I couldn’t risk looking at her. Dean assured me her temporary living with us wouldn’t cause too much distraction, but she wasn’t even moved in, and she was messing with my mind. I knew it wasn’t her fault, rationally. I wasn’t a dick.
But man, I had to get it together. She was Dean’s goddamn sister.
The rest of the walk was in silence, thankfully, and I practically threw her bag on the front porch before putting my headphones back in my ears. “Wait until your brother is back, then have him help you.”
“Right. Uh, thanks.”
Her voice seemed small, defeated, and I snuck a quick glance at her. A blush covered her cheeks and neck, and her dark eyebrows were furrowed together, like she was upset. Had I…upset her? The same magnetic feeling I always had toward her pulled me in, drawing me to ask a follow-up question. My tone might’ve been harsh earlier, but talking aboutthatstuff distracted me. It wasn’t like I was a—
“I know you hate me, but I promise you won’t even remember I’m here. I’ll make sure you never see or hear me.”
She hoisted the bags and disappeared behind the front door before I could get a word out. She thought I hated her. That was simply not true.
My mouth parted as I tried to think of an explanation that would appease her, but my phone buzzed before I could.Grandma.
“Hello?” I answered, my focus shifting instantly. My jaw tightened. “Are you okay, Grandma?”
“I’m seventy-four years old, Luca. Chill out.”
My shoulders sagged in relief, and I smiled. “So, you’re fine?”
“Define the wordfine.Am I alive? Yes. Am I single? Also, yes. I want to go on the old lady bus trip, but you and Val won’t let me.”
“Because it’s reckless,” I said, my relief shifting to annoyance. “We’ve had this chat before, and you know it’s silly.”
“Silly for me to have fun? Play poker? How am I the more fun one this relationship, Luca Monroe?”
“Because you’re immature,” I teased.
“Ugh.” She sighed, and the sound made me laugh. My grandma was a piece of work but the strongest, best person I knew. She’d taken me in and raised me as if I were her own son, and I owed her the world. She’d driven me to every practice and game and never let me feel unloved for a second.
“Is the new place going okay though?” I hated that I hadn’t been able to visit since the season started. I couldn’t miss practice during the week, and the three-hour drive was just a hair too long to do for one day. She was on a fixed income and wasn’t able to save a penny with the price of the home.
This was why this year mattered so much. I could graduate early and head to the NFL. I’d get the signing bonus and make sure she was set for the rest of our lives. It was the only way to pay her back foreverything.
“Eh, it’s, fine.” Her voice hitched, her telltale sign she fibbed.
“What happened?”
“Nothing happened, Luca Loo. I’m healthy and well and in an intense group of women who play rummy twice a week. I schooled Agatha last week for twenty dollars and a joint. Not as much fun as a trip to a casino, but it’ll do.”
“Grandma.” I itched the back of my head. She always did this, lied and distracted me with something she knew would make me ask more questions. “Cut the bullshit.”
“Okay killer, watch the language. I’m not some punk you talk shit to on the field.”
My lips curled up at her spunk. “Hypocrite.”
“You’re too perceptive. I hate it.”
“You raised me.”
“Yeah, yeah, don’t remind me.” She sighed, and I pictured her running her hand over her face. The silence lasted a few more seconds before she cleared her throat.
“They treat me like I’m a child, like I’m incapable of making a decision for myself. I’m still me and rational most of the time. I lived through too much to be made to feel small, and it grates on me.”
My pulse raced in my ears, and my stomach dropped in an aggressive, angry way. My hands tightened into fists, and I wanted to punch the pillar to my right. Making mygrandmafeel small? “Who? What’s their name?”
“It’s not a specific person, hon. It’s their mentality. Like old people are a burden to them.”
