Page 8 of Devour

Journi begins to laugh. “Does this mean I get to be the godparent to your first born? You picked her up inmycar. Will you name your baby after me? I mean – I found your soulmate.”

“Hardly,” I grumble.

“Such a romantic,” Journi slurs. “Seriously, make me your VP. Best something. Best friend?”

“Where have you put Little Bit?” Gram asks and then lifts a giant beer mug to her lips. “Little Bit?” Journi asks.

“For Little Bitty. She was a tiny thing forever. Not the full curved woman she is now, but the nickname has stuck.”

Journi arches a brow at me. “Yes, Nicholas. Where is Little Bit?”

“My room.”

Journi about spits out her drink. “Yourprivate room?”

“Yes.”

“She is special. Let me get a look at this granddaughter. Wow.”

Gram raises her brows. “My my. You kids do move fast these days. But you know, I married my husband after three dates. Of course, back then that’s the only way you could be alone with someone. You had to marry them. Or so I thought. I wanted to have sex so I got married. Turns out it wasn’t worth it. Now when we hired a gardener.Hewas worth it. That man knew what to do with his tools, so to speak.”

Journi elbows Gram. “Were you a dirty hoe?”

Gram’s frail shoulders do a little shimmy. “We were certainly dirty. But the hosing down was fun as well.”

“Did he spray your face?” Journi asks in a husky voice.

“Honey, there wasn’t anywhere he didn’t spray.”

Journi howls with laughter. “Where did you find her?” she asks me and I shrug. “I’m keeping her.”

I order Gram another drink. The old lady emptied that whole glass and doesn’t even seem phased.

“So you’re telling me not to hire a gardener?” I tease.

“If you know how to tend to her garden, you won’t need to worry now will you?” Gram calmly tells me.

Journi smirks. “Yeah, Nicholas. Tend to her little bud, and you’ll be just fine. Also, I’m your maid of honor and child’s godmother, yes?”

I narrow my eyes at Journi. “Will you stop talking if I tell you what you want to hear?”

“That usually works, yeah.”

“Then sure.”

“It’s an honor. Of course I’ll be your best man. Matron of honor. Godmother.Fairyfucking godmother.” Journi claps her hands in excitement. She begins singing some song, but I haveno clue what words are even coming out of her mouth. Which means it’s my cue to go. Maeve is probably ready by now, or at least close to being ready.

“Anything you need or want is yours. I’m going to go check on Little Bit,” I tell Gram.

She reaches over and takes my hand before I can walk away. “I know a wolf when I see one. But I know you’re not going to hurt my girl.”

Even though I know I shouldn’t agree with her, I can’t stop myself. “And how do you know that?”

“Trust me.”

“Trust is a dangerous gamble.” A slow sinister smile spreads across my face.

“True, Mr. Deschamps. I’m a betting woman, and I bet you’ve met your match. I’ll warn you. I don’t think my granddaughter is the type to play fair.”

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