Page 18 of Property of Grifter
“It’s improved!”she chirps happily, reaching into my dresser.“And you’re wearing this with it.”
She holds up a red satin camisole.
I nearly choke on the air I’m trying to drag into my lungs.“No way.Nana, that’s… that’s lingerie.”
“It’s classy!”
“It’s indecent,” I counter.“Heck, my boobs will fall out!”
Nana smirks.“Now you have the spirit!”
“Nana!”
“Oh, hush.I swear you are going to die an old, dried-up prune if you don’t loosen up.”She lets out an annoyed breath and shakes her head at me.“Fine.If you won’t wear that, then you’ll wear this,” she says while reaching into my closet once more.I’m scared of what she’ll find.I’m expecting a sports bra or that see-through shirt I bought and wore so much the fabric is translucent.I should throw it away, but I love that top.I keep it as a reminder that if I ever find another one to buy thirty of them.Instead, however, she pulls out my peach silk shirt, the one I wear to church sometimes.
I frown.It’s actually a good choice.The peach shirt is nice.It has a little V-neck collar, soft flutter sleeves, and it drapes nicely without showing too much.It makes my skin look a little sun-kissed, and it matches my peach nail polish perfectly.
“Fine,” I grumble, letting her win.“I’ll wear them both if you will stop encouraging Griffin.”
“I don’t need to encourage him.You got that boy hooked and hanging on the line.You just don’t realize it,” she laughs.I ignore her and the small feeling of joy that hits me at the thought of Griffin caring for me.He doesn’t.He just wants sex and that’s not who I am.
“Whatever.I’ll wear the clothes, are you happy now?”
“Ecstatic.Now go shave your legs and your hoo-hah,” she orders.
“Nana!”
“I’m not saying you have to get naked with him.I’m just saying do it.It will help you to feel confident.That’s a good thing, right?”
“I just wantto survive the evening with my dignity intact,” I grumble.
“You will and hopefullynotwith your virginity intact.”
“Nana, please,” I beg, feeling as if I’m close to crying.
“Get going, Georgie.You don’t want to be late.I’ll lay everything out.”
I go purely out of self-preservation, my grandmother might be old, but she is sharp as a tack and I’m tired.Twenty minutes later, I emerge from the bathroom with damp hair and a sinking feeling that I’ve lost complete control of my own life.My outfit is laid out just as promised: the newly cropped black skirt, the peach blouse, black high heels, and a smug grandmother waiting to pounce.
I somehow get her out of the room.I take a minute to breathe and try to calm myself down.It doesn’t really work.I didn’t shave my female area, but I did touch up my armpits and legs—although not above the knee.That will be extra encouragement for not giving in to Griffin.I have a feeling I’m going to need every reason I can grasp hold of not to give in to Griffin.Next, I resentfully get dressed, tugging the skirt every few seconds to keep it from venturing further north.When I finally walk out, Nana looks me over and frowns like I’ve just kicked her puppy.
“What?”I asked warily, looking down at my clothes.
“Your hair,” she mutters.
“My hair is fine,” I said, touching the bun.“It’s neat.”
“It’s boring.”
Before I could react, she’s reaching up and yanking the pins out.“Nana!”I yell.She ignores me, using her drawn, wrinkled fingers that are surprising nimble to sift and fluff my hair.Oh my God!Now I’ll have to redo it!”
The mean, little dictator that she is, ignores me.Instead, she steps back and smiles proudly.“No, you don’t.It’s perfect.Looks like you just rolled out of bed after tons of orgasms.”
“That’s exactly why I need to fix it!”
“Horse feathers, Georgie,” she reprimands, hands on her hips.“You look like perfection.”
Before I can protest again, a knock sounds at the door.
