Page 17 of Sundowners
Frances smiled demurely at Creed as she moved to my side and kissed me on the cheek. She looked between Creed and me.
“Go out and find some fun, my grandson. Don’t you remember fun?”
I stretched my back in the chair. “Not really. Must have lost it somewhere between college and grad school.” I stood and shrugged. “Guess I’ll just have to go home and record over some more of the family movies.”
This time she smacked me hard on the shoulder, and I flinched.Man, she was strong. How was it that a month ago, she supposedly kept having to sit down because she felt faint?
“You ladies keep the noise down in there,” Creed said as Frances and her sisters moved toward the hallway leading to their rooms. “I’ll be in to check on you in a bit, and I better not find you gambling with real money. That’s why I brought you the chips.”
“Oh, but it’s more fun with pennies, Creed.”
This time it was Stella flirting with the nurse. She had a hip kicked out and her hands on her waist, a pose I recalled seeing in her old modeling photos. The sisters had been known for their beauty and charm back in the Philippines. They’d had no problem nabbing successful white men for husbands. Lolo hadn’t had a chance once Frances decided they were to be married.
“Told you those three would be trouble together,” I said to Creed, who had joined me by the entrance to the library.
He leaned against the opposite wall. “But they’re happy. They’ve earned a little trouble.”
We watched them all giggling together as they turned the corner. I took the last swig on my Monster Energy drink as they carried on the whole way down the hall, loud enough for us to hear them.
“I guess they’reyourtrouble now, then.” I tossed the can into a recycling bin. I picked up my green bomber jacket from the chair where I’d been sitting and slid it onto my shoulders.
“No trouble at all,” Creed said. He smiled at me like a guy keeping secrets. I don’t know why I thought that, but he gave me that impression.
“You wouldn’t think this place was for people who needed assistance after these singalong sessions.”
He tilted his head to the side. “How do you mean?”
“They’re…I don’t know. My lola and aunties haven’t been this spry since…well, for years. They get here and they’re dancing and singing? And the other folks?”
Creed pushed away from the wall and moved closer. “What did you expect when she moved here?”
I shrugged. Loud voices erupted from the library. I leaned around the corner to see a bunch of old guys playing a game of darts in the corner, and another group playing pool.
“Not this.” I gestured to the men. “I expected more wheelchairs and walkers—”
“Old folks drooling, staring into space, pajamas in the daytime. Is that what you thought?”
“Yeah, I guess I did.” Why the hell was this guy fucking with me?
7
CHAPTER SEVEN
Creed
“Maybe it’s magic,”I said, my eyes flaring. I wiggled my fingers at Roman and then laughed.
“Or good drugs. You guys legit here?”
I blinked and tried to hold back a smartass reply. Of course Roman would question things. One of the reasons I’d had to move frequently was the appearance of folks like Roman, who had that extra sense about them. Usually it was law enforcement, like his uncle. Sometimes it was a person who had a touch of the Sight or intuition that let them know things weren’t as they seemed. I’d learned enough about Roman to know he was gifted in that area.
“Tell me, Professor. What type of drugs would have that kind of effect on geriatric patients? Please, enlighten me.”
I crossed my arms over my chest and grinned. I loved that Roman couldn’t figure me out. I couldn’t afford any attachments, but it sure was fun to play. We’d been pussyfooting around each other for the past month that his grandmother had been here. His cop uncle was more laid back than he was, surprisingly. Roman was standoffish at first, but once I picked up on the way he joked with his grandmother, I took a chance with my teasing…and it was reciprocated. Although Roman didn’t trust me, that much was certain.
Roman frowned and then pushed away from the archway where he’d been leaning. “As long as she’s happy, it’s probably better I don’t know.”
The emptiness and sorrow bleeding out of Roman’s psyche nearly bowled me over. I physically reacted to the pain and swayed on my feet.
