Page 67 of Reckless Encounters

“So that…” my grandma whispers, pointing from the kitchen toward the den where Parker and my grandfather are sitting, “is your boss? And the man you’ve been living with?”

“Yes, Grandma, now pick your jaw up off the floor.” I rub my thumb over her chin. “I think you’ve got some drool right there.”

“Ava Marie Pierce. He’s beautiful, I can’t help it. I’m old, not dead,” she says, swatting me with a kitchen towel she used to pull the freshly baked cake out of the oven.

“There is no way that man is only your friend.”

I blush at her accusation. I’ve always been very close with my grandmother, but telling her he bangs me six ways to Sunday on the daily isn’t quite the type of conversation I want to have with her.

“Don’t get your hopes up, Grandma. You are correct, we aren’t just friends, but we also won’t ever be more. So don’t go picking out great grandkids’ names or anything.”

“Hmmm. No wonder you didn’t want your parents to know where you were staying.” Her eyes are still narrowed in on me, trying to read me like she’s always been able to do so easily.

I feel bad that I asked her to lie to my mom about my current living situation, but I didn’t want their intrusive questions and accusations. Especially not when I’m having my own dreadful thoughts about what me moving out of Parker’s penthouse in a few weeks will mean for us.

“You’d be proud of me. I did answer her call earlier,” I offer with a shrug.

“I’m glad, love. How was the call?”

“Typical. She wished me a happy birthday and brought up letting them throw me a big party full of all their associates. I politely declined, said thank you, and that was that.” Basically, she loves to use any excuse to show off all their money, even if that means using her daughter who she barely knows anymore.

She shakes her head. “I’m not sure where your grandfather and I went wrong with her. She was always shown affection as a child, but at some point, money replaced love, and the change in her was irrevocable.”

I’ll never understand either. It’s hard to believe she and my aunt grew up in the same household. But I’ve come to terms with the fact I’ll never get that type of unconditional love from my parents. I think deep down, they are okay with it too. Sometimes I wonder if they even wanted a child.

“Aunt Samantha called and screamed happy birthday at the top of her lungs.” I think back to Parker’s face when he heard that on the car ride over here. He was so upset with me that I hadn’t told him today was my birthday.

Grandma chuckles. “Of course she did. I miss her so much. Did she tell you she’s planning a trip home later this summer?”

“She did, and I can’t wait,” I beam.

“We better go save your friend. There is no telling what crazy stories your grandfather is telling him.”

We both take a few steps, and I stop her. “Don’t ask him about his family, okay?”

I see the sadness cast over her face as she takes in my words. “His parents both passed away years back. He’s an only child.”

She clutches her chest. “That breaks my heart.” I nod because it breaks mine too, and I find myself constantly wanting to protect him from the hurt.

“But thank you for telling me. I would never want to bring up something that would cause him pain.”

“I know,” I say, squeezing her hand.

We find them both on the couch, legs spread, leaning toward the TV, watching as the Carolina Bulls play the Red Sox.

Boston’s third baseman hits a double, and my grandfather, a die-hard Yankees’ fan, cusses at the screen. When the Yankees aren’t playing, he’s an anybody-but-Boston fan. Especially when it’s Eli’s team.

You see a lot more Carolina Bulls jerseys roaming around Long Island these days.

“He wouldn’t have gotten that hit on Eli,” Parker says. “We played him in the college world series and Eli struck him out twice in game three… The guy’s a prick. Next-level shit-talker.”

My grandpa looks to him with wide eyes. “Wait, you played?”

“Yes, that’s actually how I know Ava, through Eli.”

I had explained all that to my grandma, but either she didn’t tell him or, more than likely, he wasn’t actually listening to her when she did.

“Oh, I thought you were her boss.”

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