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She stopped fussing and glimpsed at me. The look in her eyes as she held my gaze and grinned caught me off guard. “Yes, I do.”
Why did I get the feeling we weren’t talking about her grandson anymore?
FOURTEEN
HUDSON
The steaks weren’t my best.
In an effort to save Eugene from my grandma’s interrogation, I rushed. The old woman was my favorite person—I’d never tell her that—but she could drive anyone mad. She didn’t give a shit what she said or did. I heard bits and pieces of their conversation to know she was throwing me in the mix, like I assumed, which was another reason I hurried.
Grandma Sue would never believe Eugene and me weren’t dating based on the simple fact that she was inmycabin. No one came to my house. Not even Sue. The old woman knew I didn’t help people and would point it out to me later. Honestly, I was just as confused as to how I ended up with Eugene in my home. What made matters worse was my own curiosity concerning my clumsy guest. I was beginning to suspect my annoyance with her came from a sense of fear for her getting hurt since she was clumsy.
I only made the steaks because I knew she hadn’t eaten, but I shouldn’t have brought her to my restaurant. Grandma couldn’t aggravate someone she didn’t know about. Yet, it was too late to save Eugene. I didn’t want her to think less of Grandma or me. Nor did I want Eugene to feel pressured or uncomfortable by the things Grandma Sue was likely saying about me.
After I brought out the food, I sat beside Grandma.
“It’s tough.” I knew she’d point it out the second she took a bite. I would have done the same to her.
“It’s delicious,” Eugene stated as she inhaled hers.
“Someonemade me rush.” I narrowed my eyes at my grandma, but she was too busy watching Eugene to notice. So, I did the same as Grandma and studied Eugene. She was too busy eating to see us staring. She was a fast eater and finished everything. If she thought that was a good steak, which it wasn’t, I wondered if she’d ever had an actualdelicious one. A few red strands fell onto her forehead, and she swept them back. Eugene was pretty. There was no denying that. There was also no denying that she was a walking safety hazard.
Not my type, not my type.Making a sound in my throat, I took a bite of steak, trying to divert my attention from the little red head across from me. Maybe if I thought about those words enough, it might start sounding true. Did I have a type? I couldn’t remember what that might have been three days ago. The weird thumping of my heart had me questioning myself.
“Let’s just say, I worked for a shitty man and was foolish enough to think my job was stable.”
I heard something I shouldn’t have. Although it was something not said to me, my curiosity grew all the same. I wish it didn’t. Edwin had a stable job, a nice home, and for all that I could tell, he was a decent guy. That was why I caved and allowed his sister into my home. Everything Eugene did made me believe she lacked the things her brother had. Why did I care? Wait! Did I care? I glanced at Eugene, who sipped her drink. Fuck. I was feeling strange and suddenly glad. She might have had some bad luck, but she found me.
Grandma was suspiciously quiet. Her eyes stayed on Eugene for so long that the girl finally noticed. She touched her cheek and asked, “Is there something on my face?”
“Just your beauty, child,” Grandma said in a soft voice.
Her kind words made me relax slightly. I knew Grandma meant it, but I wished she’d stop staring at Eugene like she was a school project needing to be tackled.
A blush crept over Eugene’s cheeks. Her tangled red locks, wrapped in a messy ball on top of her head, caused more of those loose strands to move as she shook her head. “You flatter me. I look like I just crawled out of bed.”
She wore a hoody and some faded jeans. I could tell she had applied some makeup to her eyes, though, because her lashes weren’t that long when she woke up. She was pleasing to stare at either way. I didn’t know why I kept noticing her beauty. My ears got warm, and I fought the urge to rub them. I looked down at my plate and took a bite of steak.
The awkward woman was making me odd.
“You cooked for us, so I’ll clean up.” Eugene stood, grabbing her plate.
“You’ll sit down,” I said sternly.
Apparently, my words weren’t stern enough since she ignored me. “I’ll come back for y’all’s plates when you’re done.”
I sighed as she disappeared to the back of the restaurant.
“Let her. She clearly wants to help since you cooked,” Grandma said.
“I don’t expect her to help. I’m the one who offered to make us something.” There was a loud clattering sound in the kitchen, and I jumped to my feet. “And I’m positive nothing is safe in that kitchen with her in there.”
“How so?”
“She’s clumsy.”
“Is that so? It must be hard to be pretty. Ah, I remember the days.”
