Page 223 of Trick or Stalk

Hades follows my gaze. “Was that your grandmother’s?”

“Yeah.” My gaze moves around the room. “I really miss her.”

“You talk about her differently.”

My chest tightens. “Differently how?”

“Like she's still part of everything.”

For a moment, I can't answer. Because that's exactly what it feels like.

“She is.”

He doesn't say anything.

“She and my grandfather raised me. My mother was too self-centered to do it. And my father… well, he was basically a sperm donor.” I look at Hades. “I never met him.”

He doesn’t tell me he’s sorry like most people do. He just patiently waits.

“My grandparents were so amazing, it didn’t matter that I didn’t have a mom and dad like most kids.”

He grabs my hand and squeezes it gently. He doesn’t look uncomfortable like a lot of people do when I bring up my family. Doesn't give me some empty line about how they’re in a better place.

He just waits for me to speak.

“They raised me here.”

His eyes move around the room. “In this house?”

I nod. “I spent most of my childhood here. Even when I wasn't technically living here, this was home.”

“Sounds like you were close.”

“We were. Especially my grandma and me. She was my person.” The words come out quieter than I intend.

Penny lifts her head. I reach over and rub her ear.

“When she got sick, everything changed so fast. I’d moved away to chase my dreams, but I came back to care for her.” I pause, picking at a thread on the blanket. “And then she was gone, and suddenly I had this house and all these plans I'd made before…” I trail off.

“What plans?”

I sigh. “I wanted to teach.”

“Elementary school?”

I shake my head. “No. College.”

His eyebrows rise. “Professor Presley.”

“Actually, it would be Professor Bailey.”

“I like it.”

“You do?”

He nods, sincerity in his eyes. “Yes.”

“What about you?”