Page 122 of Phishing for Love
The moment we step into the garlic-scented kitchen, Grandma grabs Aaron’s arm. “Let me show you the G spot.”
“Mom,” my mother pleads in a faint voice. “Please.”
Grandma scowls. “What, Joelle? What’s wrong with showing Aaron the special spot I have for Google?”
“Nothing’s wrong with that, Grandma,” I say hastily. “But you mean G’s spot, right?”
“That’s what I said,” Grandma huffs. “What’s wrong with the two of you?”
I glimpse a small smile playing on Aaron’s lips. “I would love to see the special place you have for Google,” he says to my grandmother, winking at me over his shoulder as he follows her into the dining room.
Dad wanders into the kitchen, scooping up a handful of nuts from the table.
“How’s the back?” I ask him.
He grimaces. “Playing up a bit today.”
“Want a heat pack?”
“That’ll be good. Thanks, Tess.”
I’m busy warming up the wheat bag in the microwave when Kate and Lisset arrive. There’s a flurry of hugs and Lisset is hopping up and down as she chats excitedly about her school week.
Mom ushers us out the kitchen and we all spill to the back porch, seating ourselves around the large table. Aaron sits opposite me. While I pour Lisset a glass of apple juice, I feel his eyes tracking my every move, full of promises for later. Heat races along the surface of my skin and my breath catches. His mouth tips up, as if he knows his effect on me.
“You two might want to keep it PG in front of the family,” Kate advises us in a sardonic whisper as she takes a seat next to me.
I straighten guiltily and Aaron snorts out a laugh.
Lisset pats the chair closest to her. “GG, sit next to me!”
“Great grandmother,” I explain, seeing Aaron’s brow lined with confusion.
We help ourselves to the snacks of cheese, olives, and crackers Mom’s placed on the table.
“By the way,” Aaron says to my mom, “thank you for the food you sent over with Tess. It was delicious.”
“It was Tess’s idea,” she informs him with a pleased smile. “She shopped for the ingredients and helped me cook.”
“Really?” Aaron directs a probing glance my way. “She neglected to mention her involvement.”
Kate’s eyebrows flick up at me. “It’s not like you to miss an opportunity for praise.”
I match her raised eyebrows. “It’s not like you to miss an opportunity for a dig.”
“Girls!” Mom barks.
We both jump a little. Kate and I could be in our fifties, and we’d still be the girls who jump at their mother’s bark.
Mom points a warning finger at us. “Behave yourselves.”
“Yes, Mom,” we both mutter.
Lisset takes a gulp of her juice and stares curiously at Aaron. “Are you Auntie’s boyfriend?”
An awkward silence unfurls as everyone’s attention settles on Aaron, awaiting his answer.
“He’s a special friend,” I clarify quickly.
