Page 44 of Torch

Christian stepped forward and brought her into a hug. “Nice to meet you, gorgeous.”

Red filled my granny’s tan cheeks. “Oh, so he’s a charmer. I like this one, Brit.” She looked down at his cut. “Oh, and you’re a Warrior? Those are some good people.”

I frowned because I didn’t think my granny knew anything about the club. “How do you know that, Granny?”

“Because they give back to the community all the time. They just opened a homeless shelter. But this one is a live-in shelter. They help people get their diplomas and get a job before assisting in finding them an affordable apartment.”

“Are you serious?” I asked, baffled.

“Yup. I read it in the paper. I dropped Walter off a few weeks ago, and he’s been doing great.”

Walter and I grew up together before my family moved out of the neighborhood. He lost his way in his teens, turning to drugs. After his family tried getting him clean several times, they washed their hands of him. Eventually he did get clean, but the damage was done to his family. He had stolen from them one too many times. Everyone around here knew each other. Several people tried helping him, but he refused, not wanting to be a burden to anyone. People looked out for him and kept him fed and bathed, but he lived on the streets. I was happy to hear he was finally getting the help he needed.

“Well, I wish I had time to sit down and talk, but I do have to run by my business tonight, so I’m going to get started on this yard,” Christian told her.

“That’s fine, sweetie. I’m sure we’ll have a chance to talk another time.”

“We sure will.”

Once Granny told him where the mower was, he took off, and I followed my granny inside. “Where’s Uncle Gavin?”

“In his room, sleeping. His back was hurting again, so he took some pain meds.”

“Oh, okay.” We sat in the living room, talking and catching up. Twenty minutes into our conversation, my granny tilted her head, watching me strangely. “What?” I asked.

She shook her head with a grin. “Nothing. You just look… Happy.”

I tucked a piece of hair behind my ear. “I am.” I nibbled on my lip, ready to confide in someone what I was really feeling. “I… I love him.”

Her eyes bucked in surprise. “How long have you two known each other?”

“A little over a month. But Granny, he’s so good to me. Treats me better⁠—”

Granny waved her hand at me. “Child, you don’t have to explain yourself to me. Your grandfather married me within a month.”

My jaw dropped. “Seriously? How come you never told me that?”

She shrugged. “It’s not something I broadcast because it doesn’t matter. We loved each other, and that was that. How long we knew each other before getting married is irrelevant.”

“It’s crazy that you say that because Christian and I are married,” I confessed. My granny had just taken a sip of her water. She spat it out, coughing. I ran over and patted her back. “Sorry. I probably should have waited until you finished drinking your water.”

After she got herself together, she patted my hand. “It’s okay, sweetie. I’m fine. But explain to me how you got married and didn’t tell us anything?”

I told her everything about Vegas, but I left it at that. I didn’t want to expose the stuff about Myron just yet. I needed answers from my biological father before doing that.

My granny opened her mouth to say something but paused when she glanced out of the living room window. “Brit, take that man a bottle of water or something because he’s got company.”

I looked and saw women on the sidewalk and on the porches of their homes watching him like he was prime steak. I got up, grabbed a bottle of water, and made my way outside. Christian was now in a wife-beater, sweating like crazy. His muscular, tattooed skin glistened. When I started making my way over, he stopped the mower.

Taking the bottle, he opened it, drinking it all in five seconds. “Thanks, baby.” He kissed me, making my toes curl.

“You’re welcome. Do you need another one?”

He shook his head. “No. I’m good. That’ll hold me over until I’m finished.”

“Okay,” I said and strutted off. Right as I reached the porch, I heard someone call my name. When I turned around, it was Smoove. I dropped my head with a sigh.

“What’s up, stranger?” he questioned, walking over to me.