Page 188 of The Way I Hate Him
Hattie chuckles. “Oh, I will.”
“Good.” Gran takes a deep breath. “Well, I am glad to see that smile on my grandson’s face. Not sure I’ve seen a genuine smile in a while. It means you’re doing something right, Hattie Rowley.”
“She is,” I say, giving her a squeeze. “I like her a lot, Gran.” I kiss Hattie’s cheek, and that perfect blush of hers creeps out over her cheeks.
“Yes, I can see that. He’s had quite the thing for you for a while now. Told me you were off limits a little bit ago, but it doesn’t look like you werethatoff limits.”
Hattie chuckles. “We had some complications to work through, but I’m glad we figured it out because as much as I don’t like to inflate his ego, I’ve liked him for a while too.”
“Then it’s settled.” Gran claps her hands together. “You’re going to get pregnant.”
Jesus.
Christ.
* * *
“You good, Gran?”I ask as I sit her in a chair that overlooks the party at the inn.
“Yes, this is great. Just keep Ethel away from me, or else she’ll find my cane up her butt.”
“She’s been properly warned,” I say, which was an awkward conversation to have with Ethel. I just told her Gran was not in the mood for conversation, and unless she wanted to have an old lady go off during her event, just stay away. Ethel understood, thankfully.
“Can I get you anything to drink?”
She shakes her head as she holds her cane, staring out toward the ocean, and I can tell this is exactly what she needs. I wish she’d come out of her apartment more, and maybe that’s on me. Perhaps I need to encourage her more. The moment I told her I was taking her to this event, she didn’t put up much of a fight. I think the stairs are a challenge, though, and I’ll look into a chair that will get her up and down the stairs without a problem. It’s the least I can do.
“Okay, well, holler if you need anything, okay?”
“Hayes?” She reaches for my hand. I squat in front of her. “I like Hattie for you.”
“I like her too, Gran.”
Cupping my cheek, she says, “Are you okay? I know you can self-sabotage when things are good.”
“I don’t self-sabotage.”
“You do, dear. When you got your first record deal, you started doing drugs. When you hit the Billboard, you decided to test your luck on your bike and got in a huge accident that could have ended your life. With your first stadium tour, you decided to drown your days in alcohol because your fame skyrocketed. You’ve found a way to drown, numb, and tamp down your success. Hattie is a success, and I don’t want you to do the same thing.”
Wow, from insane pregnancy to dying talk to this. Leave it to Gran to be able to bring in the serious tones when needed.
I roll my teeth over my bottom lip as I glance over at Hattie. She’s twirling around with Mac out on the lawn, blowing bubbles. “In the back of my mind, I do fear I might fuck it up.”
Gran forces me to look at her. “Don’t put that fear in your head. You are right for her. You deserve her.”
“Do I?” I ask softly. “The only love I’ve truly had in this world is yours. I was raised to think I wasn’t important enough, good enough. You’re the only one who has loved me.”
“For good reason.” She grips my cheek tighter. “Because you bring light to this world, Hayes. I don’t care what your father said to you on his way out the door. I don’t care what your mother said to you when you were seeking out her unnecessary approval. You deserve the world, Hayes. You deserve the good. You deserve the love. Hattie is everything I could ask for you. Recognize that and hold on to it.”
I nod. “I’m going to, Gran.”
She softly smiles and strokes my cheek. “She’s so beautiful. Witty. She joked right along with me. And I can see the way you look at her. You love her, don’t you?”
I don’t even have to think about it as I say, “I do. It happened quick, but I love her.”
“Have you told her?”
I shake my head. “No. It’s too soon.”
