Page 7 of Spencer and the Younger Girl
He was a sucker for a good egg roll, and she knew he’d choose the Chinese place down the street every time if she gave him the chance.
Roman entered the kitchen, showing no discomfort even though he’d only moved in the week before. “What’s up?”
Hadley held out the menu. “What are you in the mood for?”
He took it, but didn’t open it. “We just had Italian takeout last night and Sushi the night before…”
“Rome, there’s one thing you need to learn about the Gibson clan.” She pulled herself up onto a stool at the counter. “We don’t cook.”
“He cooks.” Roman pointed the menu at her grandfather.
“No, he bakes. Massive difference, dude.” She could see the wheels turning in his mind, probably wondering how none of them were five-star chefs with the large and well-equipped kitchen they currently stood in.
Some things were just unexplainable.
“Hey, kids.” Hadley’s mom breezed in, bringing the salt air with her. Living only a block from the beach had its perks—like sunbathing all day when she should have been at work. But Kerry Gibson was a lawyer who didn’t lawyer. If that even made sense.
She took on some high-profile divorce cases, but little else. When her dad made the family millions in the defense industry before growing a conscious and cashing out, she could afford to take it easy.
Hadley never wanted to be her. She loved her mom, but she also wanted to make some kind of difference in this world. Preferably a high-paying difference.
“I’ll order the food.” Jack left the three of them in the kitchen alone with his apples.
Hadley hopped off the stool. “He’s way too trusting.” Taking a fork from the drawer, she stabbed into a piece of apple and brought it to her mouth so she could be rid of the evidence before her grandfather returned. Heat seared her tongue, and she spit it into the sink.
When she looked up, Roman shook with laughter. “Hot,” she croaked as she scooped water into her mouth.
“Serves you right.” Her grandfather returned, his eyes narrowing.
She shrugged.
“Fifteen minutes until the food is ready.” He looked to his daughter. “I’ve already taken my meds tonight and can’t drive.”
“I’ll go get it.” Hadley’s mom snatched the keys to his convertible and flashed a smile before disappearing.
“All right fine,” her grandfather burst out. “Twist my arm, we can eat the apples before dinner.”
Hadley’s brow arched. “You’re a hard nut to crack, Papa.” In truth, he was the softest, not because he was weak, but because he couldn’t resist her.
And she couldn’t resist trying to make him proud. Growing up without a dad should have been hard. It should have given her some major daddy issues or something. But she’d had her grandfather. He was always there. Every soccer game when she was a kid. Every recital even though she was a terrible dancer.
He’d filled the hole in her life and had become her favorite person.
They were more alike than different. Which was how she knew he was the person who’d help her.
“Papa?” She slid onto the stool again.
“Sup?” He pushed a bowl of baked apples in front of her. “That’s what the cool kids say, right?”
“No one says sup.”
“Fine. What can I do for you this glorious evening, ma’am?”
Roman laughed with a mouthful of apple.
“I want to pull a senior prank.”
Roman started coughing. When he stopped, he turned narrowed eyes on her and dropped his voice. “You’re not supposed to tell anyone.”
