The Bet (The Bet #1)(27)

She wiped a stray tear and focused on the pavement. All she needed to do was get through today and tomorrow. And then she could go back to Seattle, back to her job at Starbucks and to finish school. She just needed to remember everything else she had waiting for her and forget Travis ever existed.

Five miles later, she returned to the house totally spent. Only to find Grandma Nadine strolling out the front door as if she was going on some hot date.

Was she really as ill as Jake said? She looked completely fine.

“Oh, doll! How are you this morning?” She winked. Oh gosh, she was referring to catching her and Travis last night.

“Um, Grandma, there’s something you need to know…”

“Oh posh, don’t you dare excuse your behavior, young lady. If anyone understands, it’s your dear old grandmother. Goodness, if I had your legs I’d be doing much worse. Now you just have your fun and be safe, dear.”

“But Travis and I aren’t, and Jake and I are, and…”

Grandma Nadine winked. “Our little secret, dear. I didn’t see anything. I know you love both those boys, in different ways of course. I think it’s about time you stop following in Jake’s shadow, and break out as your own woman and all that.”

Kacey swallowed the lump in her throat “We aren’t engaged.” She didn’t mean to blurt it out.

“Honey, I’m not stupid.” Grandma Nadine pulled her into a hug even though she was sweaty. “I’m also not sick,” she whispered. “Oh, I had one of those silly scares old people get when things stop working properly, but I’m right as rain.”

“But?” Kacey was torn between feeling happy and confused. “Why did you tell everyone that you were?”

Grandma Nadine’s eyes turned very serious. “Honey, it’s at the end of one’s life when a person realizes past mistakes made. One of my greatest mistakes was not forcing you to return home, to face your demons, to conquer your past.” Grandma lifted Kacey’s chin with her wrinkly hand. “Did Travis drive you by the restaurant?”

Kacey wanted to pull away, but instead she bit down hard on her lip to keep from crying. “No, no he didn’t. I don’t think I can see that place now, Grandma. Not after all those memories. And then when they died, I just wanted to sell the place, to leave everything.”

Grandma sighed. “I understand, honey, but don’t you think it’s time to return?”

“Return?”

Grandma pulled her into a tight hug. “Home, honey-girl. Time to return to where you belong.”

Kacey hugged Grandma as tightly as she could, allowing herself to relax as the smell of Grandma’s French perfume washed over her.

“I know my bastard-of-a-grandson ruined things. I may have threatened him to get you down here, but don’t for a second think that this little visit has anything to do with him. This visit — it’s for you.”

“I don’t understand.” Kacey looked down at her hands, everything seemed so confusing all of a sudden.

“You will.” Grandma Nadine pinched her cheek. “My dear, very soon you will understand why it’s important. Why all of this…” She pulled away and lifted her hands into the air. “…is important. This is life, and honey, you need to start living.”

Kacey nodded.

“Now…” Grandma Nadine straightened her suit jacket. “I have a date.”

“Grandma, it’s nine in the morning.”

“Who says you have to only date at night?” She pulled out a mangled tube of lipstick and formed an O as she coated it across her lips. “The way I see it…” She smacked her lips together. “Is if you date a person in the morning, that gives you all day to play.”

Too much information.

Way too much.

Was it possible to rewind conversations and forget they ever happened?

“I’m off.” Grandma winked and strolled across the street in six-inch heels.

Something was seriously wrong when your grandmother had better clothes than you. Note to self: Raid her closet later.

Fascinated, Kacey watched as Grandma knocked on Mr. Casbon’s door. It swung open wide and she was pulled in.

The drapes were closed. Thank God for small favors.

Kacey entered the house more in a daze than anything. Grandma wasn’t sick. She knew Kacey and Jake weren’t engaged, and she was encouraging Kacey to do what? Find herself? Why did she have to come to the one place packed with all her childhood memories to do so?

The one house, the one family who was almost closer to her than her own.

When she and Jake had broken up, it was as if her world had shifted. She went from spending every holiday at his house to making excuses about work obligations. All because of one stupid night. One careless night where she’d imagined she could be more to him than just his friend.

Oh, she’d been his girlfriend for a year before they had ever done anything, but it was more of an agreement. It had been a way for him to protect her from creepy guys, from the senior year of high school into their first year of college.

It had never meant anything.

They hadn’t ever acted on anything.

She swallowed back more tears, remembering the smell of the dorm room when they’d gotten back from the party that night.