Page 111 of Billion Dollar Revenge

I sit up and walk over to Gram, kissing her cheek as she maneuvers her walker to her usual spot to take a seat.

“Can I get you anything, Gram?”

“No, but you’re staying for lunch, right?’

“Yes, I hear today’s the classic chicken noodle soup.”

She nods. “I feel like I’m coming down with something, so I asked for it.”

My stomach drops with worry. “Are you okay?”

“Yes, just a cold.”

“Enough about me. How are you?”

I drop my gaze to my hands clutched in front of me and let out a heavy sigh. “Alright, I guess…”

My gaze lifts back to her assessing one. Her eyebrows lift high to her freshly brushed grey hair. “What does ‘I guess’ mean?”

My eyes shift to the garden, where Chelsea had formally met Gram. I watched from inside, in awe of how effortlessly they chatted. Then, at the next Sunday family dinner, Gram told me how lovely Chelsea was.

I brought Chelsea into my life, so I feel like I owe it to Gram to tell her what’s happened.

“Chelsea asked for space.”

“That’s not good. What happened?” she asks, crossing her ankles and settling back into the sofa.

“She wants marriage and kids.”

Gram smiles.

She actually fucking smiles.

“What’s that look for?” I ask.

“Get over your fear,” she replies simply, but that only has my nerves heightening.

“How do I do that?”

“You try. Do you give up at work if on the first try you fail?”

“No,” I say tentatively.

“Well, relationships are no different.”

I remain silent, mind spinning, so she continues.

“Is she worth fighting for?”

I nod without a second’s hesitation. “Definitely. But I don’t know if I can give her what she needs.”

“Let’s try something. Close your eyes.”

I follow her order, then she continues talking. “Now picture her married to someone else and baring another man’s child.”

My eyes snap open, my temperature rising, turning my nerves to a raging mix of longing and jealousy.

“Close them, Evan,” she warns.

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