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Chapter Thirty-Six

BODE

“C ould you not drive any faster?” Stevie whines from next to me.

“I’m trying not to break the law here. I don’t need a mugshot plastered all over the news.”

Not when things have finally changed for good.

“Well, hurry up. It’s been too long and all I want to do is be with you.”

“Fuck. We really should have done this at Cressy’s.”

“And have them interrupt us? No, thanks.”

After what feels like hours, my house finally comes into view.

“Finally.” Stevie unclicks her seatbelt and climbs over the console. “I’ve missed you so much.”

“You know, you didn’t have to leave.”

“I was scared they’d find you.’

I brush the soft locks out of her face. “Let me worry about that if it happens again.”

“Okay.” Her smile is soft and happy. “Now, take me inside.”

Lifting Stevie out of the car, I lick and suck on her neck, reveling in the taste and feel of her as I carry her inside. Even a few weeks was too long without her.

“I never want to be without you again.”

Pushing her against the wall, I take my time. I know Caleb is in good hands with Gran.

“Did you hear that?” I hear someone ask.

But before I can take her upstairs, a bucket of ice water is dumped over me.

“What are you doing back?”

Pulling my mouth away from Stevie, I see Gran and Deb are on the couch, blanket covering themselves.

“Oh my God!” I jump back, hitting my back against the wall before turning away entirely. Stevie’s holding on to me like a spider monkey. “What are you two doing?”

“Us? The two of you were practically humping in the hallway,” Gran counters.

“You said you were going to be a few hours,” Deb adds.

My hand is covering my eyes. At this point, I think I need bleach to unsee what I just saw.

Gran and Deb? Really?

“Are you decent?” I hear Stevie ask.

“We’re decent,” Deb says.

“Are you sure?” I plead.

“They are.” Stevie’s warm hand rests on my forearm and pulls it away from my eyes. The two women are sitting on the couch with matching smiles.

“Is this funny?”

They look at each other and shrug. “I mean, kind of.”

“How long has this been going on?” I wave a finger between the two. “And follow up, where is Caleb?”

“Sleeping upstairs.”

“Is this what you two do when we’re not home?”

Gran rolls her eyes at me. “You make us sound like horny teenagers. We watch movies, take Caleb for walks. Eat together.”

“Besides, we only go to the movies and make out when you’re home.”

She says it so casually, as if stating a fact like the sky is blue.

“To the movies. To make out,” I groan. “I really didn’t need to know that.”

“Oh relax,” Gran tells me. “We’re adults. We’re allowed to do what we want.”

“Did you know about this?” I turn to Stevie.

“I didn’t. I promise. But?—”

“But what?”

The look of love is on her face. “I mean, if they’re happy, what does it matter?”

“Oooh, someone is all loved up,” Deb croons. “I take it by the mutual hump?—”

“Please don’t finish that sentence. I beg you.”

“Oh, like it’s any better seeing your grandson and his girlfriend macking on each other?” Gran asks.

“Macking? Really?”

Jesus. I need a drink.

Stalking to the fridge, I open it and pull out one of the first things I find. I need it if we’re going to keep having this conversation.

“I think it’s sweet,” Stevie tells them.

“See?” Deb agrees. “Besides, you two wouldn’t have met if I didn’t come with Eve.”

“Wait.” I hop up on the counter. I figure this is as safe a place as any. I’d get my ass handed to me by Gran if I went upstairs to hide out with Caleb. “Is that why Deb came with you?”

Gran rolls her eyes. “You sweet, oblivious boy. Why would I bring a friend to live with me?”

“I don’t know. So you don’t get lonely?”

“I have a good life. And while I might occasionally get lonely, it’s nice to have a companion.”

My eyes flit to Stevie. That, I can understand.

“How did this happen?” I ask. “Oh God, and please don’t give me the birds and the bees talk. I know that. I mean, how did you two start?”

Stevie giggles at my horror and comes over to stand between my legs.

The two share a tender look. It’s obvious they care for one another. If I’m being honest with myself, I don’t think I’ve ever seen Gran look happier.

“We met at bridge, and bridge turned into other card games, which turned into gossiping about the old hags that cheat.”

“Oh, not this again,” Bode says. “Not everyone is cheating.”

“They are too!” Deb says. “No one is that good at bridge.”

“Some people are,” Stevie whispers.

“Probably where you get it,” I lean down, my words ghosting the shell of her year.

“Anyway,” Deb continues, “it just sort of happened one night. We fell in love and that was that.”

“You’re dating then?” I ask.

“If you want to call it that. Do people really date at our age? We’re enjoying each other’s company.”

“You two are ‘enjoying each other’s company.’ Stevie and I are dating.” I drop my chin onto Stevie’s shoulder. “Why does this feel shockingly normal?”

She spins, looking up at me with nothing but love in her eyes. “Because nothing about our lives is normal. Our grandmas are in love. Who cares?”

“See? Stevie has the right idea,” Gran says.

“Shh. I think Bode is finally on board. Don’t scare him off,” Deb whispers. Or in her impression of a whisper.

“There’s a new rule,” I tell them, glaring back and forth. “Since it seems like we’re all coupled up, no more making out or doing other things on the couch.”

Gran studies me with a quizzical stare. “If we can’t, that means you can’t either.”

“It’s my house. I should get to do what I want.”

“You think I want to come walking in here and see your bare ass? No, thank you.” Gran laughs.

I can’t help but laugh with her. Because that’s the last thing I would want to have happen to me.

“And Caleb can’t be in the room, either. No shocking his poor little eyes.”

“That was already a given.” Gran waves me off and grabs Deb’s hand. “Now that this is all settled, why don’t you order some dinner for us and we’ll all reconvene in the kitchen when it’s here?”

I can’t even agree before they’re closing the back door and hurrying out to the pool house.

“I cannot believe we walked in on that.”

Sliding off the counter, I bypass the couch and go straight upstairs. Whatever I was feeling earlier is gone. But that doesn’t mean I don’t want a quiet moment with Stevie.

Anywhere but the couch right now.

“I mean, I’m glad they found each other. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have found one another,” Stevie says.

Closing my bedroom door, I guide Stevie toward the bed.

I press a warm kiss to her lips before sitting next to her and pulling her back with me. “Thank God for bridge then.”

“Maybe we can have a double date and they can teach us how to play.”

I tickle her side. “What, so you can be better at it than I am?”

“Stop it!” she laughs. “I can’t help if I get Nan’s natural talent at winning games.”

“Luck. It’s all luck, Stephanie .”

She throws one leg over me and rests her elbows on either side of my head. “I guess it was a stroke of luck the two of us met.”

“I guess it was.” I tuck her hair behind her ear. “I’ll take that luck.”

Stevie looks down at me with nothing but love.

I’m not the hockey player with a history to her. I’m just Bode. Our future is whatever we want to make it. With Caleb and two crazy grandmothers.

It’s more than I ever could have asked for.