Page 87 of Grand Love

“I didn’t know this was taken,” he whispers.

“Maggie,” I say in explanation.

He flips it closed and I jump. “Can I keep this?”

“Uh, yeah.” I want him to take it, that’s why I made it, but the last picture is the only photo I have of us all together. I’d have to ask Maggie for another print and that would just be weird.

“Thank you, for this.” He stares at me, as if he has more to say but doesn’t want to. Or maybe he doesn’t know how.

“Of course!” I snap out of it. “I have more pictures of Ellis. I’ve tried to keep on top of printing them and putting them in the album. I will sort through and make copies.” His eyes are still locked on me and it has me squirming in my seat. “Unless you don’t want them, you don’t have to.”

“I want them.”

“Cool.” I drop my gaze to my lap, hoping my hands will tell me what to say because I have lost all coherent thought.

“I know everything there is to know about you all the way down to the sounds you make when you come. Yet you still get shy and can’t look me in the eye?”

My cheeks flame. “You don’t—”

“Yo?!”

My eyes snap closed and I roll my lips as Joey lets himself into my apartment. His smile drops when he sees me and Mason sitting at the kitchen island. I may be imagining it, but I swear I hear Mason growl.

“Hey, Joey. Everything okay?”

Stuffing his hands in his pockets, he walks towards us, nodding his head at the wild animal beside me. “Mason.”

“What the fuck are you doing here?”

“Mason!” I snap.

“What?” He glares at me. “Do you always just stroll on in here?” he asks Joey.

“Always, always,” Joey says smugly.

“Well don’t. My son lives here, and I don’t fucking like you. Nina may think she knows you, but I don’t.”

“We aren’t doing this now. Joey, can you come back later tonight, please?”

“No. He can come back in the week when I have Ellis,” Mason tells us.

“Joe,” I plead, sensing the animosity in the room.

He nods, gives Mason a look that says I want to punch you in the face and then leaves.

“What is your problem?!” I blurt once the door is closed.

Mason rolls his eyes and spins around on the chair. “Don’t get all irate. I can’t stand the prick and I don’t want him around Ellis.”

“Joey is my friend! A good friend who has helped me through a lot—”

“You don’t know him.”

“Neither do you! You don’t get to judge my friends.”

“I can and I will.”

My nostrils flare. “Has your little stripper met my son?”

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