She snorts. "Come on Bunny, you know you like sex too. You were never shy about that, sneaking out in the middle of the night to fornicate in the park in high school. If you're lucky, you'll find someone you love who can give it to you right. Your grandpa sure knew his way around, that's for damned sure. He could get my engine running with just a single look."
"Nan, for the love of God. Please. No more. I can't handle any more sharing today."
With a 'humph' she goes back to the stove. "Anyway, our boys got their asses handed to them. Nick took a shot to the balls."
A burst of energy washes through me. "Oh my god. Please, Nan, tell me you got it on video."
She turns to me, eyebrows dancing. "Oh honey, who do you think you're talking to? Of course I got it on video." She points at her purse in the living room, and I scramble to retrieve the phone.
"It's better than I hoped for," I say through my laughter. The way Nick went down, the groan of pain, and Maverick's muttered 'fuck'. Epic. "I can't believe they went with you."
"Surprised me a little too, but after Maverick talked to me, it all made sense."
"Talked to you?"
"Yeah. Your young man wanted to ask me permission to court you."
My mouth is hanging open, but I can't seem to close it. "Who even does that?"
She rests the spoon on the saucer next to the stove, then moves to me, cupping her hands on my cheeks. "He likes you, honey. A lot. And he wanted to make sure that I was okay with him paying you a little more attention."
"But why did he run it past you first?"
"I would imagine he was trying to ensure that I wouldn't catch the two of you fornicating on this counter and beat him with a rolling pin."
"Oh. My. God."
"It actually shows a lot of foresight."
Yeah, I guess it does. I guess it would be a little like trying to date someone with a roommate. Not ideal, but doable. But a seventy-something nosy Nan? God, what a disaster. "Nan, how are you doing here? Are you okay with all of this?" I wave my hand around, hoping she gets that I'm asking about the apartment, but also all the people.
She turns, eyebrow raised, a hint of suspicion in her eyes. "I'm doing just fine. Why do you ask?" Then, as if realizing her initial response might have been a bit brusque, Nan's expression softens. She sets the wooden spoon down and leans against the counter, a small smile playing on her lips. "You know, I'm actually enjoying all the busyness around here. It keeps me on my toes," she admits with a chuckle. "These boys are all nuts, every last one of them, but I'll tell you what - I like every single one of them. They bring a certain... liveliness to the place that I didn't realize I'd been missing."
She always talked about wishing she had a houseful of kids. I know she and my Grandpa tried for a long time. "Well, I've been thinking. We'll have enough saved for our own place soon. We could leave, if you want."
Nan crosses her arms over her chest and leans against the counter. "Is that what you want, Cady? I thought you and Maverick were getting along so well. You make such a nice couple."
I fidget with a napkin. "We don't have to live together to date, Nan. Maybe it'd be easier if we didn't."
"You may have a point there. But Cady, you've taken on so much the last few years. Would it be so wrong to just…relax a little? Take some time to save up, and really think about our next step?"
"What if this doesn't work out? We've barely started dating. We're still mostly on our best behavior. But I'm not going to be able to keep that up for long."
"Are you under some misguided notion that he doesn't know you? Honey, he's been watching you for months. He sees you, and he obviously likes what he sees. So stop worrying so much. It's not like you at all."
"I know! But that's the problem. Before, yeah, I was being myself. But I like him, Nan. A lot! Like...more than anyone ever. More than Steve, the guy from that band that I dated after high school."
God I loved everything about him, from his tousled hair to the way his fingers danced across guitar strings. He'd had that bad-boy allure, all leather jackets and crooked smiles, that just sucked me in. And seriously, having a boyfriend that would dedicate a song to me on stage was hot. What wasn't hot? Finding him fucking some miniskirt wearing woman in the van. I thought I would never get over it, and for a long time I didn't. But the way I felt for Steve pales in comparison to my feelings now. It's like I didn't understand real attraction before Mav. And that's scary as hell.
Nan's eyes widen. "Well honey, that's a big fucking deal."
"I know! And because I like him so much, I'm acting all awkward and stuff all of a sudden. It's annoying. It's not me."
"You know, when your grandfather and I met, my thigh was black and blue for a month."
"What?"
She nods, her soft smile tinged with a touch of sadness. "I knew right away I was going to marry that man. But every time I tried to talk to him, it was like a bunch of bats started flapping around my mind. I couldn't gather my thoughts. So I'd pinch my thigh until I could think straight." She laughs and shakes her head. "George told me later that he fell for my slow, thoughtful conversation. He liked how much time and thought I put into my responses. He laughed and laughed when I explained what was going on."
