Page 63 of You're All I Need

He nods, taking my statement on the chin. I’m not going to lie to him. That’s not my style. I’m here because our grandma asked me to and for no other reason. “Well, still. I—we—appreciate it.”

“We were just getting ready to head out,” I announce, placing my hand on Adrienne’s lower back. “Have a good evening.”

Together, we walk away, and even though the conversation was awkward and unwanted, I don’t regret it. I don’t wish either of them ill will, but that doesn’t mean I’m ready to kiss and make up. They can live their lives, and I’ll do the same. We’ve both moved on, so there’s no point in living in the past.

When we reach our table, I grab my suit jacket and slip it over my arm. “Gram, we’re out of here.”

“Wait! I need a picture,” she insists, waving Tyler over. Once she tells him what she’s after, he takes off to gather the rest of the cousins for a group photo.

I hand my jacket to Adrienne. “Give me one minute and then we can go.”

“No rush,” she says.

It takes close to ten minutes to gather the ten of us and then get us into position for the photograph. I make sure I’m on the opposite end from where Tyler is, and we all say cheese together. Someone suggests, “Hey, Gram, you get in one too.”

Gram hands her cell phone over to Adrienne and shuffles toward us, waving at the middle to part enough to give her room. “Make sure you get my good side,” Gram instructs to Adrienne, who chuckles.

“Everyone ready?” she asks, getting everyone into the picture.

“Cheese!”

Adrienne takes a handful of pictures before returning the phone to Gram. “Thank you, dear.”

“You’re welcome,” Adrienne replies.

“Gram, we’re out. I’ll see you soon.”

“Yes,” she replies, pulling me into a big hug. “Thank you for coming. I know this wasn’t how you wanted to spend your Saturday, but I appreciate this more than you’ll ever know. You’ve done your time, so now you can take your lovely date back home and have your wicked way with her.”

“Gram,” I groan, closing my eyes and shaking my head.

“I’m not so old I don’t remember what it was like to be in the presence of someone of the opposite sex you’re wildly attracted to. I was eighteen when I met your grandpa, but we didn’t get together until I was twenty-two. I learned a lot in those four years by dating around, which is exactly what you’ve been doing.”

I groan, wishing I could erase this entire conversation from my brain. “Stop talking.”

“Fine, fine, whatever. Adrienne, it was lovely to see you again. I’m so glad you came with my grandson.”

“I’m happy to be here. It was a beautiful wedding.”

Gram rolls her eyes. “Beautiful and expensive. Too much for a couple who already have two children. I mean, the bride wore white.White.Can you believe that?”

“I don’t think the tradition has quite the meaning it used to, Gram. Everyone wears white.”

“Not everyone,” my gram insists. “I saw photographs on the inter-web where the bride was wearing blood red. Can you imagine? Looking like a trauma patient on your wedding day?”

I snort a laugh and shake my head before leaning in and kissing her cheek. “I’ll talk to you soon.”

“Yes, yes. Pizza with Jack and his crew soon. I promised Christian.”

“I’ll arrange it.”

“Good. And bring Adrienne. I want to show her all your embarrassing baby photos.”

Groaning, I grab my jacket once more and take Adrienne’s hand. “No way.”

“You’re not the boss of me,” Gram insists, winking at Adrienne before she says, “go you two before you’re stuck doing the Chicken Dance with the rest of the drunks.”

“Love you,” I tell her, placing another quick kiss on her cheek.

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