Game Changer

by Rene Folsom

  “Why’d you show up there anyway? And how’d you even find me?” I questioned. I needed answers. I never, ever even let on to my whereabouts, or that I spent time with my grandmother at all. The only thing he knew was that I was unavailable for lunch.

  “You’re gonna think I’m a creep,” he responded, still not looking at my face as he spoke.

  “I already think you’re a creep. Now start talking,” I demanded. When he didn’t say a word, I leaned closer to him, grabbing his hand to let him know I wasn’t going to hit him… yet. “The worst that could happen is I deck you hard. You’ll survive it though. So spill. What was so important you had to track me down during a time I specifically said was off limits?”

  “I kinda asked around,” he admitted. “I just needed to see what was so important during your lunches each day. I honestly thought I’d find you shacking up with someone else or some crazy lifestyle choice you wanted to keep hidden. I really didn’t mean to intrude on something so private.”

  “Well, I wanted to know where the hell we were going with our relationship first before I introduced you to her. It’s important to me that I don’t disrupt her life unless absolutely necessary,” I explained, squeezing his hand so he’d look at me again.

  “So, she’s your grandmother?”

  I nodded. “She’s my life right now.”

  “And that slime ball of a man—my mortal enemy—you’re related to him?” he sneered. His hatred for the man would’ve been comical if it weren’t for the fact I detested him even more.

  “Not by blood, thank God. I wanted to tell you back at the charity gala, but considering we weren’t really dating then, I didn’t see it as something incredibly important to explain. Plus, the man acted like he didn’t even know me, which is par for the course,” I said, wishing I didn’t have to talk about the asinine piece of garbage named Jim Celeste. “He’s the only brother of my late mom’s ex-husband, if you can even follow that. My mom married and soon divorced Jim’s brother when I was only ten. It was a horrible year—one I wish I could forget. The only good thing that came out of that whole mess was my grams. She treated me as if I were blood long after everything went to shit.”

  “If you don’t mind my asking, why is she in that home? Is she unable to care for herself?” he asked, looking at me with sympathetic eyes, and I wondered if he wished he had family to care for.

  “Pfft,” I huffed, rolling my eyes in annoyance. “She wouldn’t be if it were up to me. Grams suffers from Alzheimer’s, which is why I visit her religiously every single day. She needs that normalcy in order to remember me. I wanted to care for her, especially since she has her physical health about her and just needs supervision. I wanted to do that for her. Have her continue to live with me. But Jackass Jim is in charge of all the legal stuff and finances. Since I’m not blood—hell, I’m barely considered family—I have no say in what happens. The only reason he comes to see her is to keep up appearances. He never talks to her.”

  “Man, and I thought I had it rough being enemies with the guy. You actually have to be civil with him?” Liam said with a chuckle, and I was grateful for the distraction.

  “Hah. I guess you’re right. But it’s not like he shows his face around there often,” I said, trying to drop the subject. I didn’t want to talk about my ex-uncle-in-law anymore. Just thinking about that relation gave me the heebeegeebees. “So, William Allen… what was so goddamn important that you had to follow me around like a lost puppy dog?” I asked, crossing my arms over my chest and quirking my eyebrow in question. I meant it as a joke, but as soon as I saw the startled look that crossed his face, a look that said he might either run or puke, I knew something was up.

  “Ahh, you’re gonna laugh at me. Either that, or you’ll get super pissed,” he said, running his fingers along the side of his cup as he tried to stall.

  “I promise, I won’t laugh.” Of course, I couldn’t really promise that. I’d laugh if he said something funny, that was for sure. And he’d already done enough to piss me off. Was this in retaliation for the damn DS?

  “I just wanted to see my Black Cat,” he said with a wink.

  And there it was.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Liam: Remove the Masks

  Sitting across from me was the most beautiful, blushing woman I’d ever laid my eyes on—her cheeks turning a flushed shade of pink at my mention of her costume the night of the masquerade was so adorable.

