Page 52 of Thunderstruck
Bonnie:
Oh good. Gramps can always get him in a good mood.
I hear you got a taste of the paparazzi. Are YOU okay?
Carissa:
I’m fine. But I also haven’t gotten on the internet since it happened.
Bonnie:
We haven’t seen anything show up yet, but we’ll keep you posted.
Tell the Evansons I say hi!
“Bonnie says hi,” I say immediately upon receiving the message; it sounded like their argument was getting heated, and I figured I should interrupt.
Gramps grins wide. “Bonnie is a lovely one. Not quite as lovely as Princess Freya, but close. I’m glad she found herself a man like Hank. Have you met her fella?”
“I met her fella a couple of months ago in Sun City,” I say, giggling with the word ‘fella.’ “I didn’t really get a chance to get to know him, but he seemed nice. I’ve hung out with everyone else, though. Including Freya.”
“She fancies me, you know,” Gramps says.
“In your dreams, old man,” August replies with a roll of his eyes. “Cole doesn’t normally introduce strangers to his friends.”
I can hear the accusation as much as the curiosity, both of which bring a smile to my face. “Oh, he didn’t have a choice. My sister married Houston Briggs and became friends with Bonnie, and Cole was furious when I showed up at Derek’s house the other day.”
“Houston Briggs? Nowthere’san athlete,” Gramps says, almost wistfully. “I miss seeing him on the mound.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Are you a Red-tails fan?”
“Nah, Dodgers, but you can’t deny Briggs was good at what he did.”
“He’s also an incredible brother-in-law.”
“So what brings you to LA?” August asks. “More importantly, how did you end up with the Thunder and getting together with Cole?”
I chuckle, shaking my head at the way both men watch me so intently. Cole wasn’t kidding when he warned me they would be relentless. “We’re not together,” I say again. “And I was working as a physical therapist back East but had to find something new, and a connection of mine got me in with the team here, on the sports medicine team.”
“With Mel?” August asks. “She’s great, though she’s had a tough break this year with the divorce.”
I nod, wishing I could do more for Mel. She’s trying so hard to make things work on her own, but it’s easy to see she’s slowly drowning. “Hopefully I can be helpful to her.”
“I’m sure you will be.” Gramps reaches across the counter and pats my hand when he says this. “Now, how about you start explaining how you and Cole came to be a couple.”
“Friends,” I correct.
“Agree to disagree.”
Wrinkling my nose and grinning at him, I shake my head but start talking anyway. “He offered me a ride yesterday after I missed the bus.”
“Cole was driving?” August asks, clearly surprised.
“No, it was a rideshare. But after that, he and Moxie decided it wasn’t safe for me to take the bus, so he offered to let me borrow his car and give him rides to practices.”
August and Gramps exchange glances, and I wish I could hear their silent conversation. Even if I’m mostly in the dark, it’s clear they’re surprised Cole would let me use his car. “Moxie is a good man,” August says.
“And very handsome,” Gramps adds.
