“I’m not kicking anyone out. I’m just trying to figure out when I missed someone else moving in.”
“Wait, you didn’t know?” this Stevie woman asks me. “Nan. Are you serious?”
“You needed a place to stay and you were going to stay with me. It’s only a slight change of address.” Deb shrugs her shoulders like it’s not a big deal.
I fight the groan. Clearly the two of us are in this together. When Gran moved in last month to help with Caleb, I didn’t realize her best friend, Deb, was also a part of the deal. Something about how Gran needed a partner in crime to help her out.
I didn’t realize helping out with Caleb required two sets of hands, but who was I to argue? I should have prodded deeper, because now, apparently, I’m getting another houseguest.
One that is much closer in age to me.
One that keeps drawing my eyes away from the troublemakers in question to her.
“Gran, can I talk to you for a minute?”
“I’ll take Caleb.” Deb takes the now calm baby from my arms.
“Thank you.” Stalking toward the office, I wait for Gran to pass and close the door behind her. “Explain. Now.”
“Deb’s granddaughter needs a place to stay.”
“I don’t mean to be rude, but why did you offer my place without talking to me?”
“Because Stevie is going through a hard time and needs to stay with her Nan.”
I sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose. “You realize I have an eight-month-old, right? Do you think she really wants to stay with a baby who is now teething?”
Add that to my list of worries. Teething.
“And you have me and Deb here to help. You are going to go out and tell Stevie she is welcome here as long as she needs. We didn’t kick you out, did we?”
Gran cocks an eyebrow at me as she pins me with a stare that says I should not mess with her. I hate that look. It’s one I can’t argue with, no matter how much I want to.
“You know this is my house, right?”
She shrugs a shoulder. “So? I would have gladly moved in here and kicked you to the curb to stay with that sweet baby boy of yours.”
“Gee, thanks. Love you too.”
Gran pats my cheek. “I know you do, and I love you more than you’ll ever know. Now, go be the man I raised you to be and invite Stevie to stay with us.”
I blow out a breath and do what she says. By the time we get back to the entryway, Caleb is gnawing on his ring as Stevie coos at him. Drool slides down his chin.
“He’s cute,” Stevie tells me.
“Thanks.”
“Look, I can go,” Stevie says. “You have a lot going on?—”
“It’s fine. You can stay here,” I interject.
A hand brushes my back and I swear it’s a warning shot from Gran. Fuck. I’m doing exactly what she asked. I’m being polite. It’s not like she raised me in a barn. I can be polite. I’d flip her off…except that wouldn’t be polite.
“I don’t want to impose.”
“C’mon. I’ll show you to your room.” I don’t leave any time for response and start jogging up the stairs.
Probably for the best for me to lead the way. I don’t need to stare at her ass as I show her to her new living space.
