Page 53 of Fireworks & Forehead Kisses

“About what?”

“I wanted to know if she was open to working things out with you.”

Working things out with me?I was at a total loss for words. I felt like I was in the Twilight Zone.

Over the past few months, my grandmother seemed sharper than ever, but maybe her age was actually getting to her. Or perhaps the stress of working, combined with losing my grandfather and moving out to Firefly Island, was too much for her, and she was getting confused.

“And the good news is, she does,” my grandmother concluded.

Good news?

“I walked in on her in bed with someone else,” I reminded her.

“Things happen. No one is perfect. You can’t just throw things away when times get tough. Also, you’re not getting any younger.”

Things happen.

No one is perfect.

Throw things away when times get tough.

You’re not getting any younger.

This didn’t sound at all like my grandmother. Something was going on.

“You’ve never cared whether I was married or not. What is this sudden interest in my marital status?”

“Just promise me that you will keep an open mind with Serena.”

“Why are you suddenly pushing for this? Do you remember the conversation we had in my office when you asked me what I loved about her?”

“There are a lot of reasons people get married, dear. Don’t be naïve.”

This was ridiculous. I didn’t want to hear any more of her riddles or platitudes.

“Gran, just tell me what’s going on.”

“When are you coming home?”

She knewexactlywhen I was coming home. We’d discussed it at least a dozen times. I was going to be there for the online launch of the new line. Originally, the plan had been for Gran to come into the offices in Atlanta to do the launch from there with the entire team, but since she and Ashley had worked out of the house in Firefly, she wanted to celebrate there. So, I was flying to Atlanta and then directly to Firefly.

“In two weeks,” I told her what she already knew.

“We’ll talk about it then.”

“Talk about what?”

The call disconnected, and l stared at the screen. Something was wrong. Was she ill? Was that why she wanted to see me settled so badly? Was it so she could see me get married?

My thumb hovered over her name to call her back when there was a knock on my hotel door. I hadn’t ordered room service. The staff may have sent something up, though. They often did when I was visiting the hotels.

I opened the door expecting to see a cart with a steak; instead, I came face to face with Serena, wearing a trench coat, heels, and a tote bag. She’d shown up on my doorstep in this attire when we’d been together and not had anything underneath. I hoped that wasn’t her plan tonight.

Instead of waiting for me to invite her in, she pushed past me into the room. I was so shell-shocked to see her that I allowed it to happen.

“What are you doing here?” I asked as she set her bag down, walked over to the minibar, and poured herself a whiskey.

She downed the contents, then set the glass on the bar and turned around with an earnest expression on her face.

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