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“Huh. We’ll see. What brings you over at this time of day?”
Good question. I’m not in the habit of lying to my gran, but we’ve also never spoken about women before, so I’m unsure how to approach this.
“Just saw your door and…thought I’d stop by,” I hesitate, correcting it as smoothly as I can, running a hand through my still-wet hair.
“Nonsense. You’re too busy for that,” Gran calls me out, anddammit, she’s got me there.
“Okay, I have an hour free, and I wanted to visit you rather than go home alone with my thoughts.”
“I see…and are you going to fill me in on those thoughts?” she says, moving into the kitchen to make herself a tea. I stand and follow behind her, filling up a glass with water, knocking it back before I answer. Gran raises an eyebrow as she waits for my response.
“Okay.” I sigh. “Sit down, and I’ll tell you what’s up.”
Smiling brightly, she abandons her tea and moves toward the sofa, patting the spot beside her. “Thank you. I can’t wait.”
My gran raised me from the age of sixteen after my mom, her daughter, died of cancer. My dad comes and goes in my life, but he has another family, so it’s mainly only birthdays or holidays that we talk to each other. Or if I’m in the news for something football related, whichwasrare until my recent trade. In fact, when news of my trade broke and the media discussed the money I’d be earning, a lot of family and friends came out of the woodwork. But the only one that got a cent was Gran. She’s my world and one of the few people I really trust. I moved her here with me when I was traded, and I plan to set her up in a nice condo when I find the perfect one. But for now, we’re hotel mates.
“So, come on, spill,” she says, as impatient as ever. She turns eighty-two this year, but you wouldn’t know it. She’s a regular at yoga and will often join me for a swim, if I don’t go at the “ass crack of dawn” as she calls it.
Sitting down beside her, I rest one leg on my knee and drop my head to the headrest behind me.
“I met a girl,” I say with another sigh, rolling my head toward Gran. Her eyes light up right on cue.
“You met a girl? Gah! I never thought I’d live to see the day.”
“Thanks,” I say with all the sarcasm I can muster.
“Oh, shush. You know what I mean. You have a one-track mind, and right now, the train is destined for a football station, with no indication it will ever make another journey.”What?
I stare at her with a furrowed brow, and she just shrugs. That’s Gran for you. She loves to beat around the bush instead of getting straight to the point.
“Okay, would you like me to tell you more, or do you have something else to say?”
“I’m done…for now.”
“Thank you.” I roll my eyes, and she elbows me in the ribs.
“Anyway, a while back, I—”
“A while back? Why am I only hearing about this now?”
I shoot a glare her way, and she laughs. “Sorry, please go on.”
“A while back, I was out running, and a beautiful stranger needed my help for something.”
“Hmmm.” Gran hums as she taps her cheek in thought. “Did she know you were famous? Sometimes you can’t trust—”
“Gran!”
“Right, yes. I’ll be quiet.” She pretends to zip up her lips and throws away the key.
Resting my elbows on my knees, I grip the back of my neck and huff out a laugh. “God, I came here to avoid thinking about this. I have a strength training session in a couple of hours and a big game on the weekend. I need to keep my head straight.”
“So, get it off your chest. I bet you’ll feel lighter.”
“Hopefully,” I mumble.
“You met a girl who needed your help. What kind of help?”
