Page 106 of Grave Misgivings
After Geo left for sound check, I called Katy. If twenty-four hours is all I have left, I want to make it the best twenty-four hours.
I never got to see his thirtieth.
I want thirty-nine to go out with a fucking bang.
But most of all, I need him to know how much I fucking love him.
“Zeb, baby, where do you want me to put this cake?” Debbie calls me from inside, pulling me from my thoughts.
I head back indoors, my gaze settling on the petite blonde woman in my kitchen, holding a giant cake box.
“I got it, Mrs. Graves,” I respond. I move to grab it off of her, our fingers brushing.
She crosses her arms, shooting me a suspicious look. Her bracelets clink and clang as she looks around the room.
“What?”
“You did a beautiful job,” she says, as I set the cake on the island.
I reach for the cake stand in my upper cabinet, the one I never use. The only reason I even have a cake stand is because Katy brought it once for a picnic and she keeps forgetting to grab it every time she visits.
One glance at all the decorations that Katy and I put up, and I have to admit, my house kind of looks like Party City threw up in here, but somehow, it is perfect.
“I can’t take full credit. Katy?—”
“I’m not talking about the party, Zebulon,” she declares.
I set the cake stand down, heading for my silverware to hunt for a cake server, or at the very least, a big fucking knife.
I stop in my tracks as she comes to stand next to me as I open the drawer.
“Mrs. Graves?—”
She goes right in, pulling out a server as she flashes me a sly grin. Her long, manicured nails tickle the back of my hand and she looks at me with glistening eyes.
“I know things haven’t been easy for you. I know this…” She sighs. “This didn’t come easy, either. But you nevergave up,Zeb.”
Her hand squeezes mine, and I feel a sense of pride mixed with validation I never knew I needed.
“So don’t give up now.” She smiles softly.
I wallow harshly as her words fall on me. “I?—”
She removes her hand from mine. “Don’t give up when it’s just getting good, baby.” She winks at me, just as Katy opens the door, her heels clicking on the tile as she fusses with the champagne bottle.
“Zeb! I need a big strong man to open this fucking—” She blushes for a moment, looking at her mother. “Sorry, Mom.”
Debbie sighs. “Not my house. Not my rules.” She smirks at me as I take the bottle from Katy, popping the cork with a loud bang, her words still heavy in the air.
Is she... saying what Ithinkshe is saying?
I don’t have time to process her words, as fizzy bubbles spew out the top as Geo walks through the door, and time stands still.
“What the?—”
“Happy Birthday, baby!” Debbie says as she holds her arms out.
Geo looks from her to me to Katy, and I don’t miss the way his eyes sparkle or his lips twist into a grin.
