Page 67 of Mr. Green

“Nope. That must’ve been another one of your kids.”

“Well, he was lovely. He has a good head on his shoulders. Much more mature than Josh ever was. I heard he’s a successful businessman now. Is he still cute?” I don’t know what to say to that. Luckily, she answers her own question. “Of course he is. You wouldn’t be going as his date if he wasn’t cute. This is exciting! Make sure to bring him over at the wedding so we can say hi. You’ll also have to bring him over for dinner one night!”

I’d rather die. “He doesn’t live here, Mom. We’ll have to take a raincheck.”

“Oh, okay. Listen, Janine is scoping out our property in her car. I need to go talk to her so she doesn’t write a citation on our house.”

I hear my dad in the background. “Rose! That snake is out front again!”

“I know, Paul! I’m on the phone. I’ll be right there.”

I start laughing. They should move. The HOA over there sounds like they’re being taken over by a dictator or something.

“Don’t laugh, Lana. This is serious. We love you. See you this weekend.”

“Love you. Bye, Mom.”

After I hang up with her, I can’t seem to sit still. I tidy up my place, which I never do unless company is coming over. I also put the things in my suitcase away. That’s crazy—what I packed for Hawaii was still packed until I was invited to Texas and needed my luggage again.

I look around for something else to do, when I see my phone light up.

It’s Grant!

Shit! I was supposed to call him.

“Heeeeyyy!” I’m playing this off casually.

“Hi, Lana. I didn’t get a call.” He’s using my name? This can’t be good.

“I know, I know. Sorry about that. I got here and it was so strange because it feels empty and it distracted me.”

“You need to call me as soon as you land. Andrew called me before you did.”

“Sorry, sorry! I’ll make it up to you.”

“You’d better. What are you doing right now?”

“I think I’m going to the gym.”

“Oh, okay. Didn’t mean to keep you. Call me the minute you walk through your door.”

“Okay, sounds good.”

“Lana, I’m serious.”

“Why are you calling me Lana? What happened to Sunshine or baby girl?”

“Those are for good girls. You’ve been bad.”

I’m grinning ear to ear. “What do bad girls get?”

“Nothing you’ll want, so be a good girl and call me when you walk through the door.”

“Okay.” I laugh. “Bye, Grant.”

“Bye, baby.”

I pat Queenie and grab my things. I’ll go do a workout at the gym. I can’t stay here right now—alone.