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“I spoke to Booker. You’ve been replaced.” He gives me a look of victory.
I shoot him one back of denial. “Can’t be.”
“Turns out your grandma kicked his ass in poker today and he’s demanding a rematch tonight,” he says.
“Well, he should know better than to play with her. She’s the best. But wait—Nonna is always in bed by eight,” I say.
“Not tonight. They’re having a poker tourney. Sounds like Carlos and a few of the other guys were invited.”
“And I wasn’t.” My Nonna is having a party. Without me.
He nods his head. “Looks that way. And tomorrow they’ve already made plans. Booker’s taking Nonna to Emilia’s library to borrow a few books and meet their house manager, Marta. They’ve hatched a plan to sweet talk her into giving them some of her famous cinnamon rolls to take home. Apparently, they’re going to spend the day stuffing their faces with sweets and reading by the pool.”
They’re even friendlier than I thought. Nonna and Booker sound like they’re quickly becoming BFFs. I think of the frail woman tucked into her quilts, asking me for bread with sugar and wine. This is not my grandmother that Cannon is talking about.
I need to hear her voice. “Can I call her?”
“Of course.”
The only phone I can afford is a cheap flip phone. I never use it, it’s just in case Nonna needs me if I’m not at the house. She’s never even called it once. I pull it from my pocket, dialing the landline at the house. It takes ten rings for her to pick up.
She’s laughing as she says, “Hello!” into the receiver.
There’s loud music playing in the background. Polka? I press my finger against my ear, hoping to hear better. “Nonna, is that you?”
“Booker, put that down! It’s a doily, not a hat. Oh, you are a funny man, aren’t you? Kylie, my darling. How are you? How was your first day?” Before I can answer, she’s talking again, but not to me. “Carlos… Carlos? I thought you said we have to soak the corn husks?”
“Nonna. I heard you are moving in with Booker? You really don’t have to, I promise, we can figure something out—"
“No. Sweetheart, please. Go. Go and have fun. Stay with your man and I’ll stay with mine.”
I turn away from Cannon, hissing into the phone, “He’s not my man, Nonna!”
“This Bachman boy has been a blessing to us. You’ve taken care of me long enough, and let’s be honest, we’ve gotten ourselves into a rut, haven’t we? I hate to cut you off,tesoro,but Carlos is teaching me how to make tamales for the poker game tonight. He’s an expert, been making them for over forty years! It’s a very tricky process. I need to pay attention or otherwise the boys will be very disappointed in the food tonight. Love you!”
“Okay, Nonna, if you’re sure—hello?”
The line is dead. Unbelievable.
He’s eyeing me as I flip the phone closed.
“Told you.” The way he looks at me makes me feel like all my clothing has slipped off my body. “Tonight, you’re all mine.”
A tremble of fear and thrill tear through me. My Nonna is heading up poker night for a bunch of men and I’m spending the night… with… him?
He just stands there, staring at me with those deep brown eyes I can never seem to tear myself away from. He crosses his massive arms over his toned chest, lifting a hand to his short beard, running his fingers along his jaw, eyes still on me.
Is his smoldering gaze an open invitation to change my life, to truly, physically step into his world? To join him tonight as more than just a roommate? Does he want to be more than a safe place for me to land?
Since graduating from school, I’ve spent every night of my life doing crossword puzzles and making tea and watching the news. Yes, there was an occasional card game, but who is this Nonna that’s making tamales for a poker game with a group of kink club bouncers?
A thought hits me.
Hard.
What if…
What if I’m not the virginal, routine-driven person that I am today because of living with my grandmother?
