Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 76207 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 381(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76207 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 381(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
"Martin? He is hardly thirty-five years old. And I'm—"
"Older, not a monk," Wasp cut her off. "I bet he has a lady of the manor fantasy."
"Wasp, could you not try to hook my grandmother up? At least in front of me," I conceded when she raised a brow at me.
The rest of the afternoon went much the same way, the two of them bonding, Wasp pulling out a young, girlish side of my grandmother I had never known before, my grandmother slowly introducing Wasp to the very different kind of lifestyle we lived.
Far too soon, it was time for us to get back on the road again, my grandmother following us out onto the front stoop.
"It was so nice meeting you. You have my number. I am going to need you to call me as soon as you climb out of bed with your pool boy," Wasp demanded, giving my grandmother a smile before making her way to Wanda, giving me and my grandmother a moment alone.
"I like her for you."
"You should. You chose her," I reminded her, smiling.
"I have always had impeccable taste," she said, one of her hands going over the other, sliding off the ring on her left ring finger. "It's too soon, I know," she said, holding the ring up to inspect it. "But I want you to have it for when the moment is right."
"I can't take your engagement ring, Grandmother."
"You can. You will. Listen, this was never a symbol of great love for me. I think you were always mature enough to understand that. To know mine had never been a great love story. So I want this ring to have a second chance to be a part of a real love story, to be able to represent something that beautiful," she told me, reaching to slip it into my breast pocket. "Treat that woman how she deserves to be treated," she told me, pressing her hand to my cheek.
"I will," I told her, giving her a firm nod.
"You better."
I gave her a kiss on the cheek and made my way back to Wanda, finding Wasp already slipping out of her heels, flexing her feet.
"These shoes might have to retire. I'm pretty sure the only less strenuous job for heels other than sit-down-heels is casket-heels. And I'm not ready to go just yet," she told me, undoing her top dress button, not used to being so covered up. "I love her," she added, beaming at me. "I've never had a grandma. So even if things don't work out with us, I'm claiming her."
"I think I will be willing to share her. Even if she did betray me," I said, dropping down on the couch that acted as her passenger seat, making me ride sideways. But that was alright because I got to watch her the whole way without looking like a creep.
"Did she betray you, or did she give you the best thing that has ever happened to you?" she declared, pressing a hand drastically to her chest.
"I guess you have a point there," I agreed, feeling the weight of the ring in my pocket, the responsibility attached to it. Suddenly, there was no doubt in my mind that I would use it, that I would give it to her, that we would give it the legacy it deserved.
This was the woman for me.
With her crazy hair and chipped nails and her absolute inability to be a gracious winner in card games.
She was the one.
I hadn't even been looking for her, but I'd known it the moment I saw her. And each day after had only reinforced that initial thought that there was something special about her.
I couldn't have known at the time, of course, that she would come to mean as much as she had.
But there was no denying it.
This was the woman who was going to wear my ring, carry my name, tour the world with me, build a future with me.
"Okay. Where are we headed?" she asked, grabbing the wheel. "I am ready for a new adventure."
"We can have all the adventures you want, darling, but not in this thing."
"How dare you insult Wanda!" Wasp hissed, giving me small eyes.
"Actually, Wanda is fine. The problem, I'm afraid, is you. I fear we will both grow old, die, and turn to ash before we get to our next destination."
"I don't drive that slowly," she insisted.
"Do you want me to call Raven for confirmation? I asked, reaching for my phone.
"No," she grumbled, knowing I was right. "Okay. Fine. I will drive her back to Navesink Bank. I can probably convince my brother to store her for a while. But we are going to take her out again."
Not if I could help it.
We were going private or first class all the way.
I would happily use naked persuasion should I need to.