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“You look kickass, Brenna,” Grammy says, appearing over my shoulder.
I give her reflection a toothy smile before spinning and gathering her up in my arms, squeezing the stuffing outta her. Closing my eyes, I try to commit this to memory. Every soft part of Grammy’s hug. All the bony bits along her spine that dig into my chubby forearms. The way her cotton candy hair tickles my nose with every inhale. All the things that make up my Grammy.
“I love you, sweet cheeks.”
“I love you too, Grammy,” I sniffle.
“Hey,” Grammy says, slightly moving me back a little so I can stare into her bright blue gaze, “You are strong and amazingly kind and you have a good man who loves you. You also have that little extra soul inside ya, my girl.” She cups my cheek, her thumb stroking away a tear that escaped. “I will always be with you. In here,” she taps my noggin with her finger, “ and in here.” She pokes a bony finger to my chest. “You will never be alone, Brenna.”
Sniffing up my runny nose, I blink away the moisture in my eyes and pull my shoulders back. “You’re right.” Grammy grins at me and I roll my eyes. “You’re always right.”
“Of course I am. I have no idea why you and Gabe underestimate my rightness sometimes.”
A snort flies out of me and Grammy flits away just in time for Gabe to step into the room, a towel wrapped around his hips showing off those grooves that the men on Grammy’s book covers like to show off along with their chiselled abs.
I groan, my head falling back onto my shoulders. “Why do you have to be so hot? I’m hungry for wiener now,” I whine stomping over to him.
“Oh, no you don't. Bren, I’m a husk of a man after what we did last night.”
I raise a brow. “Are you saying no to a little friendly blow job?”
He stares at me. “Bren. There is nothing friendly about your mouth.” I let out an unladylike snort. “Can we maybe take a raincheck? If we both hit the electrolytes hard I think we’ll be able to celebrate with my favorite number.”
“Oohhh 69. Can you be on top?”
He stares at me like I’ve just asked him to take a dump on my chest. “Bren, baby, a gentleman never tops a 69.”
I sigh, “Pity.”
Gabe rolls his eyes and then decides to tease me by drying his body sensually. Or maybe it’s normal drying but I’m horny.
“Bren, what time do you work today?” Grammy asks from wherever she is in the apartment.
Whenever she wants to give Gabe and I space she tends to either disappear completely, or take over the couch with her romance books.
“Shoot! In five. I better get ready to head down.”
“Ah, not without me you’re not!” Gabe growls, pulling on his jeans.
“OK. Well, I’ll go get my tote ready for the day and meet you at my vulva.”
Ha. good one.
“Thank you, Frank.”
I throw lipgloss into my tote, then head to the cupboard under my kitchen sink. Looking at my very well stocked emergency box I throw matches, lighter fluid, a really big flashlight and a few other bits and pieces that I think will come in handy. I may not have been a Girl Scout, but I do like to be prepared.
“You ready baby?” Gabe calls out, stomping into the hall.
“Yup!” I call back. I give Grammy a decisive nod as she follows me into the hall. “As ready as I’ll ever be.
***
“Is it me, or is this boring?” I whine as I lean on the counter, resting my chin in my hand.
“Were you expecting something more exciting than serving our usual customers?” Starla asks as she sits on a bar stool swinging her legs back and forth.
She’s wearing black fishnet tights over neon orange ones today and she looks super cool. And super Halloweeny. Which isn’t a bad thing, but it reminds me that I have a mission. I kinda thought that if I was lucky Percy would just come into the coffee shop and then we could get rid of him early and then enjoy the parade later tonight. But alas, it would seem that Percy is going to go for peak creepiness.
