Page 34 of If You Claim Me

Ethel coughs to hide her laugh.

“I’m overseeing.”

“You’re being an overlord. Sit down, please.” I guide her to her chair.

“Where is Dred?”

“She’s still at work for a little while.”

She frowns. “Well, why are you here, then?”

“To limit your overlording.” I’m sure the last thing Mildred wants is to be stuck in a car with me during rush-hour traffic. Cedrick is much more pleasant company.

Meems looks unimpressed.

“Cedrick is on his way to get her.”

“You will be the one to take her home,” she orders.

“Fine. Now please explain what this is all about.” I motion to the boxes stacked neatly by the door, then open the box of chocolate digestive cookies and arrange them on a plate, setting it on the table next to my grandmother. They’re forever a favorite of hers.

“I don’t need all this space,” she says.

I sit in the chair across from her. “You also don’t need to moveoutof all this space.”

“It’s too big for me. It’s exhausting just getting to the dining room.”

“We can move you to the main floor,” I suggest.

“The guesthouse is closest to the important rooms I use,” she argues. “Besides, you and Dred will need privacy.”

“Because twenty-plus-thousand square feet of space doesn’t provide enough of that? Besides, you can’t give me this house. It’s willed to my father,” I remind her.

“It’s mine to do with what I want, and I want you and Dred to have it. I’ve already changed the will, so arguing is a moot point.”

I grip the arm of the chair, caught somewhere between shock and validation. “Father will not be happy.”

Meems shrugs, unbothered. “He has his own mansion that he’s perfectly content living in.” She glances away before she continues, “And I won’t have him and Courtney moving in here and painting everything white, so it looks and feels like Antarctica.”

I snort. “Their house has about as much personality as dry toast.”

“That’s generous.” Her expression softens, and she reaches across to take my hand. “I’ve already gifted a house to your father, and to each of your sisters. It’s your turn. Everything you have right now, you’ve earned on your own.”

“My father would argue with that, considering he paid for my degree.”

“Your grandfather and I paid for your degree. Your father just likes to hold it over your head because he wants you to feel indebted. I want you to fill this house with the love it deserves, Connor.”

I feel like a giant piece of shit for lying to Meems, but this is the happiest she’s been in years. Her approval means everything, and I want to preserve it however I can. “If it will make you happy, Mildred and I will move in here.”

Currently I live in a penthouse apartment downtown, close to the arena. Moving here will mean more of a commute, but Meems is worth it. I just need Mildred to agree.

“More than you know.” She beams, and it feels like a kick in the balls and the best damn thing at the same time.

The doorbell chimes, and I check the cameras, expecting that it’s probably a delivery, but Mildred is standing outside the gates, looking less than fresh. “Mildred is here. I’ll be right back,” I tell Meems.

“I thought Cedrick was picking her up.”

“He was. Something must have happened.” I pause at the threshold, anxious. “I’d like to speak to Mildred about moving in.”