AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Grandmother eyes me with a mix of affection and worry. “I think you might have a fever. I just said that, didn’t I?”
“Right. I know. I’m just surprised.”
“You of all people should know it’s important to keep in touch with your social media manager.”
I choke on a brussels sprout. “Since when are you on social media?”
“Since my surf lesson last week.”
Ethan holds up his hand with a pained expression on his face.Don’t ask.
“I’m on Insta as Musings from Grandma. Chloe didn’t tell you?”
“No, she didn’t mention it.”
“Must be some client-manager confidentiality thing. You should follow me.”
I run a hand over the four-day scruff on my jaw, trying not to laugh, but also not sure how I feel about Chloe being in close contact with my grandmother.
“Oh shoot,” my grandmother says. “I should have taken a picture of my food.”
“No worries,” Ethan says.
“I am worried about you,” she answers.
I look at my brother. “Something going on?”
“Nothing important,” he says to me before turning to our grandmother. “And you need to stop. Between you and Mom, I’ve had enough.” He says this with respect, but there’s some underlying irritation only Drew or myself would detect.
It’s clear whatever it is, Ethan doesn’t want to talk about it, but I’m not one for patience where my brothers are concerned. If something is going on, I need to know.
“Break it down into a sentence or two, and I won’t bug you about it.”
Ethan puts his fork down and sits back in his chair. “Last week while I was out of town, someone left a package for me. I had Charlotte open it and it wasn’t something pleasant.”
“He has a stalker,” Grandmother says, trying to keep her tone even. It isn’t the first time our family has been targeted by a fan or someone looking for a payout, and our security team always handles it, but it’s never something to take lightly.
“I think that’s taking it too far,” Ethan says. “It was one time. Now, let’s get back to Finn and Chloe.”
“FinnandChloe?” Our grandmother is sharp as a tack, so her feigned surprise doesn’t fool anyone.
I still don’t want to talk about it, though. “Looks like your Cardinals are headed toward a national championship,” I say to Ethan to change the subject. Stanford is kicking football ass this season.
“Fingers crossed,” Ethan says. “We’re still on for Saturday’s game, right?”
Shit. I forgot all about it. Stanford is playing one of their biggest rivalries, USC, and every year when the two teams play, Ethan, Drew, and I go to the game.
“I can’t make it this time.”
“You’re breaking tradition? What for?”
I hate the disappointment I hear from my brother. He’s right. This will be the first time in ten years that I don’t make it.
“Or is the better question, who for?”
Yeah, I deserve that. I glance at my grandmother. She’s stopped eating to put her chin in her hands and watch her grandsons like she’s watching a tennis match at Wimbledon. “Don’t mind me,” she says.
Apparently, the topic of Chloe and me isn’t going away anytime soon so I may as well get this over with. “I’m going to a wedding.”
