Page 110 of Really Truly Yours

See, this is the part that gets me. People have opinions and make fun. I chew my lip. “Romance. But they’re clean!” Can’t have him thinking I write smut.

Amusement flickers. “I would never expect otherwise, Sydnee Lou. Tell me, are you published? Is that a goal?”

“I’d like to.” I dash my head. “It’s silly.”

“How so?”

“There’s no way I’m good enough.”

“Bet you are.”

“You can’t know that.”

He shrugs. “I know you. You’re smart, thoughtful.”

Wow. This got deep fast.

His eyes touch me in a way that makes me feel like we’re connected. “Go for it, Sydnee. Go for your dreams. They’re worth it.”

Dreams? My heart pounds. Yes, I’ve tucked a few away. And a guy like Gray might know a little about reaching for the stars.

This is too much. Too soon. I clasp my hands on the edge of the table. “Thank you. I’ll think about it.”

One of his eyes squints.

Yes, that sound he heard was my fears grinding the topic to a halt.

“Alright. Now, tell me about your family.” He folds his arms, crooking his finger at his chin.

From the frying pan into the fire. My family is the beginning and end of my troubles. I know that sounds wrong. Probably is wrong. I’m a grownup now, and my problems are multilayered, but the ground floor of them is the people who produced me. “Gray, I—”

“How about your grandmother. Safer subject? Donny mentioned the house was hers and that she was a good woman.”

Grammy was the bright spot in my family tree, the glue that held what little we had together. “That’s right. She was a sweet lady. Godly. I learned a lot from her.” In addition to my faith, I learned things like how to survive wildly dysfunctional family. The men, especially.

I swear Gray reads my mind. The smile on his attractive mouth is gentle. “I’m glad you had her.”

“Me, too.” And yet, in the face of a hundred things I could say about Grammy, my tongue is paralyzed. Her loss is still raw.

We make small talk until the appetizer arrives. Baba ghanoush. Never heard of it, but the first bite closes my eyes. “Tell me about your family,” I say before slipping a second taste into my mouth.

He thumbs a crumb from his lips. “I don’t know that I got my money’s worth on your story.” He pitches out a playful look that magnetizes him all the more. He brushes off his hands. “Okay. My parents are Tom and Joy. They’re great. I have two brothers and a sister. Ethan is the oldest. He’s a cardiologist. Married with three kids. Devon seems to be toying with the idea of matrimony, but he’s also busy saving the world, so I’m really not sure.”

“Saving the world?”

He nods. “He’s a missionary in Eastern Europe. He mentioned something about a girlfriend the last time we talked. I need to follow up.”

“And your sister. What about—”

The waiter appears with a refill of Gray’s iced tea. I’ve barely touched my water.

“Are they adopted, as well?”

“Nope. I’m the odd man out.”

I try to decipher his expression.

Gray swallows a mouthful. “No worries, Sydnee. It’s all good. Unfortunate choice of words. My parents are great. My siblings are great. It was a happy home all the way. After Devon was born, they adopted me. Wanted to do their part.”

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