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“Time to face the music,” Grandma quips.
“Indeed.”
We both watch him leave, silence descending. When he steps out of the front door, shutting it behind him with a gentle click, a long-held breath releases from my lips. I have so many questions, but not one of them have a chance to leave my lips before Grandma Silva is traversing the table and reaching for me as I stand, her warm fingers tight on my arm.
“Connie…” she warns.
“What?”
“No, Connie. Not him,” she says, shaking her head. Worry scatters like a storm cloud over her face.
“I don’t know what you mean?” I respond, not daring to look her in the eyes.
“I may be old, but I’m no fool. Malakai is off-limits. He isn’t just dangerous to your heart.”
“Grandma, I’ve only just met him and he’s…old,” I add helplessly, even though his age means nothing to me. We’re both adults and the age gap is totally irrelevant in my view. Not that it matters, I’m leaping way ahead of myself here.
She lifts her hand to grasp my jaw, forcing my face upwards. “Look at me, child.”
Reluctantly, I do. She regards me for a long time, looking deep into my eyes as though searching for something. She seems to find it, because she sighs heavily.
“I recognise that look,” she says, an overwhelming sadness darkening her features. “This will only end in heartache, Connie. It always does…”
“Grandma, you’re seeing something that isn’t there. Ijustmet him,” I remind her, just as much as myself.
Her fingers slide across my cheek, cupping my face, laughing softly. “I fell for your grandfather the moment our eyes met. Your mother was the same. She loved your father the second she laid eyes on him that first day of school. They were five.”
“This is ridiculous,” I say lamely.
“It isn’t. Nothing about love is ridiculous. Nothing about our story is ridiculous. We’re cursed in love Connie. That’s just the way it is. You can have fun, live life, but don’t fall in love.Please.”
“I don’tlovehim. My God, Grandma, I don’t even know him and honestly, I’m not sure I evenlikehim…” She folds her arms across her chest and raises her eyebrows, but I carry on regardless of the look she’s giving me. “Not to mention the fact that he’s rude and abrupt and totally ignored me the whole time I sat here!” I huff, realising how petulant I sound and hating it.
“Please, just guard your heart. Don’t fall, Connie. It’ll only hurt.Trustme,” she begs, ignoring my tirade.
“Grandma, you’ve got this all wrong…”
“No, child. I haven’t,” she says sadly before planting a soft kiss on my forehead.
The thing is, it really doesn’t matter what I feel because it’s perfectly clear Malakai Azaiah Dunbar has zero interest in me.
