Page 80 of She’s Worth the Risk

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ZINNIA

Gran hugs me tighter than ever when I tell her I’m staying in the city for a while. And when she offers to pay for my class—for an entire degree, in fact—I realize something. She never signed me up for summer school to get me out of her hair for six weeks.

She did it so I’d stick around that long.

“You don’t have to pay for class, Gran,” I tell her over breakfast on Tuesday. I don’t know when I unofficially moved in with Nick, but we decided to spend the night before the first day of classes apart so we’d actually sleep, instead of, well, you know. That, and it’s nice to be back at Gran’s. I inhale the familiar scent of Earl Grey, smiling. As much as I love it at Nick’s place, it’s not the same.

“Nonsense.” Gran waves a hand, hovering in front of the refrigerator for a beat too long. When she closes it with a puzzled look—and without retrieving anything—I rise wordlessly and grab the milk for her tea.

“It’s not nonsense,” I say, sitting down at the table again. “I should pay for myself.”

“Zinnia, my darling.” Gran gives me her signature I won’t stand for it look. “I have all this money”—she motions vaguely around us, which I think is supposed to refer to her house—“and no one to spend it on. It brings me great joy to pay for your studies, particularly when they’re of something as fundamental as the arts.”

I smile into my coffee. “I love you, Gran. I probably don’t say it enough.”

She lifts a hand to her chest, misty-eyed. Then she gathers herself, turning away. “That’s settled, then.”

I exhale slowly. “If it makes you happy to pay for class, fine, but I should probably get a job since I’ll be here for a while. I can’t expect you to cover all my expenses.”

Gran opens her mouth to protest again, and I shoot her the same look she gave me. A wry smile twists her mouth.

“Fine.” She sinks into a chair. “Get a job if you must, as long as it doesn’t interfere with your studies.”

I chuckle quietly to myself. You’d think I was fifteen, not twenty-five.

Gran looks at me sideways. “I bet that boyfriend of yours is pleased you’re staying.”

Guilt tunnels through me, and I lower my gaze. “He’s not my boyfriend,” I say automatically. I’ve never had a boyfriend before, except for once in ninth grade. It was the longest we’d ever stuck around in one place, and when a cute sophomore asked me out, I figured it was safe to say yes. Safe to let myself develop feelings, maybe even fall in love.

We left two weeks later.

After that, I didn’t bother. No point in trying to hold on to something that won’t last.

But as I turn the word boyfriend over in my mind, it feels different now. Less scary, more… exciting. When I think of calling Nick my boyfriend, warmth fills my chest, and I smile. Would he like it if I called him that?

As if reading my mind, Gran asks, “Are you taking any more classes with that lovely Dr. Sweetman?”

My smile vanishes as the guilt burrows deeper, and I drain my cup, rising from the table. “No. Professor Webber.”

“Ah, that’s a shame.” Gran takes a slow sip of tea, leaving a print of fuchsia lipstick on the rim. “But he’s still teaching the life-drawing classes you model for?”

“Yes…” I frown. “How did you know that?”

“June mentioned it.” She taps her nose, eyes twinkling. “I told you, you can’t hide anything from me, Z.”

Heat stains my cheeks, and I duck my head, reaching for my bag. “In that case, you know June is unwell?”

Grooves of worry sink into Gran’s leathery skin. “Yes. We’re all terribly worried about her. Pneumonia, they’re saying.”

An icy feeling washes over me. Shit, pneumonia? That’s not good. Not in someone June’s age.

“She told me you’ve been helping with the community arts center a little,” Gran adds. “She’s ever so grateful.”

“Of course. I love it there. I’d help more if I knew how.”

Gran sets her tea down. “You know,” she says thoughtfully, “there might be a way to kill two birds with one stone here.” I open my mouth to ask what she means, but she waves a hand again. “Let’s talk after your life-drawing class tonight, darling. I’ll make pot roast, and we can watch something on Netflix? Your choice.”