Her eyes fly open and she grips my hand harder than a little old lady should. “London. What are you doing here?”
“Dad said you broke your hip. Are you okay?”
Grandma scoffs then does an eyeroll she’s practically famous for. “I didn’t break my hip. I’ve just got a big bruise. Your dad is a worry wart.”
I breathe a sigh of relief. “So you’re okay?”
“I’m perfectly fine. The doctor said I can leave as soon as your father gets up here with a wheelchair. He doesn’t want me to walk without one.”
“He’s right. You should take it easy for a few days.”
“Darling, my life is taking it easy. I want to live before I can’t any more.”
My eyes widen. “Grandma, don’t talk like that.”
“It’s true,” she says and starts sitting up. I help her the best I can. “Everyone spends so much time worrying about what they should or shouldn’t do with their life, they miss out on actually living.”
She’s right. I wouldn’t have admitted that two days ago, but being with Sean has unlocked a new side of me. A braver, more carefree part of me that yearns not only to live but to find joy in every aspect life has to offer. To take bigger risks and open up my heart to new adventures. Open up to Sean.
Grandma’s eyes lock onto someone in the doorway. “Andrew Herschel Larsen. Why did you tell London I broke my hip? I told you I was fine and not to worry her on her date.”
Dad’s face turns red. Is he embarrassed? My grandma is the only one who can do that to him.
“I didn’t tell her to come,” he says.
While that’s technically true, I can’t help but wonder if it was a ploy to get me away from Sean. Grandma didn’t break her hip; he would have known that when he called, so why did he say that? I’m about to address this when he scowls at me.
“That’s not the shirt you left in.”
Perhaps we can talk later.
Chapter 20
Sean
It’slate,butI’mwired. I didn’t get to finish my date with London, and now I can’t stop thinking of ways to get it back. Should I work out or do something to kill the extra tension?
Nah. I’ll just sit on the couch and mindlessly watch TV until something comes to me.
When I hit our hallway, I hear Trent outside the apartment talking to Karli. I’m about to shout a hello when I catch the subject of their conversation.
“Well, of course, I want to marry you,” Karli says.
I freeze and consider how one might turn themselves into a statue in the middle of the hallway.
“But you know I’ve been scared about this.”
Retreat. Retreat.
“I know,” Trent says. “I can wait. For as long as you need. But I had to ask.”
He asked her to marry him? She turned him down? Is this good? No, it’s bad. Right? I need answers.
The rest of their words are mumbled, and thankfully they haven't seen me, so I creep back down the hall. When I hit the stairs I sprint the rest of the way to the parking lot. I’m sure there’s something I forgot in my truck. Ten minutes later, I find it. A pack of gum. Knew I had one.
I return to the apartment. Trent and Karli are either gone or have moved inside. I’ll take my chances.
I make as much noise as possible as I search for the right key, unlock the door, and open it slowly.Veryslowly, in case I walk in on something precarious…again.
