She pauses, her gaze locking on mine. I search her eyes for an inkling of what she’s thinking, but I come up with nothing.
Her nose scrunches as she pulls the door open. “Crazy,” she says. “Just crazy.”
I follow her inside. “But it’s a good crazy.”
She shakes her head, watching me as she walks backward to the kitchen, where we can hear Grandma Betty and Quinn talking.
Yeah, not touching Natalie is going to take more willpower than my body possesses.
“Oh, good, you’re home,” Grandma Betty says. She and Quinn are sitting across from each other at the table and look as if they were just engrossed in a serious conversation. Natalie walks to the other side of the kitchen and leans against the counter while I remain in the doorway with my arms crossed.
“What’s going on?” I ask.
“I’m leaving tonight,” Quinn says and pushes out her bottom lip. “When Natalie and I were talking earlier, it got me thinking. Grandma is better now, and I’m ready to get back to it.”
“Where are you going this time?”
“Paris,” she says. “I’ve missed it there, and I just don’t feel like me when I stay in one place for too long.”
I nod slowly. As much as I believe Grandma should have someone close by for a little while longer, I get it. The whole having a dream and not making it happen—trust me, I get it more than she knows.
I don’t say anything, yet all eyes are on me.
It feels weird, and I hate that maybe they were all worried about what I was going to think. Like she needs my permission.
Quinn might be my little sister, who is sometimes annoying and makes me worry with all my heart, but she’s also a smart and brave woman who doesn’t need my approval.
I push off the door and hug her from behind. “You better eat more of those weird cookie things for me while you’re there,” I say.
Her shoulders relax.
“You got it,” she says and pats my hand.
“And I’m moving in with Mike,” Grandma Betty says, standing and grabbing her jacket as if that’s the end of the conversation.
She looks me in the eye, daring me to say something.
I only shake my head and look at Natalie.
“Have my gray hairs started to show yet?”
She laughs. “Oh yeah, you have like twenty by now.”
“What?”
“Don’t worry, though, women are really into the silver fox thing these days.”
“Are they?” I ask and step toward her.
She nods with a coy smile and then glances over my shoulder. “Don’t you two agree?”
I pause my stride and give Natalie a grin only she can see.
“I mean, not on my brother, but sure,” says Quinn on her way out of the room.
Grandma is right behind her.
“Hey, where are you both going?”
