Page 46 of Addicted

Let me tell you, Grams could throw down. Macaroni and cheese, pot roast, green beans, fried green tomatoes, and fresh sourdough. I felt a brief pang for what life could’ve been like if I’d had a bigger family. That was a sad thought, and I didn’t want to do sad thoughts today. Not here.

I pushed away the thoughts of my childhood and focused on the heat from Hugh’s palm on my knee. We’d been there for hours, and the entire time he hadn’t stopped touching me. And I loved it.

Feeling the warmth of his skin through my clothes grounded me. I didn’t realize how nervous I’d been to meet her and to see this side of his life. But with him next to me, it all felt so easy.

“That potato salad was fantastic, I’m gonna need the recipe,” Grams said, and with the way her eyes lit up, I knew she meant it.

“I’m happy to share it,” I replied, smiling, glad that she’d enjoyed it.

Grams leaned back in her seat as her eyes bounced to Hugh and then me.

“So, how did this finally happen?” Grams cleared her throat. I could tell she’d wanted to ask all day.

“I gave her a glass of champagne.” Technically, it was true. His hand squeezed my thigh.

Heat singed my cheeks and she laughed.

“I can see that wasn’t all you gave her.” Grams winked and Hugh groaned loudly before grabbing me and kissing my forehead.

“Grams, come on. Please, you promised you’d behave.”

“Oh, she likes it.” Grams pushed the empty water pitcher his way and shooed him out to refill it. She leaned forward to look around the corner towards the kitchen.

“He reminds me so much of his mama, it hurts.” Pain laced her words, and I reached out for her hand. It couldn’t have been easy for her to raise a child that looked like the one she’d lost.

“Huey was a little fucking tyrant for years, but he got his shit together. I was so relieved that I wasn’t going to lose him too.”

She smiled and looked back at me.

“And then he started working at Foxx… All he ever talked about was work and more work. Then suddenly it was, work is good, Denise did this, or ’Denny wore the shit out of this pink suit, you should’ve seen it’. I’m so glad he found you.”

I stopped breathing. Me?

“Wow,” I whispered.

“He’s a good man. I can tell you’re a good woman. You two deserve to find happiness with each other. Grab it while you can, Sugar. Let that anchor you and keep youfrom floating away. You never know where life will try and take you if you don’t.”

Before I could think too hard about her words, Hugh came in and plopped the water down.

“Just so you know, he was a terrible football player,” she whispered.

I covered my mouth, looking up at him with a giggle.

Hugh shook his head.

“Okay, whatever this conspiratorial thing is between you two, it’s gotta stop.” He crossed his arms in front of him, his t-shirt flexing against his muscles.

I raised my eyebrows.Ruh-roh.

“Huey, you don’t get to tell me to do a damn thing after I spent my prime hoe years wiping your ass and taking you to football practice.”

I was leaning against Grams’s chair, wheezing with laughter, while she stood and started wagging her finger in his face.

“I could’ve put it down on every single one of your coaches, but I didn’t. And now you’re trying to ruin what little fun I have left!”

The more she talked, the more Hugh looked like he was torn between mortification and wishing for a sudden and painless death. I, on the other hand, was saving this moment in my brain.

The mighty Huey, dressed down by his grandma in front of company.

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