I’m not a violent person, but when he came in and kissed her cheek, I wanted to slug him. I was half out of my chair, too, but Grandma shot me a look like she knew what I was thinking.
He’d brought her a few things from her house and stopped at the small store where they have her favorite cookies.
It’s hard to dislike someone who only wants to see her smile.
I’ll owe him an apology tomorrow for snapping at him on the phone.
I get out of my truck, basically dragging myself inside to get some rest. I really didn't do much, but hell, worry takes a lot out of you.
Worry for my grandma and for Natalie. How mad is she?
Fuck.
I really don’t want to lose her over a stupid fight. I might have fucked up by giving her space. Did that make me look guilty? I know I didn't do anything wrong, but Griffin clearly made it seem like I did.
I change the sheets on my grandma's bed to fresh ones. I’ll move her things in the morning before I go back to the hospital.
I shower and then grab my computer, making a spot in bed to get some work done. I intend to clear my mind of this day by writing, but my mind keeps going back to the fact that somehow, in a short period of time, I’ve managed to lose my career and my best friend.
Grandma Betty would be so disappointed if she knew.
I rub the spot between my eyes and sigh.
I need to call my sister, Quinn, and see where she’s at these days and whether her schedule will allow her to come here while I take care of things in Wind Valley. Moving here makes the most sense for me, but I’ll need to get some things in order first.
Starting with sleep.
I close my computer and settle into bed.
Tomorrow is going to be crazy.
My eyes are just closed when pounding on the door startles me upright.
What the hell?
The noise resumes, so I jog down the stairs and into the living room.
Who the hell would be beating on the door like this right now?
If it’s Mike, he’s in for rude awakening. No one comes to my grandma’s house like this. Ever.
Instead of peeking out the window, I swing the door open, ready to lay into whoever thinks they can show up this rudely, but nothing comes out.
I swear, my jaw drops as I suck in a breath.
“Holy fuck.”
“Is she okay?” Natalie steps through the doorway and wraps her arms around me.
I don’t reply right away. I’m too shocked that she’s here right now.
I return the hug and then step back and hold her at arm's length.
“Shit, Nat, look at you.” I whistle to drive my point home, taking in her off-white skintight dress, the way her makeup and hair make her eyes pop. Nothing about her says she just drove for the last two hours. “You’re undeniably stunning. I … I have no other words for you right now. Just let me look at you.”
I’m not sure what I expected her to say in reply to that, but I sure as hell didn’t expect her to slap my arm.
“Tobias Banks, how dare you not call me before you left town? How dare you keep something that involves Grandma Betty from me? This is not okay.”
