Page 119 of Finding Olivia (Trace + Olivia 1)

“Gramps, is weird,” Trace shrugged.

“Respect your elders, boy,” Warren snapped as he came hobbling into the dining room. He stopped behind Trace and smacked the back of his head with a surprising amount of strength.

“Sorry, Gramps,” Trace muttered.

“You gotta watch this one,” Warren chuckled as he sat down, and addressed me, a finger pointed at his grandson, “if he gets outta line, you’ve just got to give him a little smack.” He swatted at the air for emphasis. “That’ll straighten him right up.”

I laughed. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

The rest of the family strolled casually into the dining room.

I grabbed a bagel and slathered it in cream cheese and added two scoops of mixed fruits onto my plate.

Cecilia brought out champagne flutes filled with orange juice and a slim orange slice along the rim.

“How did you sleep?” Trace’s mom, Lily, asked me.

“Well, thank you,” I took a sip of orange juice.

“I’m glad the guestroom was to your liking,” she smiled.

“Wait, what?” I gasped.

Trace snickered beside me.

I glared over at him.

“Way to go!” Trent fist bumped Trace.

“Oh, God,” I hung my head in my hands.

“I—uh—take it you didn’t sleep in the guestroom,” Lily chuckled.

“This is so embarrassing,” I mumbled

“Don’t be embarrassed,” she shrugged, spearing her scrambled eggs, “you’re both adults.”

“Still,” I glared at Trace. “You’re such a little liar.”

“I told you she wouldn’t care,” he shrugged.

“Ugh,” I groaned, praying a hole would open up, and swallow me.

Warren cleared his throat, drawing everyone’s attention to the head of the table. “I was able to speak with Cameron, who owns the snow removal business we use, and he said that they should be able to clear the driveway this afternoon.”

I smiled gratefully and then paled. “Oh my God!” I stood up from the table. “I forgot to let my mom and Avery know we got snowed in. They’re probably so worried,” I started to dart away from the table but Trace caught my arm.

“I talked to your mom last night, you were in the shower, and your phone rang,” he explained. “I answered and told her what had happened.”

“Oh, thank goodness,” I put a hand to my racing heart and sat back down.

Trent snickered from across the table. “Did you seriously say, ‘Thank goodness’?”

“Um, yeah,” I replied.

He laughed quietly. “Grammy says that.”

“That’s because Grammy’s cool,” Trace slung his arm across the back of my chair.

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