“No. I’ll probably need to rest. Even though it was a good day, I can tell I’m going to be tired by the end of the week.”
“Eh, you’ll get used to it.” Beth grinned. “Listen, Lottie and I meet up every Saturday afternoon to walk around the reservoir to burn some calories. Would you like to join us?”
Lottie’s heart began to slam in her chest. Her mind quickly formulated plans on how to murder Beth for asking him along. She didn’t need him to see her in her skank clothes with her hair pulled into a ponytail wearing practically no makeup. She gulped, unable to speak as a lump formed in her throat. He’s surely in good shape, and he and Beth would probably decide to jog the reservoir instead of walking it. He’d see her struggling to breathe and moving slow as molasses while her thighs slammed together in protest. Oh yeah, she was definitely going to murder Beth.
Grant nodded. “You know what, I think I’d like that.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Would you mind if I invited Nana along? She could use some exercise, and a walk around the reservoir might do her a world of good. I’d also like you to meet her.”
If he brought his Nana, he wouldn’t want to be jogging around the reservoir. Yes, Lottie was sure she’d be able to keep up with an elderly woman. She perked up in her seat. “I’d love it if she came along.”
“Yeah,” Beth agreed. “Bring her. The more the merrier.”
“Let me write down my phone number for you.” Grant pulled out a pad of sticky notes from the desk and scribbled his number on it. He handed it to Beth. He smiled at Lottie and wrote on a second. “May as well give it to both of you.”
Beth took the second sticky, walked over, and stuck it to Lottie’s forehead. “Put that in your phone.” She walked back over to the desk and swiped the sticky pad. “Here’s my number and Lottie’s.” Beth scribbled the numbers down. She turned and raised her eyebrows at Lottie. “Welp, I better get home. Michael has a night flight tonight, and I wanna spend a little bit of time with him before he’s off.”
“Yeah, I better get going, too.” Grant stood, picking up his briefcase. “I’ve got to get to a dental appointment. Filling.” He frowned.
Lottie pulled her bag up to her shoulder, tucking the sticky note safely inside her grade book. The trio walked into the hallway, pausing while Grant locked his door, and headed off down the hall together. Dan Cooley waved at Grant from the office and motioned him to come inside.
“Looks like you’re stuck here a little longer.” Beth waved to him as he headed into the office.
“Bye, ladies.” Grant waved.
“Bye.” Lottie smiled and waved.
Once outside the door, Lottie turned to Beth. “Why did you invite him to the reservoir? I’m not sure if I’m going to poison you or mail you pipe bomb, but it’s probably going to be one of the two.”
“Because you like him, and he likes you. And I know you, you’ll never make a move. You need a little encouragement to get things going.”
“But the reservoir? I don’t need him seeing me without make up and a sweaty red face right away. That’s going to do anything but help me.”
“Oh, shut up. You look pretty with no makeup.”
“No, I’m hideous. I have the worst skin on the planet.”
Beth stopped in her tracks and turned to Lottie, grabbing her shoulders. “Then you don’t see what I see.”
Lottie’s eyes stung and tears quickly threatened to spill from the rims. Beth pulled her in close and hugged her.
“I just want you to be happy, Lot.” Beth rubbed her back and then pinched her butt.
Lottie pinched Beth’s butt back. “You’re such a closet taco lover.”
“I only love yours.” Beth backed away and winked at Lottie.
Lottie wiped a tear that had fallen down her cheek. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Yes, you will.” Beth jumped into her Jeep.
Lottie watched her pull away then climbed into her car, stopping for a moment to look in the mirror, crinkling her nose. She didn’t see what Beth could possibly think was beautiful about her, especially with no makeup. “I hate my skin,” she muttered as she looked way, buckled up, and put the car in gear.
As she drove out of the parking lot, she could see Grant and Dan walking out of the building together. Grant must’ve said something funny because Dan doubled over laughing as he tried to put the key in the door. Lottie swerved when she finally peeled her eyes from Grant as she nearly drove up onto the curb. Her face flushed just as red as if she had and they’d noticed.
