It was too late to call Niko, and I wasn’t sure he’d even know how to help. Before marrying Leyla, he wasn’t exactly a relationship expert. My Turkish friend was, in fact, the exact opposite of that. But he had won her over in the end, so there was that.
I’d gone from showing up at Grammy’s to fix a faucet, only to find out it was just an excuse to trap me into her scheme, to confessing to Renata Valenti that I was attracted to her after asking her to be my fake girlfriend? As I spun out, I made a mental note to confiscate all the candles in Grammy’s apartment.
What was my life right now?
My simple existence had just been turned upside down, and I knew with everything in me, Ren would wake up tomorrow morning and realize that she’d made a huge mistake. There was no way I’d be able to sleep just thinking about that text that was sure to come.
I must have been driving on autopilot because before I knew it, I was in front of my house. I put the truck in park and turned it off, hoping the quiet would help.
When Vicky asked me to pick up Ren, I felt like I’d gone on back-to-back rides at Six Flags, part exhilarated, part nauseated. But I had a plan. Act smooth. Don’t make any sudden movements. Just have a pleasant conversation with her and try to dispel this strange attraction I’ve had to her for months now, after a sixty-second video conversation. I had stuttered and embarrassed myself that day, and I was determined to regain my reputation as not being an idiot. But no. That was too much to ask for, apparently.
Grammy. I blamed my sweet, blue-haired, and slightly demented grandmother entirely.
“Candles and pot roast,” I scoffed.
I still couldn’t believe she had lured me there again under false pretenses. The phone call to Rebekah, her latest victim, letting her know that she wouldn’t be meeting me after all, was nothing short of painful. Grammy was so excited to hear everything about Ren, that the woman was all but forgotten. Poor Rebekah. Maybe I should send her a gift card.
I climbed out of the truck, my heart aching again, thinking about Grammy’s conversation and her tears. Seeing her so upset had broken my heart. I could hear Max howling the second my truck door closed. Knowing his destructive nature, I was grateful for my neighbor, Sam, who helped me out in a pinch by letting Max out.
Rushing inside, Max nearly toppled me over with a loud whine. “You need to go out again, boy?” I asked, scratching his head and watching his tail sweep across the floor. I hurriedly let him out the back door, knowing the real reason he wanted out. I felt sorry for the squirrel that just wanted to live its best life in my lemon tree. Watching as he sniffed every single blade of grass and eyed me like I was no longer his best friend, I plopped down on the steps of my back porch.
Thoughts of Ren flooded my mind, and I was transported back to the moment I tapped her on the shoulder at baggage claim. That video call had not done this woman justice. Thick, curly hair flowing to her shoulders made her look heavenly. Olive, sun-kissed skin. Eyes the color of caramel macchiato and full lips that made it hard to focus on driving. All my earlier plans to be cool, suave, and sophisticated floated out to sea when I looked into her eyes.
There was no way I could pretend I wasn’t affected and try to save my ego. She had captivated me the second I saw her.
Her stunning beauty would’ve been enough to have me falling halfway in love with her, but knowing she was a believer made my heart thud. The way she saw my painful explanation about my grandmother and her instantly wanting to help had me thrown off kilter.
Shushing Max as he howled at the squirrel, I leaned my head on the post and sighed.
“Max, it’s late. Mrs. Baum is going to call the police again,” I whisper-yelled. Luckily, he gave up the chase and trotted back over to me with eyes so soulful, I thought he might have some advice. “Yeah, it’s okay, buddy. I don’t know what to do either.”
I’d never felt like this before. Never reacted to a woman in this way. It was visceral, all-consuming, thrilling, and frightening all at once. Grammy said she and Grandpa had fallen in love instantly and gotten married two weeks later. They spentover sixty years together before he passed. I’d witnessed their affectionate love for one another my whole life, sometimes more than I ever wanted.
“That’s what I want, boy.” Max pushed my hand to scratch his neck. “Guess I’m forgiven then. Sorry, Max. But guess what? I met an angel tonight.”
His bright blue eyes held my eye contact, his tongue hanging out, most likely ready to eat. “I think I’m in love. Can you believe that?”
My stomach dropped when I remembered her mentioning that I was only a friend because of Vicky, and then dropped even further when I remembered her saying I should start looking for a wife for real when this was over.
Little did she know I might already have. I was certain Ren recognized my attraction to her, and frankly, I had no problem with that.
“She’s only going to be here for a month, though, boy. What do I do with that? Oh, wait, not to mention that she doesn’t seem interested in me in the least,” I said in defeat, Max laying his head in my lap, instinctively knowing I needed him.
A smile grew as I remembered her staring at the Balboa Park arches and calling my city ‘home’.
“That’s at least something, right, boy?”
I woke the next morning,immediately rooting around my nightstand for my phone. Pulling it violently off the charger, I squinted and wiped my eyes, trying to clear them.
With a heavy sigh of relief, I leaned back on my headboard when I realized there was no text from Ren. Desperate to talk to someone, I checked the time again and called Niko. He answered on the second ring.
“Hey. It’s a little early for a call. Everything okay? Grammy’s good?” I smiled at his concern. Despite his aversion to visiting because of Gemma’s grabby hands, he loved Grammy.
“All good, all good, man. Thanks for asking. Although when I have more time, I’ve got to tell you what she did to me last night. Let’s just say her last ambush paled in comparison.”
He laughed heartily, knowing exactly what I was talking about.
I heard him kiss Leyla and whisper something that made her laugh. “Bye, Mike,” she yelled, and before I could answer her, I heard a door slam.
