Page 56 of Trapped
“I…” He looked around, nodded towards the gate, directing my attention to Gran. “Not like this. Can we meet tomorrow?”
I nodded. “How about breakfast at Grannie’s?” I suggested, wanting to avoid any meal or restaurant that served alcohol. Nathan frowned but nodded.
“Eight?”
I’d get to bed late after cleaning up, and I wanted to have breakfast with Gran. “No need to be crazy. Let’s meet at nine.”
“Nine.”
“And Nathan.”
“Yes?”
“No more secrets.” I said. Knowing I was keeping a pretty big one myself, guilt settled in my gut. But I hadn’t confirmed the results, so I felt justified.
“No more secrets,” he agreed.
Gran was all smiles when I returned to the backyard. “You found yourself a good one. Nathan is so much better than schmuck-face Finn.”
Laughter filled the space.
“You weren’t kidding,” Jamie said to Emily.
“Nope, I told you she gets it from her grandmother.”
“Damn straight she does. I taught her everything she knows.” Gran glowed with pride. “Now you kids have fun and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” She laughed and said her goodbyes.
I laughed too; it wasn’t much of a restriction. In her heyday, there wasn’t much Gran wouldn’t do.
I settled back onto Gran’s comfortable patio couch and pretended the awkward silence wasn’t happening.
Emily and Meg stood up and rushed over to plop down next to me.
“Come on, we’re dying to know what happened,” Meg said.
“Did you talk? Did he tell you why he stood you up?” Emily asked.
I turned my head between them as they fired off more questions.
“Do you like him?” Meg asked.
“Will you give him another chance?” Emily asked.
“Give her a chance to answer,” Jack interjected.
Emily and Meg looked at him and stuck out their tongues, making everyone laugh.
“We talked. I know something bad happened.” I paused. “We’re meeting for coffee tomorrow.” My answers fell short of their expectations, but there was nothing more to tell. Hell, Jamie and Jack probably knew more than I did.
When it came time to say goodbye, AJ pulled me aside.
“You don’t seem like yourself. Are you doing okay?”
Of course he noticed. Everyone else probably had too, but AJ had zero qualms about asking bluntly.
“Yeah, just shocked by Nathan’s sudden appearance after a year.”
He squinted, staring deep into my eyes. “Is that all? You seemed off before he arrived.”