  “I didn’t think you’d remember me,” she whispered, barely speaking loud enough for me to hear over the bustle of customers behind me.

  “It actually took me a minute, but as soon as I got a glimpse of your tattoo the night we went and saw Back to the Future, I knew.” I didn’t want to admit to her it freaked me out. But if she had any memory at all, she’d remember how weird I acted.

  “You could’ve just told me that was what freaked you out that night. I thought I said something or did something wrong,” she said while chewing on the edge of her thumb nervously. I could tell she still had more to say.

  “Well, to be honest, I didn’t think you would’ve remembered me either. I’m sort of a sissy when it comes to rejection,” I admitted, hoping if I threw her a bone, she’d open up a bit more.

  “Could’ve fooled me, Phantom. You’ve been hard to shake since we first re-met in here a few weeks ago,” she said with a chuckle. Leaning in, she added, “And just so you realize just how memorable you are… I knew as soon as you kissed me at the charity gala. Plus, even if I was as slow as you, being at your place again would’ve tipped me off, right?”

  Sitting back in her chair, she folded her arms over her chest and sported a satisfied smirk, almost as if she enjoyed one-upping me in this game of memory. I should’ve thought about the whole idea she was in my bedroom again—that alone would’ve been a major tip off, and I didn’t even think of it.

  Damn, she’s right. I am slow.

  Before I could say anything in my defense, she spoke again and said, “I kinda freaked too though. As the evening went on, I actually got pissed you didn’t remember me. Seems a bit silly now that I think about it.”

  “Maci,” I said, breathing her name in a hushed tone as I leaned in close. “You have no idea how much I’ve thought of you since that New Year’s party. I haven’t been able to get you off my mind.”

  Her answering smile was all I needed to know we were back in good standing with each other. Her grin was interrupted all too soon as she glanced at her phone and started to stand up.

  “Crap, I have to go.” My face must’ve looked pitiful when she passed by me. Touching my cheek, she leaned over and grazed her lips over mine once. “Would you like to come with me?”

  Looking up into her gorgeous, green eyes, I needed to see if she sincerely wanted me to come or was just inviting me along because she felt bad. Oh, how I wished I could read minds. I saw nothing but hope staring back at me—whether she was hoping I’d say yes or no, I couldn’t quite tell.

  “You sure?” I asked. “I don’t want to intrude.”

  “I’m sure,” she said, another smile accentuating her cheeks. “Plus, you look really dapper today. Don’t want to waste all that fancy in a coffee shop, right?”

  “Damn, and I was just about to suggest I run home and change,” I joked as I stood and followed her through the doors. Grabbing my hand, she pulled me through a throng of people and to a parking garage just around the corner, leading the way to her car.

  *****

  The smell of cleanser mixed with food assaulted my senses as we walked through the doors and past the front desk. I felt a little odd just walking in, like I was intruding in someone else’s home, not to mention the large, soft-sided cooler Maci had me carrying. Hand in hand, Maci lead me down a hallway, and I suddenly felt overly nervous at the thought of meeting someone so important to her. I was even more freaked out that we might run into Big Jim.

  “Don’t worry. If he was here yesterday, we probably won’t see him aga
in for another week, at least,” Maci said, squeezing my hand just before stopping in front of a door.

  “How’d you know that’s what I was thinking?”

  “Because, you had a look of terror and anger on your face. You’re quite readable, Mr. Allen,” she said with a wink as she reached for the knob and began to turn.

  Inside sat the elderly woman I saw her with the day before. She was well dressed and impeccably groomed, sitting with her back to us and staring out the window. Hearing us enter, she turned slowly until she caught sight of Maci.

  “Oh, thank goodness you’re finally here!” she exclaimed, moving faster than I thought her frail body should as she stood and began walking toward us, reaching her arms out toward Maci as if her life depended on touching her.

