Page 67 of A Million Times, Yes

He nodded. “So it isn’t a coincidence that Gavin didn’t come today or that you asked me to come here in the morning instead of the evening.”

“No,” she confirmed.

“I’m assuming you’re trying to fix what’s broken,” he inquired.

“It’s my fault it’s broken,” she replied.

Jordan’s eyes narrowed. “You gave her the tickets.”

As I listened to their conversation, my eyes bounced between them like I was watching a tennis match.

“And I found out the day after what that had caused,” she admitted.

“Jesus,” Jordan groaned.

Bettie adjusted the top of her sweater, leaving her hand by her neck. “I know too much to sit back and do nothing.”

“AndIknow nothing,” I told them. “Someone please explain to me what you two are talking about.”

I was met with more quietness until Bettie said, “Come here, dear.”

My eyes stayed on Jordan as I backed up several feet until I was at the side of Bettie’s bed. Her hand slipped through mine, and I reluctantly locked eyes with her.

“Out of all the facilities I could have chosen to go to and all the nurses I could have had, there’s a reason I’m here and that you’re mine. I truly believe that.”

Although my body had turned a little, putting my back to the door, Jordan now stood on the other side of the bed so I had a direct view of him. “I don’t understand what that means,” I said softly.

“I didn’t know you were dating Jordan until after you attended the Bears game. I hid the shock, but it was there.” She grinned. “And so was the joy.” She squeezed my fingers. “But what I also witnessed was the downturn. The way you two were falling apart right in front of my eyes. I couldn’t let that happen. Not when I knew how happy you both were and not when I had the power to at least try to make things better. So I took matters into my own hands.” Her grin stayed, but her lips were pushed together. “Here you are, and here’s Jordan, and for the love of God, will you two please talk things out.”

Every one of her words made its way into my head; the pieces just had a hard time fitting together.

“I don’t get it ...” My voice trailed off as I tried to work through this. “Why are you so invested in us? And how did you get us bothhere?” I glanced at Jordan. “I guess I don’t understand ... How do you know each other?”

When I looked at Bettie again, she was reaching for Jordan’s hand, and once she had clasped it, she brought it up to her mouth and kissed the back of it. “Jordan is my grandson.”

Chapter Nineteen

Jordan

“I’m sorry, what?” Maya said to Bettie, and then she stared at me. “You’re telling me that you’re ... her grandson?”

“Yes,” I replied.

Her gaze returned to my grandmother. “Were you bringing him here to try and play matchmaker? Or, I guess in this case, match-fixer?”

My grandmother patted her gray curls. “I sent you to that game, honey, and look what happened.”

“That wasn’t your fault, Bettie.” Maya looked at me. “It was yours. You should have told me the truth. Whether I found out at the game or I randomly found you in this room one day or by—”

“Or by me telling you, which I planned to do,” I said, cutting her off.

“But when?” Her eyes were pleading with mine. “When I was completely, madly in love with you? When the truth would burn me even harder?”

Those words. The way they threatened an admission I wasn’t prepared to hear.

Or maybe I was.

Maybe I needed to hear it.