Page 129 of Choosing Forever
“My grandma.”
Releasing a heavy breath, I shake my head and bundle her up in my arms again. I drag my hand up and down her back, trying as hard as I can to soothe the hurt that I know she’s trying hard to hide.
“I’m sorry.”
“You don’t have to keep apologizing,” she tells me.
“Yes, I do.”
“We can’t change what happened. It’s the story of us, I suppose.”
I press my forehead to her temple and hold her a little tighter. “The story of us. I like that.”
Her lashes flutter, tickling my throat. Silence creeps in before she pushes it back.
“Please don’t break me again.”
My heart gives a hard kick. “Breaking you would destroy me, and I can’t survive that again.”
“You promised not to do it once already.”
“I won’t make that promise again. I’ll prove it to you instead.”
Even if it takes me another decade.
41
DARREN
My parents’door is unlocked when I give it a yank and then step inside.
Nothing’s changed in here since I was a kid and my dad tried his hand at renovations. They ended up having to call in a professional to fix everything he touched, which cost them triple what they thought they were saving by doing it on their own. Now, they’ve just embraced the out-of-date features and lack of storage space.
Leaving my shoes at the front, I step over Abbie’s sneakers and search for where everyone’s hiding. It’s only seven thirty, but since my mom’s up at five every morning, I know she’s already gotten Abbie’s ready to go by now.
It’s been hard to keep my cool all morning after being with Delaney last night. Mom would have lost her mind and run over half-awake in her slippers if I’d actually called her this morning like I’d contemplated doing. It’s been a long time since I’ve been so happy about something to call her about it, and I’ve been clutching onto that since I woke up.
“You look well rested this morning, sweetheart,” she pipes up before jumping out of nowhere and attacking me with a hug.
I steady myself and return the gesture. “I slept good.”
“Finally.”
“You’re telling me. Did my daughter?”
“Of course she did. We went to the playground, and as I suspected, she ran circles around me.”
“So, you also slept well?” I ask with a chuckle.
Mom twists to the fridge and pulls out a jug of orange juice. I reach over her head and grab a tall glass, handing it over.
“I always do when my grandbaby is here.”
I take the glass of juice when she offers it to me. “Thank you for watching her for me.”
“You don’t have to thank me! I don’t get enough time with her anymore.”
“Blame school for that. It’s such a time hog,” I tease.
