Page 98 of Mr. Green

“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 mystomach 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.

Chapter 65

Grant

I’ll make things right with Josh, but while Lana and him are distracted, I want to talk to her parents. I’m asking for Lana’s parents blessing to marry her tonight.

It’s a mild night with a chill sneaking up. It’s nice by the grill where you can smell barbeque chicken cooking. Paul is standing over it, watching the chicken carefully. Rose is sitting right next to him with a glass of wine in her hand.

“Would you like anything to drink, Grant?” she asks.

“I’m fine for now. Thank you for having me tonight, Mr. and Mrs. Love,” I start.