Page 35 of So Right
Kelsey couldn’t dispute any of that. It was strange, but after having Gram with her for a few days, it was as though she was seeing the apartment through new eyes. She’d begun to think she should’ve taken Brooke up on the loft vacancy. Yes, it was expensive, and it meant she couldn’t pay off her loans as quickly as she’d like, but maybe that was worth having comfort? Brooke’s loft had a sumptuous bathroom. When Kelsey thought of curling up with a book in a steaming bath, she could hardly keep from sighing in anticipation.
Yeah, maybe she should talk to Brooke about that.
“Okay, so my apartment sucks. But you don’t want to live with me. I’d cramp your style.” Kelsey nodded toward George, who just happened to be looking their way. He smiled and raised his hand to acknowledge her. Kelsey lifted her glass in silent toast.
Gram’s eyes widened again. “What are you doing?”
“I think George knows we’re talking about him.”
Gram shook her head. “But we aren’t.”
“We were, and we will again. Like I said, I’d cramp your style. How can you have George over with me hanging about?”
“I, uh… I don’t know. It doesn’t matter. You’re lovely to have around.”
“Not if you’re trying to be romantic. What if you want to have a sleepover?”
“Kelsey!” Gram looked shocked for a moment, and then she laughed, her cheeks turning pink. “We’ll go to his house.”
“Ha! So you’ve thought about it.”
“Maybe.” Gram’s cheeks grew red. “Anyway, I’ll talk to the Archers about house hunting. They’ll point me in the right direction.”
Kelsey sat back in her chair and crossed her arms, grinning. She was absurdly delighted with Gram and George. She just hoped it—whatever “it” was—worked out. “Yep.”
George walked toward the table then. “Here he comes,” Kelsey whispered.
Gram sat straighter and smoothed her hands over her cheeks as the last of the pink faded away.
He came to a stop and looked down at Gram. “Forgive me, but I forgot to ask what you wanted to drink? Can I get you a shandy?”
That was Gram’s favorite drink—beer and lemonade. At least that was her version of a shandy, and Kelsey had to assume that George had already learned to make it to her taste, since he seemed to know it was her favorite.
She smiled up at him, looking ten years younger. “Yes, thank you.”
He nodded before taking off, and Kelsey felt a surprising twinge of envy. She remembered that feeling of fresh attraction, of new emotions, of the prospect of joy. She realized she’d felt a jolt of that the other day with Luke when he’d tended to her wound. Before she’d mucked everything up by mentioning stupid Noah. Her pulse had quickened, and she’d wanted to lose herself in his eyes. She hadn’t thought that was possible anymore. And maybe it wasn’t. But for a brief, fleeting moment, it had seemed within reach. If only she had the courage to grab it.
She wasn’t sure she did.
George returned with the shandy, and they chatted for a few minutes before he reluctantly went back to the bar. Gram watched him go with a wistful look in her eyes.
“You two are too cute,” Kelsey said. “I’m afraid I have to get back to work soon, and I need to run home for a few minutes.” She needed to throw a chicken breast in her mini-crockpot for dinner.
Gram stood. “I guess I’ll go try to figure out how to knit. After I finish my shandy at the bar.” She winked at Kelsey as she picked up her bag and drink and went to join George.
Kelsey bussed her dishes to the kitchen and waved at Gram and George as she walked by on her way outside.
Their stunning fall weather had dimmed a bit today as the clouds had moved in. It was supposed to rain tomorrow for the start of Oktoberfest, but the forecasters were sure it would clear up on Friday. As sure as forecasters could be anyway.
Kelsey crossed the street and took care of her dinner prep. Then, on her way out of the building, she came face-to-face with Luke Westcott.
They both stopped short, and she imagined her face reflected the surprise on his.
“Fancy meeting you here,” he said, grinning.
She wasn’t sure what she’d expected when she saw him again, but she was relieved that it wasn’t awkward. One of the reasons she didn’t tell people about her past with Noah was that she didn’t want them treating her with kid gloves. She hated feeling like a victim. So far, Luke hadn’t made her feel like that.
“Yes, fancy that,” she said. “Since Ilivehere.” She smiled at him.