Lottie drove straight home, determined to cook something healthy for dinner rather than grabbing the fast food she’d been chowing on almost every evening since she started living alone. Week after week she’d bought bags of ready-to-eat salad at the grocery store but had forgone it for a burger and fries, only to throw it away every Saturday morning once the brown juice collected in the corner of bag. “Next week,” she’d always promise herself as she plopped it in the trashcan, knowing full well when she put a fresh bag in her cart on Sunday that it would meet the same tragic fate.
Not this week, she told herself. She was going to eat it today. And she was going to start shedding those extra pounds she knew she’d packed on since David walked out. Oh, why couldn’t she be one of those people that neglected eating when they were feeling low? But no, she was the opposite. She’d mindlessly filled her face. Not once had she stepped on the scale—but the way her clothes were fitting her, she could guesstimate that she’d gained somewhere between five to ten pounds. Seven. She’d assume she’d gained seven and wouldn’t step on the scale again until she knew she’d lost at least ten.
If she stepped on the scale now, she’d probably leap off and head straight for the ice cream section of the supermarket. “Why bother dieting now?” she’d tell herself as she stuffed a sweet, blue spoonful of birthday cake ice cream in her mouth. The thought of it made a drip of drool fall from her lip and onto her lap.
Piglet.
Disgusted, she shook her head and sucked in a deep breath. Determined, Lottie knew she had to get back on a downward weight trajectory if she was ever really going to shake free from the divorce-town slump she was sliding deeper into. The other night as she folded up into her reading chair, without pants—another habit she’d adopted since living alone—the tip of her stomach touched her bare thighs and completely grossed her out. There was no way she’d allow herself to become one of those women whose stomach could sit on their lap. Then it wouldn’t be long before her arms would barely reach across her gut to lock around it at the wrists. Or maybe she’d have to buy her shelf-to-trash salads while riding a motorized cart, stomach hanging between widely spread legs, nearly skimming the bottom of the cart.
Lottie shook her head as she drove by the row of fast food restaurants that had pulled her in like Pavlov’s dog on regular, after-work basis. She gripped the steering wheel tight, almost as though she were worried her car had become just as programmed as her stomach that grumbled in protest as she rode by. Why did cheap, fattening food have to be so damn delicious? Thank the Lord Jesus above that Happy Donuts was closed. She could go for one of those powdered sugar, custard-filled ones right now.
She straightened her back as she turned off the fast-food laden streets. No, she was going to be a rabbit-food girl now. No Happy Donut or delicious burgers or tacos allowed until that ass was ten pounds lighter and her tummy no longer resembled bread dough.
Lottie pulled in the driveway and walked into the house, her phone buzzing in her purse. Shaking her head, she put the keys in the door. Beth was ready to grill her over Grant sooner than she thought. “Damn, Beth. I’m not even in the door yet,” she muttered. Tossing her keys in the bowl on the table near the door, she kicked off her shoes and leaned her tote against the wall.
Turning to the side, she smoothed her stomach as she looked in the hall mirror. “You’re not eating until an appropriate dinner time, either.” Maybe she’d take Beth up on her offer to join her at the b
ase gym every evening for spin class. She always did enjoy riding bikes. How much different could it be?
She scooped the stack of papers to be graded and her grade book from her tote and headed to the couch, ready to get everything accomplished so she could make it to the spin class that evening. It was worth a try.
After flopping onto the couch, Lottie peeled Grant’s number off the inside page of the grade book and stared at his writing. She traced her fingers along his name and number. A smile tugged at the corner of her lips. She stuck it to the arm of the couch and graded the quizzes and homework pages she needed to get to. Once finished, she padded down the hall and changed into her workout clothes, washed her face, and pulled her hair into a ponytail. All her work done, clothes on, she had no excuse not to go to the class tonight.
She fished in her tote for her phone to text Beth back, who was sure to be happy that she was joining her for spin so she could grill her in person. Lottie’s heart jumped into her throat when she saw it wasn’t Beth who had texted her. It was the number she recognized from the sticky note with a message.
