Page 97 of Strictly Pretend

“Why didn’t you say anything? I would have taken it off.”

“Because you would have taken it off,” he parrots. “And I like you wearing it.”

My cheeks pink up again. “Brooks…”

“Tell him you want at least thirty carats,” Granddad says.

“Ignore him.” I sigh.

“Let me talk to him,” Brooks says.

“What?” Why would he want to talk to my granddad. “No, you can’t talk to him. I’m not ready for that.”

“Let him talk to me,” Granddad says. And I get the feeling I’m being outnumbered.

“Um…”

He takes the phone from me, and much to my annoyance he walks into the storage closet, closing the door behind him. I let out a squeal, because there’s no way these two can talk about me without me. I press my ear against the door in an attempt to listen to their conversation.

But it’s too muffled. Damn all those books and stupid fire doors.

Its another two minutes before Granddad comes out and hands me my phone. I give him a narrow-eyed stare as I take it back, because I will find out what they talked about.

“Your fiancé wants to talk to you,” Granddad says, biting down a smile.

I lift the phone to my ear. “What were you two talking about?”

“It was a man-to-man conversation.”

“That’s so sexist,” I tell him.

“I know.” There’s a smile in his voice.

I look at Granddad. He’s busying himself by reading the back of a book. Even though it’s upside down.

“Tell me,” I demand.

“I’ll tell you on Wednesday.”

“Why make me wait?” I pout like a child. I hate being left out.

“Because that way you might be as desperate to see me as I am to see you.” He lets out a breath. “I have to go. My family is descending on me. I’ll call you tonight.”

“Okay,” I breathe. “Have a nice day with them.”

“I won’t. Because you’re not here.”

I hate that I love that.

“I’ll speak to you later,” I tell him.

“Emma?”

“Yes?”

“I miss you.”

“I miss you too,” I tell him. And as we hang up the phone I’m walking on air.

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