20. Chapter 20 #2
For fuck sake.
This was a bad idea.
I know because that knot in my stomach, otherwise known as jealousy, pools in my stomach; what I would’ve given to have someone like this woman in my life growing up. Brought up memories I usually refused to acknowledge when I mentally slap myself, bringing myself back to earth.
The last thing I want is to make a bad impression on someone of her stature, so I clear my throat and introduce myself.
“Good evening, ma’am. I’m Oliv-” But I can’t finish the sentence; instead, I notice how rigid her body turns seconds after recognising me, flashing the whites of her eyes. I had been so lost in my thoughts that I hadn’t noticed her standing there in shock.
It occurs to me for the third time that this was a mistake when I hear Luna ask who it is, probably wondering who had made her grandmother freeze like this. Her voice is also what snaps the elderly lady in front of me out of her daze.
“Surly Bastard.”
That, of course, is the moment when one of my employees, who I had forgotten was related to Luna, appears behind Gran with a cautious hand on her stomach. Sharing the same shocked expression as Luna’s grandmother.
“M-Mr. Walters,” she stutters while I register the name Luna’s grandmother just referred to me as, and store that for later as I turn to Macy.
“Good Evening, Mrs Jackson. I’m here to take Theo…
and Luna home.” I recite, being thrown off by the sound of footsteps, bracing myself for it to be Luna, but it turns out to be a slightly taller, male version of her who steps around the door as I was speaking, resting a hand on Macy’s back.
He must be her husband, Luna’s older brother.
I remember reading about him during Nigel’s background check.
“Oliver Walters, it’s nice to meet you.” I confidently extend my hand towards him, but quickly regret it as he looks down at my hand, with a facial expression that tells me everything I needed to know.
He didn’t like me one bit, and I had no idea if it was due to what his wife or Luna could have said about me, but I was pretty sure it was a mixture of both by what he said next.
“…yeah, I’ve heard all about you.” His tone was laced with irritation at my presence, but it disappeared quickly after Macy leaned forward, then back, elbowing him in his gut.
He does his best to show it didn’t hurt in front of me, but his slight crouch forward is the perfect indication of how powerful a blow it was.
As I begin to draw back my hand and make a mental list of the regrets I’ve had since showing up here, it’s grabbed by someone with a delicate yet strong hold as Luna’s grandmother shakes my hand firmly and offers me a kind smile.
“Pardon, mine and my grandson’s poor welcome. It is nice to finally meet you, Oliver. I’m Maggie, but everyone just calls me Gran.” She pauses as if she’s taking me in to study every aspect of me.
Suddenly, I’m not regretting showing up in a suit; it made me feel less naked under her gaze of a microscope.
“Won’t you come in, dear?” she asks sweetly, stepping aside.
“Thank you, ma’am,” I reply with a slight nod, watching Macy tug her husband out of the way so I can bend down and step through the door.
Once on the other side, I briefly look around the tiny flat with the kitchen straight ahead, a bedroom and bathroom to my right and the rest ended up a blur as Luna and I make eye contact once I glance to the left.
Her facial expression matched her family members at the reveal of my presence as I glanced down to see Theo sleeping soundly in her lap, and she stopped stroking his hair midway once she saw me.
My eyes never leave her.
“Are you ready to go?”
****
“You’ll come to dinner next week, yes?” Luna’s Grandmother asks me, whilst adjusting the blanket Luna placed over Theo after I scooped him into my arms moments ago.
We are standing on the outside of the threshold with her family on the inside.
Luna and I share a look, but as both of us try to decline, her Grandmother blurts out.
“Wonderful, I’ll have Luna pass it on if you’re allergic to anything, and I will see you both next week,” She declares, closing the door as Luna’s brother tries to say something. Still, it all becomes muffled once the door is shut, leaving Luna and me in yet another awkward situation.
Dinner at Luna’s house.
With her family…was that such a good idea?
“You don’t have to come. Gran is as stubborn as a mule, but I can work around her.” Luna blurts out during the drive home. Theo is still sleeping peacefully in the backseat, leaving the two of us sitting in silence until she broke it.
“It’s alright; it would be rude to decline such a generous invitation.
I’m sure I can clear my schedule next weekend.
” I mumble as a reply, now feeling more afraid of not showing up than I feel about spending time with Luna and her happy family.
Or it could be unknown what her grandmother would do if I didn’t show up, like turn up at my house for dinner instead, something I wouldn’t put past someone with her personality.
The two of us fall into uncomfortable silence again. Suddenly, the memory of what I did last night came flooding back during a red light. Something slivers down my spine as we both steal a glance at each other at the same time, and it’s as if she can sense my thoughts by what she said next.
“S-so a-about what happened…last night,” she stutters, playing with the hem of her dress. The hairs on the back of her neck spike upwards, and the sudden urge to drop, tuck and roll out of this stationary vehicle is strong.
This was a conversation I didn’t want to have, not now, not ever, yet another reason I shouldn’t have interrupted my peaceful environment of having the house to myself to seek out this intoxicating woman seated next to me.
“I’d rather know who or what a Surly Bastard is.” I deflect as a counteraction and glance at Luna as the light turns green, and now, she looks like the one who wants out of this car in any way possible. I lock the car doors just in case.
The fear on her face is a clear indication that she has now buried any desire to talk about my mistake last night, and instead isn’t ready for any consequences she might receive after giving me an answer.
“Well…” she mumbles, with her shoulders stiff and her nose scrunched. Stealing a peek at me, but my facial expression remains neutral, apart from a raised eyebrow, letting her know that unless she jumped out of this car, there was no escaping this.
It would have been something I could have saved for another day, but she directed all the attention to me; I couldn’t allow that.
“…It’s a nickname.” Luna vaguely reveals above a whisper, but with no radio playing and the quiet hum of the engine, I hear her loud and clear, stealing a glance at her.
“My nickname?” I prompt, watching her turn towards the window and wince in response.
“Yes,” she forces out, in yet another whisper. Her eyes closed, waiting for an upcoming eruption, but for some reason, unlike how I reacted when I found the other questionable nickname my employees have called me in the past, I wasn’t mad.
I’m amused.
Which was confusing, concerning, and strange.
“Referring to the fact I’m a grumpy bastard of a bear?
” I tease, glancing at her as I turn the corner.
Her shoulders relax, and her mouth curls into a small smile as she slowly opens her eyes.
My banter-laced joke must have loosened some of the tension in this car because she seems less afraid when she speaks up again.
“L-look, okay. Macy and I came up with that nickname long before I met you, and it just…stuck,” she explains, still holding the same smile as she gazed out the window.
“So, Macy is involved too,” I add when her smile dropped, and she bit her lip, realising she may have just shot Macy in the foot as well as herself. But she didn’t know this whole scenario had me chuckling on the inside.
“H-how far are we from h-home?” she blurts, looking around. I immediately take a detour despite being almost home.
“Nice try, il mio tutto.” The Italian nickname slips out before I can stop it, then I quickly cover it up by adding. “But we’re still a while away from home.” I declare smugly, taking pleasure in the regret flashed on her face.
“So, you better start from the beginning,” I add, making sure to take the extra-long way home.