“You could have just called me when you couldn’t get ahold of Grandma.”
“I don’t have your number saved in my phone.” A vise squeezed her heart. Her own mother didn’t know her number, but Grandma’s and the company’s were saved in her phone. Mike wrapped his arm around her waist pulling her close.
“Are you a friend of the family?” Ron asked, his eyes darting between the two of them curiously.
“He’s more than that,” Grandma piped in, silently laughing at their expressions.
No he wasn’t.
Destiny looked at her grandma in question. What was she doing?
“Oh,” Her mom’s voice was laced with anxiety.
Honestly, he wasn’t that scary. It’s not like he was Frankenstein’s monster on a killing rampage. Though she was sure that’s what some of his enemies might think. The thought made her chuckle despite the seriousness of the moment.
“Yes,” Grandma nodded then smiled at Destiny like the cat that just ate the canary. “He’s Destiny’s fiancé.”
No he wasn’t. What the hell was her grandmother doing?
Chapter 5
“Fiancé?” everyone said at the same time. Everyone except Mike, who stood frozen as a statue. The word playing in on repeat in his head and still unable to comprehend it. He cared for Destiny sure, but marriage. If he didn’t know Destiny so well, he’d think this was a trap of some kind, but he didn’t know for what gain. He didn’t have anything to his name except his house and car. He was gone more than he was home. If it was a trap they weren’t getting much out of the deal.
“You’re marrying this man?” Her mother couldn’t put anymore disgust in that word if she tried.
Mike felt his hackles raise. And why not? He was good enough for Destiny.
“Everyone calm down,” Destiny spoke up. “Grandma got a little ahead of herself.”
“No I didn’t.”
“So you’re not marrying him?” Ron asked. Why it was any of his business Mike didn’t know.
“No,” she said at the same time he said, “Yes.”
Destiny turned to him in confusion. He was shocked himself. He didn’t know why he said it. But once the words came, he didn’t try to retract them.
“I’m confused. So you are or you aren’t engaged?” Patty asked.
“We are not.” Destiny gritted between clenched teeth. “We’ve talked about it. When Grandma is better.” Destiny gave him a warning look as if to not contradict her.
It was her mother, she knew how to handle her. So Mike stayed quiet.
Patty’s shoulders dropped. “So he’s just a boyfriend,” she sighed in obvious relief, already dismissing him.
He wished.
The fact she thought so low of him though gritted on his nerves. He may not be a Wall Street guy like her boyfriend, but there was nothing wrong with him. He made a decent income. While he couldn’t afford back-to-back trips to Paris or Cabo, he could take Destiny on vacations. Not that she ever showed any interest. She was a homebody. She liked comfort clothes as opposed to designer. She was the polar opposite of her mother and for that he couldn’t have been more grateful.
“He is more than just a boyfriend,” Destiny gave her mother a withering glare.
“But you just said you’re not engaged,” Patty pointed out like that one word made a difference.
“Just because we aren’t married doesn’t mean I don’t love this man and wish to spend the rest of my life with him, ring or no ring. He is my whole world.” Her whole body vibrated with anger as she stared her mother down. Her fingers dug into his side and started shaking. If he were a weaker man it might cause pain, but all he could focus on were her words. She spoke with such conviction even he believed her.
“Patty,” Carol spoke up at the awkward silence that ensued. “I’m a little tired and I’d like to rest before I’m released.”
“But Momma, I need to speak to you about Cabo,” Patty whined, she even stuck out her bottom lip like a pouting child. Mike could only shake his head.
