Page 60 of Mr. Edwards
“I’m old, love, not dead. Help an old lady out.” Sighing, he reaches over and opens the glove compartment retrieving the box of condoms he stowed in there. As he goes to open the top flap, to take a couple out, she snatches the entire box out of his hand. “Love ya, kiddo,” she says, blowing him a kiss. Her gaze moves to me. “It was nice meeting you, Carlee. Look after my grandson, he’s a keeper… did I mention he’s my favorite?”
Like a hundred times.But I can see the close bond they have.
“I’m your only grandson,” Grayson grumbles.
“You’re still my favorite, and you know it.”
“I’m very loveable,” he says with a shrug, making my eyes roll. It may be true, but modesty isn’t exactly his forte.
Our trip home is a quiet one; Grayson’s hand is wrapped in mine, and the other is on the steering wheel. It’s a comfortable silence, but my head is still spinning a hundred miles an hour. Today I got a glimpse of what it would be like to be part of a normal loving family, and it was glorious, but I’m too scared to hope this could be my life one day. I know he keeps mentioning our impending marriage, but it’s just in jest, right? He doesn’t really see that in our future?
“I told you my family would love you,” he says, pulling me back into the now. I can see the coastline off in the distance, so I know we’re almost home. I was dreading this day when I woke up this morning, but now I’ll be sad to see it come to an end.
“They’re nice, you’re lucky to have them.”
“I’m lucky to have you,” he says, bringing my hand up to his mouth, flipping it over, and placing a kiss on the center of my palm.
Looking over at him, I smile. “I’m lucky to have you too.”Because I am.
I get a pang in my heart when we turn into his street, and I spy my beast of a car, aptly named the Red Rocket, parked on the curb outside his house. It doesn’t belong in a neighborhood like this and stands out like dogs’ balls. But that car has been loyal and I love her for that. She may be old, but she’s been getting me around for years.
I drove to Grayson’s place earlier today, because itwas out of his way, even though he did offer several times to pick me up. His mother’s house is in the opposite direction to mine, and Gardena is a half-hour drive from Hermosa. It made more sense for me to come to him.
He presses his remote to open the garage door, driving down the incline and inside. I reach for my bag and exit the car before he has a chance to open my door. When he gives me a look, I know that move pissed him off. I love his gentlemanly ways, but I’m quite capable of getting out on my own.
Moving around the front of the vehicle, he comes to my side, pulling me into his arms. “You know I like doing that for you.”
“Next time, I might let you,” I say, patting his chest. Extending his arm, he goes to press the fob on his keys to close the garage door. “Leave it. I can head out to the street from here.”
“What? You’re not going already, are you?”
“It’s getting late, and we’ve spent the whole day together. You’ve got work tomorrow, and I’ve got stuff to do.”
“What stuff?”
I shrug. “Just stuff.”
His eyes track my face. “Stay.”
“I can’t.”
“Pretty please with multiple orgasms on top.” He pouts his bottom lip, so I get on the tips of my toes and suck it into my mouth.
“The orgasms sound nice, but I really should be going.”
“Is this how it’s going to be all the time?” he asks, and I can hear the exasperation in his voice. “We’ve been together for a few months now… it’s time.”
“I told you from the very beginning I don’t do sleepovers.”
“Why?”
“I don’t like people sleeping beside me.”
“So, what’s going to happen when we’re married?” His voice has now raised a few octaves. “Do we sleep in separate beds, or God forbid live in separate houses?”
This is bullshit.
“Look,” I say stepping around him. “I’m not going to stand here and argue about something that may never happen.”
