Page 86 of Meet Hate Love
And to think, a week ago, all I had been worried about was how awkward seeing him at the copy machine would have been after a split. Well, that didn’t seem so awkward when faced with running into him at family gatherings and having my future niece or nephew call him daddy.
Can we go to Mr. Chang’s tomorrow night?
I’ll meet you there at 6?
Because I sure as hell wasn’t going to Junoon.
ChapterTwenty-Six
VANCE
Hey, Babe. Have you landed in Kansas? Can’t wait to see you tomorrow. ??
The chirp of crickets drifted through the open window over the sink. I placed the phone to the side of the laminate countertop, then dunked a plate beneath the soapy water. I’d just placed the china on the drying rack when Grandma sidled up beside me, snatching her rubber gloves from the countertop like she was about to take over the dishes.
The doctor had sent her home yesterday and told her to take it easy. But the woman had already tried to organize a church bake sale and trim the hedges.
I shut off the water and turned to face her. “You don’t know how to rest, do you?”
“Well, you ain’t doin’ ‘em right.”
I knew all too well that I’d inherited my stubbornness and need for order from her. Which meant even if I did the dishes exactly like she did them, it wouldn’t be good enough. “I’m doing them just like you taught me.”
She flattened her lips, then pulled on the gloves with a snap of rubber. “Doin’ the dishes makes me happy. Nowgit.” She shooed me away from the sink. “Making a fuss over nothing.”
Nothinghadn’t sent me home from Europe and Blake. “You had a heart attack, Grandma.”
“And the doctor said I need to take my medicine and get exercise.” She submerged a plate beneath the bubbles. “This is my exercise.” Then she grabbed a bowl. “Don’t you need to go pack your bags or something, boy?”
I had nothing to pack. All I’d come from Europe with was my carry-on. The airline still hadn’t shipped my lost luggage from Singapore, and I had a feeling I’d never see those belongings again. “Are you trying to get rid of me?”
“I’m tryin’ to get you outta my kitchen.” She grinned over her shoulder before grabbing the dish soap. “But I love you.”
There was no point in arguing with her. She’d made up her mind that she was doing the dishes, so June Morgan was doing the dishes.
“I love you, too. Even if you’re stubborn.”
Cowboy followed me out of the kitchen, up the stairs, and into the bedroom, curling up on the rug beside the bed when I ducked into the bathroom to shower.
I’d just changedinto clean clothes when a text pinged my phone.
Smiling, I crossed the room, thinking it would be a message from Blake. But it wasn’t. It was Margot.
You are a sorry sack of shit!
My brow creased as I stared at the message. Why was she sending me hate texts?
This is Margot, you fucking assfuck!
Don’t act like you don’t know what you did!
Respond like a man!!!
The hostility…
Why are you pissed at me?
Let me spell it out for you. Grace is Blake’s sister, you sick fuckface dickhead playboy wannabe.