  “I’m here, Grams. Always. And I brought a friend,” Maci said, releasing my hand and allowing her grandmother to cling to her with such desperation, it made me wonder if they were mistreating her here. Pulling out of the old lady’s arms, Maci held her elbow as she said, “Grams, I’d like you to meet Liam. Liam, this is my grandmother, Bernie.”

  Taking care, I held her hand in mine and brought it to my mouth. “Nice to finally meet you, Bernie. Maci has told me such good things.”

  “Oh, such a charmer,” she said, finally smiling for the first time since we walked through the door.

  “Here, Grams. Let’s sit and chat for a bit. I brought one of your favorite lunches today,” she said, leading her grandmother back to the chair she was sitting in when we first arrived. I totally didn’t think about the cooler containing lunch and inwardly wondered if I should excuse myself so they could eat in peace, especially since I didn’t bring anything for myself.

  After getting Bernie situated, Maci reached across the bed and grabbed the remote, turning off the television. She then sat in the only other chair at the table and pressed a few buttons on the radio there. Within moments, the soft, crooning voice of Frank Sinatra filled the room, and her grandmother’s face beamed with delight.

  Standing back up, Maci silently offered me her seat, to which I shook my head in refusal.

  “Liam, please sit,” she demanded in a soft tone while reaching out to grab the cooler off my shoulder. I hesitated. No way was I going to take her seat. I’d feel even more out of place than I already did.

  Without another word to me, Maci began singing Strangers in the Night along with Frank and Bernie, her voice so amazingly melodic, it was almost surreal. She busied herself with emptying the contents of the cooler, setting out three plates along with three sandwiches and several smaller containers in the center.

  Completely caught off guard, I sat down like she told me to and stared at the food she was setting out. I finally found my voice as I tugged on her shirt to get her attention. “You planned this, didn’t you?” I whispered.

  She never lost her spot with the lyrics as she continued singing and nodded her head, smiling and swaying to the music while setting the last of the contents, three water bottles, on the table. She propped a small straw into one, no doubt to make it easier for her grandmother, and I noticed the sandwich she put out for her, what looked to be chicken salad, was cut into smaller bits. Along with the few containers of fruit, our lunch was complete and looked so incredibly good.

  The song ended and another began just as Maci crawled her way onto my lap. “Hope you don’t mind. There are only the two chairs in here. I can sit on the bed over there if I start to break you.”

  “I definitely don’t mind,” I affirmed, giving her a light peck on the cheek and wrapping one of my arms around her waist.

  “This is so good,” Bernie said, her mouth half full with food. “Oh, you didn’t introduce me to your friend,” she added, dabbing her face with a napkin as she started to stand.

  “No need to get up, Grams,” Maci placated, proceeding to repeat the same introduction as before. She’d told me on the way here to be prepared for this, but it was still a bit shocking to witness. It seemed the only thing the woman could remember were her Sinatra lyrics. She had those down to a science, singing along with Maci the whole time we ate.

  When Maci saw her grandmother was done, she got up off my lap and helped Bernie stand. Joy lit up both their faces as they gently danced to the song Come Fly With Me.

  I honestly wasn’t one to get all sappy, but seeing how happy Maci made her grandmother had my eyes threatening to leak. You could tell they both cared for each other as if they were bonded by blood. The attention Maci so easily gave this woman was purely out of love. Even though I felt like an intruder, I was happy I got to see this side of her… and I couldn’t deny that there was a part of me that was very, very close to falling for Maci Layne—hard and fast.

  And I could already tell, the fall would either make or break a man like me.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Maci: Blanket Forts

  Knowing Grams had to get her nap soon, I took that opportunity to say my goodbyes, telling her I’d be back tomorrow to read to her. I didn’t want to read any of my works in progress today since Liam was around, so we had a lot of catching up to do.

  Liam was quiet as we walked to the parking lot. I wanted so badly to know what was on his mind, pick his brain a bit about the past two hours, and learn a little about what he was thinking—how he was mentally reacting to meeting my grandmother.

