Page 56 of Crashing into Love

“You invited Selma there?” Ruth checked.

“Yeah; just to board and hang out, maybe. I was thinking about both of them coming, but I know Gia is in her new program and can’t leave right now. A weekend would probably be too much for her as well because it would be a Friday night flight and a Sunday flight back, so… not sure that’s worth it.”

“Selma can go,” Ruth said.

“Sorry?” Selma asked.

“You can go. You should go.”

“Why?” Selma asked.

“Because you haven’t had more than a few hours off in months and you deserve it. I can watch Gia. Plus, Kirsten can help. She’s been looking to–”

“I know. Kelly told me. But I can’t just go to Drew’s, Grandma.”

“Why not? She invited you. Did you mean to invite my granddaughter to spend time with you, Drew?”

“I did, but–”

“Then, it’s settled. Selma will come to see you, and I’ll watch Gia. Kirsten will help.”

“Grandma, you can’t just decide for me.”

“Selma, it’s fine. It was a dumb idea. You don’t have to come here,” Drew said, trying to let her off the hook. “I know how busy we both are.”

“Exactly why she should go,” Ruth explained. “Drew, you spent most of your time here entertaining my great-granddaughter, which I appreciate, but I’m guessing that wasn’t the kind of vacation you were hoping for.”

“No, it was fine. I liked hanging out with Gia.”

“Yes, but you can have some adult time with Selma.”

“Grandma!” Selma exclaimed.

“You know what I mean. Gia is a great kid. We all love her. But you need some time off from it all, Selma. Just go for a weekend, at least. Get on your snowboards, if you must, but it’s also okay if you don’t do that, too.”

“Gia will kill me if I go see Drew, and she doesn’t get to come.”

“Tell her it’s for work,” Ruth suggested. “She’ll believe you. Now, I have to get back downstairs. We’ll work out the details later?”

“I’ll talk to you later, yes,” Selma corrected.

“Fine. Good enough.”

Selma turned the camera back to her own face.

“Did your grandma just basically book your flight for you?” Drew teased.

“She’s a very stubborn woman.”

“You should come here, then, so you don’t get in trouble.”

“Drew, it was a passing comment that you made. And now, she’s guilting you into this.”

“No, she’s not. Look, I have a one-bedroom apartment. It’s not great, but I have a pull-out sofa, and it’s comfortable enough. You can even bring Gia, if you want. You two can take my bed. I’ll sleep on the couch or buy that air mattress.”

“I’m not making you sleep on the sofa or an air mattress in your own apartment, Drew. And Gia really can’t go because of school. You were right about the weekend thing: it would be too much for her to leave late on Friday night and come back on Sunday and still make it through the next school week unscathed.”

“So, just you?”

---