Page 51 of Flirting with the Scrooge

“Whatever keeps me going. Plus, I like to pretend I’ve dropped some of my bingo markers and he’s always so gracious to bend over and pick them up for me.”

“Oh shit. Grams’ got game.”

“He’s a very nice young man. Helen told me he was her date for the Seniors Prom. I’m going to ask him if he wants to come with me this year.”

“You cougar. He would be very lucky to have you as his date.”

She waves me off, not wanting to be the center of attention. “Enough about me. Tell me what’s new with you.” She rests her hands on mine.

“I’ve been busy with the house. It’s almost done. I scheduled a meeting with a realtor to get it on the market for you. And I met your neighbor.”

“Which neighbor? The brunette who doesn’t know how to keep her dog on a leash?”

“Tatum. The blonde across the road. She mentioned she always helped you with your Christmas decorations.”

Her eyes light up like the star on top of the tree. “Oh! Yes! Tatum. She’s such a doll, isn’t she?” I smile and nod. “So, what happened? How did you two meet?”

I tell her about her coming over with cookies, running into her at Fir Meadows, and the snowstorm, while leaving out the sex details, her taking care of me with my foot, the charity date, and lastly why she hates me. Grams pulls away and rests her hands in her lap. She’s eerily quiet for someone who generally has a lot to say.

“Connor James Tyler.”

Oh shit. It’s never good when you get middle named.

“If you hurt that sweet girl, I swear to God you won’t see the light of day. And you’ll no longer be my favorite.” Her voice is stern as she glares at me.

Fuck. I scrub my hands down my beard. You never want to be on Grams’ bad side. That’s the wrong side to be on. “I know.” I huff. “I don’t know what to do. I never meant to hurt her, but it doesn’t change the fact I’m leaving. It’s inevitable. I need to get back to the studio. Back to my life.” Even though I’m not one hundred percent sure it’s what I want.

“I trust that when the time is right, you’ll know what to do.” She rests her hands on mine and gives them a gentle squeeze. “And if you don’t, I’ll break out of here and hunt you down.”

A laugh rumbles from my throat. Not because I don’t believe her, it’s because I know it’s true. She looks innocent, but she can make you scared shitless with a single glance. “I better get back. I need to finish cleaning out the basement. But we’ll talk soon.”

“Oh, you better let me know what happens with Tatum. The gossip around here is good, but this is better.”

“Love you, Grams.” I rise to my feet and bend down to press a kiss to her forehead. She always tells me how it is and one thing I never want to do is let her down.

On the entire drive home, all my thoughts are consumed by Tatum and what it would be like if things were different. If I wasn’t leaving. If we met under different circumstances. Would everything work out? Suddenly, the creative urge hits me and I step on the gas, needing to get home. Once I’m inside, instead of finishing the basement, I sit on the edge of the couch in the living room and pull out my guitar. For the first time in a long time, the words and melody effortlessly flow out of me.

TWENTY-FIVE

SHIMMY DOWN HIS CHIMNEY

Tatum

I’m sitting at my kitchen island organizing name plates into piles based on their table seating. Olivia sits next to me reading a contract for a New Year’s Eve event we’re organizing. Exactly like my life, I’m only going through the motions.

Read the name.

Put it in a pile.

Read the name.

Put it in a pile.

Read the name.

Put it in a pile.

My mind wanders to Connor, like it has every day for the past few days. I feel like I was played. Made out to be a fool and no one likes feeling like that. That’s the thing that hurts the worst.

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