  Threading my fingers through his, I gently squeezed as we walked. The small smile he flashed was very obviously a mask, a way for him to hide what he was really thinking… really feeling. I wanted to pry, but the one question I hated the most was when people constantly asked what was wrong with me. If I didn’t hold my mouth just right, or react the way they expected, they would continually push me until there was actually something wrong. So, I kept my mouth shut and just let him process the whole experience in silence.

  As soon as we approached my Civic, I turned him around, pushing him up against the passenger side with a bit of force that even surprised me. Pressing my body to his, I hugged him. It wasn’t a sexual move. Instead, I wanted him to feel just how appreciative I was of him—of the fact that he was patient enough to sit there with me through the constant questions and confusing conversation my grandmother spat out.

  With a bit of hesitation, Liam finally wrapped his arms around me and returned the embrace, burying his face into my hair.

  “What’s this all about?” he asked, his voice muffled against my neck.

  “I’m just happy you got to meet her and grateful you were so patient with her—with me,” I said, my cheek pressing tightly against his chest. I could hear each breath that inflated his lungs, each beat of his heart. Everything felt so real, yet the surreal feeling of being in his arms was extremely overwhelming at the same time.

  “It was my pleasure,” he said, his deep voice rumbling against my ear, sending a delicious vibration through my soul. A kiss to the top of my head had me backing away and raising my eyes to meet his. “I love seeing how happy you are with her,” he added, his hand lightly brushing a strand of hair from my face.

  “She does make me very happy,” I admitted. Placing a soft kiss on his lips, once, twice, I finally pulled away completely and said, “Get in. Time to blow this joint.”

  Climbing in the car, I glanced at the clock on the dash and noticed it was half past two in the afternoon. With a devilish grin, I peered over at Liam and asked, “You need to be back at work?”

  “Unfortunately, yeah. I kinda skipped out immediately after a few important meetings and still need to go over a few things before another testing session tomorrow. Why?” The suspicious look on his face was well warranted, especially if he noticed the menacing look in mine.

  “I was just hoping you’d be up for some hump-day fun,” I joked, biting my lip with worry he’d reject. I wasn’t sure why I suddenly felt self-conscious with him. But it wasn’t exactly like we’d started out on the right foot with the whole confidence and trust factor.

  “Well, I’d love to take a ra
in check… or…” he said, trailing off as a thoughtful expression crossed his eyes. The look made my stomach flutter. The man really did get to me in the most delicious of ways.

  “Or?” I questioned, prompting him to keep going with his thoughts. Anything to drag out time with him.

  “You want to come check out nZone?” he asked, dipping his head a bit as he glanced over at me with boyish expression, almost begging for me to say yes.

  I probably had that oh-so-attractive deer in the headlights look, my head darting between looking at the road and his face. Was he serious? Did he really think I’d turn down an offer like that?

  “Hell yeah!” I blurted out, mentally fist-bumping the air and trying my best to keep my excited ass straight on the road. No need for accidents, especially when it would keep me from seeing the Taj Mahal of the gaming world. “Wait. If you have work to do, you don’t really have time to escort me around everywhere, do you?”

  He shrugged, as if it wasn’t a big deal. “I just have a few boring things to do, but nothing that’ll take up too much time.”

  “Well, I have a bit of work to do myself. Maybe I should be responsible like you and get shit done,” I said, turning onto the main drag where I knew nZone to be. I really didn’t want to turn down his offer, but considering he had stuff to get done, I suddenly felt like I’d be nothing but a distraction. “It sucks being an adult.”

  “I hear that. Being responsible is for the birds. I’d love to pitch a blanket fort and play on a handheld ‘till I go cross-eyed right now,” he said with a laugh.

  “Too bad I broke your DS. Fort gaming sounds like a blast right now.” I laughed with him before realizing I didn’t know exactly where I was supposed to be taking him. “Where are you parked?”

  “In the parking garage up ahead. I walked to the café,” he said, pointing to the parking garage entrance next to the nZone building. “Do you need to go into the office for your work or can it be done on your laptop?”