Page 43 of Tiago
My grandfather’s eyes widen, and then he starts chuckling.His body shakes from the effort to stifle his reaction.He covers his mouth with one hand, but he can’t stop.
It’s contagious.I start laughing, too.
“You’re serious?”he finally asks.“You’re not just saying that to make me like him?Because Idolike him, Ray.He makes it impossible not to like him.But he’s forty-four years old.I struggle to grasp him not wanting to, uh, have sex.”
I sigh, containing my giggles.“I’m not saying he’s never had sex.He just won’t sleep withme.He’s actually kind of using sex as a bargaining chip to get me to marry him.”I might as well be blunt.Besides, I could use some advice.
There have been a few times when I’ve been alone with Claire, but not for long.The men always barge in eventually.I like Claire, and I know we will be close like sisters.In the coming months and years, we’ll get to know each other better and share stories about our maddeningly bossy brothers.
But Claire is newly pregnant, and Ryder won’t leave her side for long, so I can’t pick her brain.Not to mention, she might not be any help anyway.After all, she married Ryder two weeks after she met him.How could she advise me to wait a while?
My grandfather looks shocked for a moment, but then he relaxes a bit and rubs his chin.“He’s said that?”
“A hundred times.”
“You’ve known him a week.”
“I’m super aware of that.It seems like years sometimes.I’ve been with him non-stop.”
“And you love him?”
I slowly smile.I can feel my face heating.“Yeah.I do.”
My grandfather smiles, too.“I’m going to tell you something I’ve never told you before.”
I cock my head to one side.He has a secret?
“I married your grandmother four days after we met.”
I gasp.
He nods.“Yep.I knew she was the one as soon as I met her.I asked her to marry me before the end of our first date.She balked for about a day, but I got my ring on her on day four, and she made me the happiest man in the world for twenty years.I knew I would never love another woman, so I never even tried.She was my world, and I haven’t regretted our hasty wedding for one second.I know she didn’t either.It sucks that she had to leave this Earth so young.I wasn’t ready.I was depressed and in a funk for a long time, but then you showed up.You brought me back to life.I’m so grateful you came into my world and brightened it up for twenty-six years.I’m sorry your mother couldn’t find a way to stay sober and fit you into her life, but I owe her for giving you to me.I love you to pieces, Ray.And I want the world for you.If you feel that heart-pounding love I felt with my Amelia, grab onto it and don’t let it go.You never know how long you get to be on this Earth.Don’t waste a minute overthinking things.Don’t worry about what other people might think.Marry him if that’s what you want.I’ll stand by your side.”
Tears are running down my cheeks.I don’t realize it myself until I suddenly sob.When he finishes, I jump up and go to him as he stands.I throw myself at him and hug him so tightly.“Thank you,” I whisper.
Grandpa rubs my back and hugs me fiercely.“I hope I helped.I didn’t mean to make you cry.”
I let out another sob-hiccup and lean back to wipe my eyes.“I don’t want to leave you here alone.”I mean that.It makes me feel bad.
“Oh, child.You have to move out eventually and live your life.I’ll be fine.I’m fit as a fiddle.And you won’t be going to Alaska.You’ll just be a few miles away.”
I sniffle and hug him again.It’s like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders.It’s not as though I didn’t think he would give his blessing.It’s more that I haven’t allowed myself to fully ponder the idea of really marrying a man I met last week.Now that it’s out in the open…
Am I seriously considering getting married to Mr.Bossy Pants?
As I lean back and wipe away the moisture from my eyes, there’s a knock at the door.I twist to look in that direction, wondering if Tiago forgot something.Assuming that’s the case, I don’t hesitate to hurry toward the door and open it.
My breath hitches when I find Silvia standing on my porch.She has her arms crossed, a hip cocked, and a furrowed brow.“How old are you anyway?”she asks before I have a chance to fully react to her presence.
“None of your business.”
My grandfather steps up next to me.“Who’s this?”
Silvia jerks her gaze to my grandfather.“Well, fuck me.Is this your dad, or do you sleep with every older man in Wilde?”
I flinch.What a bitch!
“Excuse me?”Grandpa steps slightly in front of me.“Who the hell are you, and why didn’t anyone teach you any manners?”