Grant: Hey, Lottie, it’s Grant. Just sending you my number in case you lost it.
She hugged the phone to her chest, heart-pounding, now excited to go to spin class. Lottie immediately sent a text to Beth.
Lottie: Joining you for spin tonight. Want me to pick you up?
Chapter Nine
Grant
Grant’s stomach flopped. He knew it was something he shouldn’t have done—according to the bro code—but he couldn’t stop thinking about her.
We’re both teachers. It’s natural to make sure she has my number in her phone.
He dropped his phone into his lap. Would she think he was pathetic? He texted the moment he pulled into the parking lot of the dentist’s office, the place he’d first set eyes on her. He wished it was a better memory and one that cast a more favorable light on him, but he was just happy they’d met at all. She probably wasn’t even home yet.
Oh, well. What’s done is done.
Before shoving his phone into his bag, he turned the ringer on. If she did text back, he didn’t want to miss it. Even though he’d have a mouth full of dental appliances, he still wanted to know if there was a reply.
After his appointment, he drove home. He pulled his keys from the ignition and headed toward the front door. Nana’s white hair was visible in the front window. Clearly, she had been watching for him to get home. He turned the knob—which was once again unlocked—and swept inside.
Nana came bursting through the kitchen entrance carrying a cake covered in lit candles. “Happy first day as a school teacher. I’m so proud of you!”
Grant grinned and shook his head.
“Make a wish!”
“Does that work on first-day-of-work cakes?”
“Why shouldn’t it?”
“Well, all right then.” Grant made a wish and blew out the candles.
Nana smiled and cheered. “You got ‘em all. What did ya wish for?”
“I can’t tell you or it won’t come true.”
“You’re right, but if you wished for cake before dinner, it’s gonna come true. We’re gonna eat this cake, then I’m taking you out, my sweet boy.” Nana placed the cake on the kitchen counter, licking the frosting from each candle before plunking them into a bowl. She handed him one.
Grant licked the frosting from the candle. “Mmm.” Homemade cream cheese frosting. And hers was like no other he’d had since leaving home. He closed his eyes and shook his head. “Another, please.”
Nana pulled one out but licked it herself.
“Come on, Nana. Don’t hog ‘em all.”
“What? I made it.”
“For me.”
Nana pulled out another candle and handed it to him. “It’s not like you’re not going to eat a whole slice soon, ya know?”
“I could say the same for you.” Grant licked the candle and plunked it into the bowl. “Okay, I’m gonna go put my stuff away, and I’ll be back for a big slice of that cake.” Grant kissed Nana on the side of her head and quickly kicked off his shoes before scooping his bag from the hall floor and heading into his room. Grabbing his phone, he clicked it on to see if he’d missed any messages. Maybe he didn’t have the ringer turned up loud enough.
Nothing.
What an idiot. She’s going to think I’m desperate and annoying.
Grant padded into the bathroom and stared at himself in the mirror. Did the gray hair at his temples make him look older than he was? Probably. Especially with the wrinkles that peppered the skin around his eyes. He shook his head. Why did he suddenly care so much? He hadn’t given his aging looks a thought before, but suddenly, he was seeing everything that she might be seeing when she looked at him. He hardly knew her, yet what she thought mattered more than any of the women he’d been seeing back in Tulsa.
Grant washed his hands, took one more glance at the mirror, and headed out to the dining room. Nana sat at the table with her already half-devoured slice of red velvet cake. One waiting for him sat with what was clearly a finger scoop of frosting stolen from the top. “Oh, come on, Nana, really?’
“You snooze, you lose.” She smiled before shoveling another big bite of cake into her mouth.
“I was only gone for a second. Besides, you’re the one who always made me wash my hands before dinner when I was a kid.”
“This isn’t dinner. This is cake, and cake waits for no man.” Nana stuck out her finger to steal another swipe of his frosting.
Grant pointed his fork at her. “Don’t think I won’t stab you. Frosting theft is a serious offense in these parts.”
