“I have a good life. And while I might occasionally get lonely, it’s nice to have a companion.”
My eyes flit to Stevie. That, I can understand.
“How did this happen?” I ask. “Oh God, and please don’t give me the birds and the bees talk. I know that. I mean, how did you two start?”
Stevie giggles at my horror and comes over to stand between my legs.
The two share a tender look. It’s obvious they care for one another. If I’m being honest with myself, I don’t think I’ve ever seen Gran look happier.
“We met at bridge, and bridge turned into other card games, which turned into gossiping about the old hags that cheat.”
“Oh, not this again,” Bode says. “Not everyone is cheating.”
“They are too!” Deb says. “No one is that good at bridge.”
“Some people are,” Stevie whispers.
“Probably where you get it,” I lean down, my words ghosting the shell of her year.
“Anyway,” Deb continues, “it just sort of happened one night. We fell in love and that was that.”
“You’re dating then?” I ask.
“If you want to call it that. Do people really date at our age? We’re enjoying each other’s company.”
“You two are ‘enjoying each other’s company.’ Stevie and I are dating.” I drop my chin onto Stevie’s shoulder. “Why does this feel shockingly normal?”
She spins, looking up at me with nothing but love in her eyes. “Because nothing about our lives is normal. Our grandmas are in love. Who cares?”
“See? Stevie has the right idea,” Gran says.
“Shh. I think Bode is finally on board. Don’t scare him off,” Deb whispers. Or in her impression of a whisper.
“There’s a new rule,” I tell them, glaring back and forth. “Since it seems like we’re all coupled up, no more making out or doing other things on the couch.”
Gran studies me with a quizzical stare. “If we can’t, that means you can’t either.”
“It’s my house. I should get to do what I want.”
“You think I want to come walking in here and see your bare ass? No, thank you.” Gran laughs.
I can’t help but laugh with her. Because that’s the last thing I would want to have happen to me.
“And Caleb can’t be in the room, either. No shocking his poor little eyes.”
“That was already a given.” Gran waves me off and grabs Deb’s hand. “Now that this is all settled, why don’t you order some dinner for us and we’ll all reconvene in the kitchen when it’s here?”
I can’t even agree before they’re closing the back door and hurrying out to the pool house.
“I cannot believe we walked in on that.”
Sliding off the counter, I bypass the couch and go straight upstairs. Whatever I was feeling earlier is gone. But that doesn’t mean I don’t want a quiet moment with Stevie.
Anywhere but the couch right now.
“I mean, I’m glad they found each other. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have found one another,” Stevie says.
Closing my bedroom door, I guide Stevie toward the bed.
