Page 16 of Keep Me Never
“Surprisingly, I did.”
A scoff leaves him, and he gives me a grin that tells me he didn’t expect me to be so honest about it. “Surprisingly, huh?”
“Yeah.” I laugh. “It’s always a bit intimidating, being in a room full of people who are so different from me.”
“Different how?”
I give him a pointed look, gesturing to myself and them toward him. There is a stark contrast: him in his nicely pressed fifteen-hundred-dollar navy-blue suit and silk tie, me in my fifteen-dollar shorts and light-pink fitted T-shirt.
“Now, now, Paige, that’s not fair. Our clothing doesn’t separate us.”
“But our lifestyles do. I’m in college, Grant—Grandfather. Everyone I’ve met from your world is twice my age, or more, and settled into life.”
“Not everyone.” He looks my way.
It takes me a moment to understand who he means. “Prescott?”
“Yes, Prescott. He’s not much older than you. Just turned thirty a couple weeks ago.”
“I guess he’s the exception.”
“You two seemed to have been having a nice conversation two nights ago. I saw he made you laugh.”
“Yeah, he’s… Wait.” My eyes narrow. “Why do you sound like…”
“Like…?” He smiles, his whiskers peeking over the edge of his upper lip.
“Grandfather!”
The old man laughs. “You have to admit, you two would make a fine couple.”
Couple?!I stop walking.
“Don’t freak out, sweetheart.” He smiles wider. “I was only saying I can see the two of you getting along, is all. And don’t worry, I wouldn’t dare say that to him. That night just made me realize he too is stuck around people old enough to be his parents and grandparents. The man is quite married to his career, so I’m not sure he spends much time with anyone his age. You two have quite a bit in common, actually.”
“Like what?”
“Well, I guess time will tell if it’s meant to be, now, won’t it?”
It most certainly will not.
“Anyway, I asked you to come for breakfast this morning because I just found out I have to get a minor procedure done next month. It’s nothing major, but it’s not something I can put off, and when they asked me if there was someone I could trust to keep it confidential, because apparently, I will need myself a handler, it was your name that I gave.”
My eyes widen and I turn to face him.
“You can say no, if you’d like, but, Paige, sweetheart, new or not, you’re family. My only family, and while I’ve expressed my trust for my working team, this is a bit more personal than that. Especially considering the future of Randolph Legacies is still unsettled, I just don’t want to risk it. But I will if necessary.”
“Yeah, of course I can take you.” I reach out, putting my hand over his. “Thank you for asking.”
“Thanks for agreeing.” He nods and we continue to the little patio nook in the corner, where his staff is already setting upbreakfast. “Now, let’s sit and eat and talk about anything other than work.”
“Are you capable?” I tease.
“Well, let’s attempt it anyway,” he says with a small tip to his lips, before taking a sip from his espresso. “So, I’d like to hear more about your life with your dad, if you’re willing to share.”
I smile at the mention of my dad, and then I tell him more than he could remember. If there is one thing I can talk about for hours, it’s the amazing man who raised me and left the world too soon.
Unfortunately, that is exactly what I do, and then I’m fighting the afternoon traffic on my way back to campus with twenty minutes until class begins and still ten miles to go.
