Page 27
“You use that number. Immediately. You call that boy and you ask if your grandmother can see his shoulders.”
“Gram! His shoulders?”
“Yes,” she says. “I believe you described them as boulders the last time you told me about him.”
I press my lips together. Zev is a large man—large and fit and sort of sculpted. It’s impossible not to notice. It’s not like I was trying to notice. You can’t not notice him—and all the sculpting. I’m talking Hercules physique. How does someone look into a crowd and miss Hercules? They don’t.
“I’m not asking him that,” I tell her.
“Can I?”
“Gram! No. I need your opinion. I told him I needed friends and that I’m not ready for anything more. But is this implying he wants more? I don’t even know the guy.” I swallow. “This gift is… presumptuous.”
“It’s sweet.”
“It’s too much,” I snap.
Gram peers over the front cover of The Invisible Boy. “It’s perfect.” She hands me back the book and fists one hand on her hip. “Well, if you don’t call him, I will.”
I roll my eyes. “You aren’t doing that.”
“Then be friends with the man. No one is saying you have to do more. Although, I don’t know what’s holding you back.”
“How can I date someone new when I still have feelings for Rob? I know what everyone said he did. But I can’t imagine that. I didn’t live that.” I peer down at my toes. “And before you say it, I also know that he’s married. It’s not like I’m going to try to win him back. But my feelings don’t have a shut-off switch. I need to get over him, and it’s going to take time.”
“Darling, the fact is, he did do those awful things. He broke your heart. And the sooner you come to the realization, the better. Don’t let him hold you back again.”
But I don’t know how to process this. I need to ask Dr. Case. I need some magical pill that will fix my broken head.
“All right.” Grammy claps her hands together. “I just need to run to the bathroom, and then I’m running errands. You can come with me, and we’ll talk more about the redhead.”
“His name is Zev.”
“I know it. I like it. I also like that from what you’ve said his hair is the shade of Ed Sheeran’s. He’d produce some beautiful great-grandchildren.”
“Gram! I believe I just said I’m not ready to date. No baby talk.”
She sighs. “What? The fact is, he will make beautiful babies. I didn’t say they’d be yours.”
“So, you aren’t saying that I should have babies with basically a stranger—that’s probably wise. Let’s maybe learn one or two things about a man before we start talking babies.”
“If you insist.”
Thirteen
I don’t hear from Noreen often. But I’m grateful when I do.
Noreen: The book was a nice touch.
Me: She liked it then?
Noreen: She did.
Me: Do you think she’ll use my number?
Noreen: Honestly, Zevulun. I have no idea.
Me: Fair.
