Page 32 of Keep Me Never
“Thank you for lunch, Grandfather.”
“Anytime. I’d do this with you every day if you gave me the time,” he says.
I go to respond, but he merely smiles.
“Sweetheart, I know you’re busy. I didn’t mean that in a sense of pressure. Before I go, I have a parting gift for you.” He holds an envelope out.
Instantly, my palms grow clammy. An envelope usually contains cash, and while the world knows I could use it, I don’t want to take that, especially in front of my friends. It would feel a little like I owed him something for it, like it was a push, so to speak, in the direction he’s asking me to go. Maybe that’s unfair, but it is what it is. “You don’t have to give me anything.”
His eyes seem to soften, almost as if he knows what I’m thinking. “Oh, you should open it before you refuse it.”
“Now?” I squeak, taking the envelope with shaky fingers.
“I’d like it if you did, yes. Just in case you don’t want it. It’s not something I want to go to waste.”
Intrigued, I open the flap, pulling out a golden ticket.
I gasp at the words scrolled across the top:Phantom of the Opera, Live on Broadway.
My head snaps up. “Holy crap.”
“I’ve secured you the center section on the second upper deck, front row. I’m told that is the best view in the house. Full stage view. The entire row is on reserve for you, so just let me know the number in your party by Monday if you can; the show is Tuesday at nine.”
“This is insane.” I can’t help but laugh. “Thank you so much! I’m going to force them all to come.”
Grant’s smile couldn’t be any wider. “Perfect. The ticket is more for keepsake purposes; my assistant had it printed, saying it would be more fun than just telling you about the show. You just have to give the box office your name, and they’ll take great care of you.”
“Okay.”
“Okay. The jet will be fueled and waiting. My driver will meet you outside your dorm at six p.m.”
My face falls. “Wait, what?” I look to the girls, who are all some form of bug-eyed. My attention falls to the golden ticket. “Where exactly is this performance?”
“San Jose. Don’t forget to give me your numbers.” He looks to my friends. “Ladies.” He dips his chin and walks away.
Slowly, I look back to my friends, and after a moment of silence, they start laughing.
“Holy shit. He is likerichrich.”
“Yeah…” I wince. “Is this weird? Too much?”
“Uh, no!” Cameron wraps her arm around my shoulder. “Ari is basically rich too, and soon, once Noah brings home a Super Bowl ring or ten, she’ll be Payton Manning rich.”
“Cam!” Ari shouts, but she’s laughing at her best friend.
“What? I’m just saying. We should get used to this. All our men are NFL bound, so this is our future.” She laughs at herself when Payton shoves her. “Kidding. Brady already spilled his secrets to you guys over Christmas. He wants that simple life back home.”
“That’s the fear of failure talking.” Ari shakes her head. “He wants to go pro. It’s all they’ve talked about since we were little.”
Cam shrugs. “And if he doesn’t, we’ll still be happy with solid careers to fall back on. But back to the current moment…” She looks my way with a wink. “We are getting on the fucking jet on Tuesday, my dear, and we’re going to look banging when we do it.”
A low laugh leaves me, and we head for the parking lot. They took an Uber since I said I was driving in, so we load up in my car and head back to campus.
“Can I ask you something?” Payton turns to me at a red light.
I peek her way. “Sure.”
“Last year, you were pretty pissed at how your grandfather demanded time from you, but you seem to be in a good place with him now. Are you… Do you feel forced to allow him in your life?”
