hadn’t planned that far ahead. Hearing Carmen voice her concern made me realize how foolish Ezra’s idea truly was. We were playing with fire.
“You’re right.” I knew Ezra was wrong. How did I let this happen? I slumped farther in the chair.You know damn well how. You want him.
“But wait. I have a question.” Amy’s soft voice broke into my internal struggle, and I forced myself to pay attention to her.
“Sure, if I can answer it.”
“Do youwantto be with Ezra?”
Did I?
“I can’t answer that. My concern right now is my grandmother’s health, not my sex life.”
Carmen pursed her full lips. “Seems like you can do both. I love Nettie, and she’s a tough cookie. Once she’s fully recovered, she’ll understand why you did what you did.”
“Maybe she can explain it to me then,” I mumbled to myself.
“You didn’t seriously say that.” Carmen left her seat to take the empty chair next to mine and grasped my hand. “Babe. This guy hasn’t left your head for twenty-three years. You can deny, deny, deny, but it’s in your eyes. And I’m guessing that’s why you’ve never been able to have a relationship with anyone else.”
Heat burned my cheeks. “I’ve dated plenty, and Colin—”
