Page 72 of Thrill Me (Dark Odyssey 3)

They’re the female equivalent of players. Mom wasn’t like them or like my aunt, Vanessa. We have it that the man craze skipped Mom and landed on me, and when they saw me with the Giordano boys they really believed they were all mine and had a hard time believing otherwise. They didn’t think a girl could be friends with that many guys.

I guess they were right though.

“So the cream is this miracle cream from Switzerland that makes your tits look firmer. If you start using it from now you’ll look like me with the surgery by the time you get to my age.” She points to her breasts and I try not to laugh. Then she wrinkles her nose and I think she’s supposed to be frowning but because of the amount of Botox she’s had in her face I can’t tell. “I would suggest you wash it off though before one of your boys comes around. The taste isn’t all that great.”

My poor skin is so used to her antics that I don’t even bother to blush anymore. God knows what she’s been up to.

“Okay, Grandma.” I laugh.

“It’s true, or if you are going to use it avoid the nipple area, but if your man likes to devour you then you know, you don’t want creams to put him off.”

“No not at all.”

She became like this after my grandfather died. He was a control freak who insisted that she wear dresses that covered her from head to toe, never wore makeup and never spoke to men. She doesn’t like talking about her years with him. Honestly I think it was an arranged marriage, but that was never confirmed. Grandfather died when I was ten, so two years before Mom died.

Grandma just went wild. He left her a fortune so she used it on us and herself. She took me to Disneyland for the whole summer and we pigged out.

“I got all the stuff ready for you so it’s all out in the attic. I think everything should be there. I dug deep.” She smiles but there’s a dimness in her expression.

She stops with me just by the stairs.

We spoke last night and I asked her if I could come around and get all Mom’s recipe books and the books with recipes the three of us put together.

They’re all here, volumes of them. History and memories of what used to be.

“Thanks so much. I appreciate it a lot.”

“I know you do. I’m so glad you’re finally doing this.” She was so excited when I told her about the restaurant.

“Thanks. I hope you can come by sometimes or even be part of it. That’s if you’re not off on some wild adventure with your princes.”

That’s what she calls them. She dates men who are under forty-five because she claims they have more stamina and the sex is better.

She laughs. “My girl I would be offended if you didn’t ask me. I’ll be there as often as you need me. I’d absolutely love to help.”

“Really?” I bubble.

“Yes, and as for princes, sweet girl, are you going to be bringing any of those handsome stud muffins around for dinner?”

I burst out laughing. “Grandma, no one says stud muffin anymore.”

“I do, so it’s still cool. The age of a word matters not. It’s who said it so if I say it, it’s still in.” She winks at me.

I like that. I like that and I wish I could be like that all the time.

“Okay, I’ll remember that.”

“So,men. Who’s coming to dinner?”

I pull in a breath and decide to tell her. “Maybe …Salvatore.”

She sucks in a sharp breath gasping. “Oh my gosh Mimi, you little devil. You kept that quiet and if I didn’t ask you wouldn’t have told me.” She pretends to pout.

“It’s kind of recent.”

“You andyour boyare recent? Oh please.” She shakes her head at me. “I’m happy.”

“Well I’m glad you are. Dad’s not that fond of the idea”

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