Page 81 of A Song for You

“Yeah, take some blanket, Jay. We wouldn’t want your ass to get too cold,” Carter laughs.

Just for that, I’m going to make his sister come while he’s in the next room tonight.

Cat eyes me as she holds up the blanket. “I won’t bite, I promise,” she teases.

I pull her leg to me and snuggle in. “But I might,” I mouth to her, evoking the smallest of smiles from her. Below the blanket, I squeeze her leg but keep things PG. There are families around, after all. I’m not a monster.

Beside me, Kevin whines, “Hey, I’m cold too. Want to share your blanket with me?”

The icy glare he’s met with only leaves him laughing.

“Sorry, blanket is too small,” I say as I slide my hand between Cat’s thighs and soak in her warmth. Now this is how you watch a high school football game.

As it turns out, Cat and Carter weren’t the only Jameses in the stands. As we’re waiting for Cash to change, still freezing our asses off, Cat hisses under her breath. When I turn, her grandparents are shuffling toward us. I’ve seen pictures of them before, but I’ve never seen them in person.

“Looks like I finally get to meet the grandparents,” I whisper.

She’s gone stiff, though, and I don’t miss how she’s moved a fraction of an inch over, creating more space between us.

“Sunshine,” her grandfather says, making a beeline for his granddaughter while ignoring the rest of us. The smile that warms her face at his greeting melts any ill will I may have had toward the man. If he makes her smile like that, there’s no possible way I could hate him. It’s just…fuck, I’m crazy about her.

Cat steps forward and hugs her grandfather tight, their verbal exchange indiscernible from where I force myself to remain standing. Theodore James is a tall man. He’s got a full head of silver hair, blue eyes like Carter, and broad shoulders. He squares them in my direction when he releases Cat.

Beside him is Cat’s grandmother, who’s just as formidable as the man beside her. She’s tall like Cat, her hair doesn’t have a lick of gray, and her face holds far fewer wrinkles than is natural for a woman who’s got to be in her mid to late sixties.

They’re both in warm wool jackets and gloves.

“And you must be Jonathan Hanson,” her grandfather says as he holds out his hand to greet me.

Swallowing thickly, I steel myself. I have imagined this day for years. But beside me, Cat has gone rigid as her grandmother comments on her weight gain.

What. The. Fuck?

“I’ve been busy, Grandmother. I haven’t had time to get to the gym. But I’ll get back to it,” she says quietly, her chin tucked and her eyes downcast.

I close my eyes and suck in a deep breath, grasping for a sliver of control.

But I lose that battle pitifully quick. “I think you’re beautiful.”

Cat’s eyes shoot to mine. As does every other set in our vicinity.

“Uh—” Cat gapes, her jaw hanging open. “Thank you,” she murmurs, wringing her gloved hands.

I simply nod and turn back to her grandfather. He appraises me with those keen cobalt eyes, and his lips twitch with what could maybe be a smile. “I happen to agree, Sunshine. I think you’re perfect.”

Pink paints Cat’s cheeks, and she ducks her head.

Her grandmother sighs loudly. “I wasn’t saying she’s not perfect. I was just saying that she should take time for herself.” The crone turns back to her granddaughter. “Are you still going back and forth between Providence and Boston? You know you have a place to stay here. No need to run yourself ragged commuting every day.”

Her grandfather chuckles as he meets my eye. “She’s been staying in the penthouse. Haven’t you, Sunshine?”

The tone is unmistakable, and the way he grips my hand, the one he’s yet to let go of since our first exchange, sends me a clear message. He knows we’re together.

Cat trips over her words. “I—uh—yes. Sometimes—is that okay?”

Her grandfather finally releases me, but not before raising his brows and giving me a smirk. “Of course it’s okay. Use it as often as you like.”

Before we wind up involved in another interrogation—by her bitch of a grandmother or Theodore—Cash and Frank saunter out of the gym, and all attention turns to them.