Page 65 of Mr. Green (Mr. #2)

Lana

I t’s been two weeks of avoiding invitations from my mom for Grant and I to come to dinner. Tonight is the night we are headed to my parents’ place. I told Josh he should be there too. Grant doesn’t know he’s coming, but if we’re back together, they need to talk. It’s important to me.

Grant has his hand on my inner thigh as Andrew drives us to the house I grew up in. The house Grant has been to numerous times. I think enough time has passed where we can put the three weeks of not talking behind us. My mother certainly isn’t bothered by them.

Andrew pulls up as Queenie starts huffing and puffing to get out of the front seat. She knows my parents’ house now and has become quite fond of it.

Grant steps out of the backseat as Andrew lets Queenie out. Grant holds his hand out for me and I take it. He looks polished as always in his black button-down and dark gray slacks. I told him he could wear jeans, but he wouldn’t hear of it.

I’m in a purple A-line dress and I brought a light gray sweater in case it gets chilly tonight. My hair is down in loose waves and I’m wearing my glasses. I turn to Grant. “Josh is going to be here. I think we need to clear the air with him.”

Grant nods. “I agree. I’ll talk to him.”

That was easy. I guess I was thinking it’d be sounding off alarms for him. “I’m going to talk to him first.”

“Okay, Sunshine.” He gives me a kiss on the cheek.

I can’t believe how easy that was. Something must be going on. It feels off .

Before I can get to the bottom of it, my mom answers the door before we knock. I swear they watch the windows for Janine too much.

“Hi! Come in! Come in! We’re so glad you’re here!” She ushers us through the door. Her perfume wafts through the air, of course. It wouldn’t be her if I didn’t smell that floral shit every time she was near.

Once again, she pulls Grant in for a hug before me. “Hi, Grant! So good to see you again!” I catch Josh glaring at us from the hallway as my mom grasps me in a hug. “Hi, my little one!” She gives me a kiss on the cheek, which means I need to wash it immediately.

I turn to Grant. “I’m going to talk to Josh real quick. Go say hi to my dad.”

He gives me a small smile. My mom walks with him arm in arm to the backyard where my dad is.

“Hey, Josh.”

“Hey, baby sis.”

“I wanted to thank you.” I fidget with my hair.

“Thank me?” He has his chin pointed down and is staring at me with suspicious eyes.

“Yes. You stood up for me at the café after the marathon. I’m thankful to have your support and I wanted to let you know you’re the best big brother ever.”

He comes over to me and gives me a bear hug, lifting me off the ground.

“I’m always here.” Once he puts me down, he continues, “I didn’t like the idea of you and Grant, but you’re right—he’s a good guy as long as he doesn’t pull this leaving bullshit again.

I don’t think he will. It looked like he was hurting the day of your marathon.

I’ll always pick your side, though. If you need me to hire a hitman or something just use our secret code word. ”

“Our code word?” I squish my eyebrows together.

“You don’t remember?” He raises one of his brows.

I shake my head.

“Wormy dicks.”

We came up with it when Josh was in ninth grade. Hearing it now makes me laugh. Josh joins in. I grab my stomach after a minute of nonstop chuckling.

“We might need a better code word,” he says through tears.

“I think Grant and I are going to be just fine. Thank you, though. I love you.”

“I love you too!” He knuckles my head. Rude.

“Josh! Stop! I’m not five!”

“You’ll always be little to me.”

I roll my eyes, but the thought of him always acting like my big brother doesn’t bother me.