At her side, in overalls, was a little blonde girl with her hair tied up in buns on each side of her head. She was beaming, holding a board game in her hands. “Hi!” she greeted me.
I hadn’t seen this coming. I smiled at her. “Hi, Asami.” Then I held my breath and gave the other woman the same kind of smile. “Good morning.”
“Hug?” the little girl asked, setting her game on the floor.
Oh. I dropped into a crouch and wrapped my arms around her, feeling hers go around me and—
“Ohshit.”A grunt slipped through my lips as she hugged me back. Tight. Really fucking tight.
Too fucking tight.
“Careful,” the scary one said at the same time Asami’s hold loosened.
“Sorry!” she apologized, dropping her arms instantly.
“We’re still learning our strength, aren’t we, Asami?” the grandmother asked, sounding stern.
“Sorry, Gracie.” Her face screwed up into the purest form of apology.
If the comment about carrying a tractor hadn’t been proof enough, here it was. Wow. This tiny thing was amazing.
I held my arms out again. “It’s okay,” I assured her, a sucker for that bright face. “Want to try one more time?”
Oh, she looked happy, and so, so gently, those little arms went around me, hugging me back just perfectly. We smiled at each other when I pulled back and slowly stood to face Alex’s grandmother. She tipped her head to the side, and I recognized that expression. Up on my tiptoes, I leaned forward and kissed her cheek.
My lips stung afterward, and it took just about everything in me to keep my expression even.
“Come in,” I said, like the house was mine.
The older woman went in first, then Asami, and when I started to push the heavy door closed, she helped me… and I knew I didn’t imagine how much easier it had been.
By the time we faced forward, Grandmother was halfway to the kitchen.
The little girl slipped her hand through mine and tugged me to follow.
In the kitchen, I gave Asami a glass of apple juice, made Grandmother a cup of tea—she told me where to find it before I even had a chance to wonder—and refilled my own glass with water. While I did that, she set upCandy Landon the table. I had to breathe in through my nose and out through my mouth, trying to get used to the way the woman made me feel as I took a seat too.
Scooting my chair closer to the table, I cleared my throat and met Alex’s grandma’s eyes for a split second before refocusing on Asami. I wasn’t ready for that shit—for her. If I could make it through sitting here with her during a game ofCandy Land, I would be proud of myself. Most of my instincts told me to run. My body probably remembered how she’d made me feel after that game ofTrouble.
“You’re doing much better than you were the last time we met,” Grandmother said the second after I’d looked away.
Asami gave me a little smile from across the table that I couldn’t help but return.
“Yes, ma’am, I am,” I answered, quickly peeking at her again.
She was watching me closely, her back ramrod straight, the cane leaning against the wall behind her. “I’m pleased to see that Alexander has been helping you. Soon enough, you’ll be healthier than ever.”
It was the subtle amusement in her voice that put me on edge.
Was she smirking?
And why was she implying I’d be healthy? Because he’d been giving me his healing vibes every night sleeping so close? Not that she knew that. Or did she?
“If he would have met you when I told him to seek you out, all of this could have been avoided.” Her gaze went glassy and flat for a second before a single blink brought her back. “It will all work out now.”
Why did that feel so premonition-like?
I focused on the elegant stud in her ear, curiosity running right through me at her words, at her tone, at everything. “My grandpa used to tell me that everything eventually works out the way it’s supposed to.” I wasn’t sure I believed it but he had.
