Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 119548 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 598(@200wpm)___ 478(@250wpm)___ 398(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119548 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 598(@200wpm)___ 478(@250wpm)___ 398(@300wpm)
“I guessed as much, given the vigour with which you threw yourself onto the sofa. Have you been watching Disney movies again? I seem to remember the princesses throw themselves around crying occasionally. Lots of dramatic flopping onto conveniently placed water fountains.”
“Darn, I should have made use of that fountain in the driveway,” I mused, then flapped my hands and sat up straight. “Stop distracting me. I find myself in the middle of a crisis.”
“Yet you haven’t bothered to elaborate on it.” He eyed me speculatively. “If it’s because I didn’t tell you I was back…”
“What, do you think I’m so co-dependent on you that I can’t live without you?” I raised my eyebrows. “You think ever so highly of yourself, my lord.”
He shuddered. “Don’t call me that. It sounds wrong when you say it.”
“You’re such a dick.” So, what did it say about me that merely being in his presence made me feel so much better? “I came here for comfort and advice, not your abuse.”
“Abuse? You’re the one who’s called me an arse, Grandpa, and a dick since you walked through the door.”
I paused. “Well, you should know better than to arrive home without telling me.”
His lips pulled to one side. “What are you, my wife?”
“Please don’t say such terrifying things.”
“Then why are you here acting like it?”
“Ugh.” I grabbed a throw pillow and tossed it across the coffee table at him. “I should have known you wouldn’t comfort me. What a rookie mistake.”
“You said it.” He picked up his glasses. “If you’ve changed your mind, can I go back to my crossword?”
I stared at him. I didn’t really care if he did or not. We’d been best friends for so long that just being around him offered me a certain level of comfort. We knew each other better than anyone, and that was how I knew he was doing this deliberately.
There was no way Harry hadn’t told him about Nana’s diagnosis.
Fred was simply waiting for me to bring it up. Until I did, he was treating me like normal.
“Fine. Do your dumb crossword,” I said, pulling my phone out of my bag. “I’ll browse Reddit until the last of my brain cells die.”
“I thought you said you were having a crisis.”
“I am, but your crossword seems to be far more important than whatever chaos is unfolding in my life. Who am I to take you away from your puzzles?”
“I’m glad you understand that your importance in my life is beneath that of my crossword.”
“I pity the woman who’ll become your wife.”
“So do I. Can you imagine what her life will become when she not only gets me as a husband, but also you as a third wheel?” His eyes twinkled. “Poor woman.”
I wrinkled up my nose. “This isn’t some weird poly relationship you’re cooking up, is it? I want no part in it.”
“As if.”
“For my part, I will hand you over to your wife and wave goodbye happily.” I crossed one leg over the other. “You’ll be her problem after you say your vows.”
He tilted his head to the side. “Maybe I should find you a husband. That would solve a lot of my problems.”
How ironic.
“It would solve mine, too,” I said forlornly. “Do you think you can whip up a pretend one?”
“What, like a husband is a cake?” He raised his eyebrows. “What on Earth could you possibly need a pretend husband for?”
“Well, I might not need a pretend one as much as I need a real one.” I scratched under my chin, averting my gaze.
“Delilah Elizabeth Peters. What mess have you gotten yourself into now?”
“Heh.” I turned back to him with a flat smile, and our eyes met.
His deep blue gaze was full of scepticism, but there was an edge of worry in his eyes that was very Fred. Even when he was scolding me, he was always worried about me.
It wasn’t my fault I tended to get myself into some sticky situations.
That said, my grandmother thinking I had a secret lover might have been the stickiest one yet.
“I… uh…” I lightly bit down on my thumbnail and smiled behind my hand. “I might have accidentally led Nana to believe that I have a secret boyfriend.”
3
* * *
DELILAH
Fred stared at me without saying a word.
I’d done it.
I’d finally shocked him into silence.
This day would undoubtedly go down in history as the one where I finally pushed him over the edge of confusion.
Given how dire my situation was, I had no business being this pleased.
“I told you I’d render you speechless one day,” I quipped. “Close your mouth, Frederick. You’re going to catch flies in a minute.”
He held his hand out, motioning for me to shut up, and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Say that again, Delilah.”
“Close your mouth, Frederick. You’re going—”
“No, not that. What you said before that.”