“My grandma said she’d love to meet you,” I murmur.
“That’s up to you, Izzy,” he says.
“No, it’s not,” I reply. “I’m not going to turn her down. She’s happy and energized, for now, so… Do you want to come or not?”
He climbs out of the car and wraps his arm around me, pulling me close and kissing the top of my head. “Itisyour choice, Songbird.”
“I want you to come,” I tell him, trying to soften my voice.
He can definitely tell something is up. He squeezes my shoulder, then tries to take my hand. I step away, shame making my cheeks hot. I might just be one more girl in a long line, and all this passion and closeness is only unique to me. He could have an entire life, a tucked away family outside the city. Maybe I’m just his latest fuck buddy.
I lead him into the hospital, immediately noticing the way the nurses ogle him, sitting up straighter and turning their heads exaggeratedly to follow him. I want to spin, scream at them,He’s mine, back off. But A—that would be crazy even without all our baggage. And B—well, the baggage.
Grandma’s face lights up when I lead Dom into the room. She even adjusts her hair, smiling coyly like I remember from when I was a kid.
“Why, hello,” she says.
“Dominic, this is my grandmother. Grandma, this is Dominic.”
“Maggie, please,” Grandma says.
“Oh, yeah. Duh.” I laugh tightly. “She’s notyourgrandma.”
They both look at me suspiciously. Grandma’s probably wondering why I left five minutes ago, laughing and smiling, and I’ve returned with a black cloud hanging over me. I can’t stop thinking about how smiley Dom was on the phone. He doesn’t smile at me like that.
Because we’re strangers. And you’re betraying him.
But Dom would understand, wouldn’t he? If I explained what Aaron was doing to Grandma? Or he’d hate me for it. And anyway, understanding or not, I still betrayed him. Which means if I revealed the truth, he might push me away… and Grandma would be screwed.
But he said, if I needed help, I could ask him…
“Please, sit,” Grandma says after a long pause, looking at me oddly again.
I’m acting so weird. I need to stop.
I grab a chair for Dom and pull it up next to mine, sitting and wrapping my arms over my middle. Tears are trying to prick my eyes, but I can’t let them. That would lead to too many questions. I need to be strong. I need to get a grip.
“Izzy tells me you’re her boss,” Grandma says matter-of-factly.
“Guilty, ma’am,” Dom replies. “But I assure you, it’s not what you might be thinking.”
“Oh, and what am I thinking?” Grandma says with her old wit.
Dom laughs awkwardly, looking at me like it’s a big game. And it is, it would be. If I hadn’t seen what I saw, and if he hadn’t reacted so suspiciously.
“Don’t be shy,” Grandma says, clearly loving this.
Dom shrugs and says, “You might think I’m some guy who preys on his employees. But that’s not the case. I’ve never dated an employee before. But, ma’am, I have to say… your granddaughter is a special person.”
Grandma eats this up, winking at me. “I knowthat,” she says proudly. “She’s always been a good girl. When she was little, she’d practice for hours and hours. And now she’s out in the real world, she always throws herself into everything she does. She’s an amazing person.”
“I agree,” Dom says passionately. He moves his hand toward me, as if to touch my leg, then stops himself. I picture the smiling woman on FaceTime, the happiness on her face.
I feel sick.
“Don’t make me ask,” Grandma says after a pause.
“Ma’am?”
