Clearing my throat, I sit up straighter. “Enlightenment on what … exactly?”
“I noticed you didn’t come home last night,” she begins, her white eyebrows waggling.
Despite myself, heat rushes to my cheeks and I pat them down, as if somehow, it might keep the blush at bay.
“So, spill it,” she continues with a knowing glint lighting up her irises. “Why didn’t you come home last night? And don’t try to butter me up with some tall tale, young lady. This grandma knows better. I saw the way you’ve been mooning over that personal trainer of yours. What’s his name ... Adam?”
I sigh, sinking back into my chair. Geez, she always had a way of cutting right to the chase. “Yeah, Adam.”
My admission hangs in the air, and I brace myself for the inevitable barrage of questions.
Grandma leans in with unbridled curiosity. “So, did Mr. Muscles sweep you off your feet yet? Or should I be sharpening my pitchfork?”
I can’t help but chuckle. “No pitchforks needed, Grandma. He’s … he’s different.”
“Different, eh?” Grandma taps her chin thoughtfully. “That’s what they all say, dear. Before you know it, you’re knee-deep in gym socks and protein powder.”
I roll my eyes, a small smile tugging at my lips. “It’s not like that. We just ...connected, you know?”
Grandma nods sagely, though there’s a knowing glint in her eye. “Oh, I know all about ‘connecting.’ In my day, we called it?—”
“Grandma—” I cut her off, my cheeks flaming again. There’s only so much ‘enlightenment’ I can handle.
She laughs, a hearty, joyful sound that fills the room. “I’m just teasing you, dear. But seriously, is everything okay? You should have that after-sex glow. Instead, you look like?—”
Just then, my phone buzzes, derailing our conversation. I glance at the screen—it’s a text from Lily.
Carlie, we need to talk ASAP. Call me.
My heart sinks. This can’t be good.
I’ve only been gone fifteen minutes.
“Everything’s ...complicated,” I admit, standing up. “I’ve got to take this, Grandma. Thanks for the chat.”
She reaches out, grabbing hold of my hand and causing me to pull up short. “Carlie, dear, men are like books. Some are open and easy to read, while others have chapters that are more complex and take time to understand. But if he’s worth it, you’ll find a way to read between the lines.”
A smile flickers on my lips and I nod. “That’s one way to put it.”
But her words resonate with me.
Adam is definitely a book with hidden chapters … butso am I.
Grandma gives me a knowing nod as I step away, phone in hand.
I head upstairs to my apartment and take a seat on my couch while I dial Lily. My stomach twists itself into knots with each ring.
“Hi, Lily, it’s Carlie.” My voice quivers slightly as she picks up and I have no idea why.
“Carlie, thank God,” Lily’s voice is tinged with urgency. “Have you seen what’s happening on Adam’s Instagram?”
My heart skips a beat and my stomach full-on plummets. Instagram hasn’t been overly kind to us.
Did someone find out we were both at Nocté?
“No, what’s going on?” I breathe, clutching my phone close.
“It’s a mess. There are all these rumors swirling around about how he’s been using you to kickstart his new fitness biz. Now people are saying that he went to Jillian’s place this morning, trying to get back with her, or something. Were they dating?” Lily’s words come out in a rush, each one like a blow to my chest. “That’s what Anna was trying to text before you left. Had I known …”