Nana grinned. “So, tell me how your first day went. Did the kids tie you up?”
“Have more faith in me than that.” Grant shoved a bite of cake in his mouth. The cocoa sweetness mixed with the cream cheese made him close his eyes for a moment, and childhood memories seemed to rush through him in a flash.
Nana was smiling at him when he opened his eyes. “Good?”
“So good.” Grant wrapped his arm around her and squeezed her. “You’re an amazing woman, Nana.”
“Tell me something I don’t know.” Nana shoved him in the ribs.
“Here’s something you don’t know—we’ve been invited to go for a walk around the reservoir on Saturday afternoon, and I accepted the invitation.”
“The reservoir? Well, who invited us?”
“Two of the women I work with. Lottie and Beth.”
Nana eyed him for a moment as she chewed a piece of cake. “Would either of them be the one you told me about the other day? From the dentist?”
“Yes. Lottie. And I know what you’re going to ask. No. She’s not married. Well, she wasn’t wearing a ring, and she told me they weren’t together anymore. He’s living in Hawaii.”
Nana tilted her head. “Well, I’m looking forward to meeting this girl. I’ll find out the whole story.”
“Be nice, Nana. Promise?”
“When did I say I wasn’t going to be nice? I’m skilled in the social graces. I know how to find out all the information I want while wearing a smile. And you know, as old as I am, I’ve learned to trust my gut more than anything when meeting someone new. Besides, it’s my job as your nana to make sure she could be deserving of someone as wonderful as you. Now would you pop into the kitchen and get your ol’ nana some more milk? I should’ve just brought it to the table.”
“Sure thing.” Grant hopped up and scooted around the corner and pulled the milk from the fridge. He returned and filled her glass. “Where’d you want to go for dinner tonight?”
“You know, I thought we might go to Meers. I was thinking about a cheeseburger earlier, and drool actually plopped right off my lip onto my lap. Either I’m really hungry for a burger, or you’re going to have to drop me off in one of those nursing homes for drooling old bitties that are in constant need of someone wiping their chin.”
“Well, that’s definitely not the case
. Meers sounds great. It’s been a long time since I’ve had one of their burgers.”
Nana placed her fork on her empty plate and gulped down the last of her milk. “Well, my boy, I’m gonna go sleep off a cake coma before dinner. Officially, all I do is eat, sleep, and poop. I’m once again a baby.”
“Don’t think I’m changing your diapers.” Grant winked at her.
She placed her hand on his shoulder to help herself up from the table, cackling at his joke. “You ol’ rascal. I better watch what I say, or you really will stick me in one of those homes for helpless Q-tips.”
“I’d never do that, Nana.”
“I know.” She tapped his shoulder and squeezed his cheek before heading off to the bedroom.
Grant finished his cake, put the milk away, cleared the table, and washed the dishes before heading back in his room and checking his phone.
Nothing.
Grant flopped onto the bed, opened his bag, and pulled out the lesson plan that the previous teacher had laid out for rest of the week. He’d actually have to start teaching at some point, but Lottie was right; it was worth it to take the time to get to know the kids today. He was sure he could build the missing lesson into the days remaining.
He tossed the notebook aside, sank down into the pillow, and closed his eyes. A cake coma sounded good. His mind drifted to the shy smile that creeped onto Lottie’s face at lunch and the way she’d always tuck her hair behind her ear when her cheeks flushed with a pink that matched her lush lips.
***
Grant’s eyes fluttered. He shook his foot. “Brutus, knock it off,” he mumbled and rolled over onto his side. A tickling on his foot roused him again. He shuffled his feet and pulled them under the covers. The covers rose up off his foot, he heard a giggle, and something once again tickled his foot. He pushed up onto his elbows. “Brutus!”
Looking around the room that wasn’t his Tulsa bedroom, he began to remember he was in Nana’s house and that Brutus had been gone for nearly a year. Scratching his head, he looked around the dark room. A giggle spilled up from the end of the bed, and an old hand creeped toward his foot again. “Nana?”
Easy Love Page 7