Chapter 36
Chapter Thirty-Six
The plane hummed softly beneath them as it cut through the late-afternoon sky, golden light angling across the cabin. They’d be back in Florida in a matter of hours. Paige glanced out the window at the expanse of blue and endless clouds, but her thoughts kept drifting back to the night before.
Andrew’s beaming grin. Nicole’s emotional happy tears. Ken and Joann hugging Graham like he’d been family for decades. The cake showing off its bright blue center after being cut in half.
A grandson. Graham’s first grandchild would be a little boy.
She glanced sideways. Graham sat next to her, reading glasses perched low on his nose as he pretended to focus on the in-flight magazine. But she could see the faint smile he wasn’t trying to hide. A soft, private kind of joy that she understood very well.
“You’re still thinking about him,” Paige said. “Aren’t you?”
Graham didn’t deny it. He put the magazine down. “Of course I am. A grandson.” He shook his head in disbelief. “When Andrew called with the news that they were pregnant, I didn’t feel ready. Even he didn’t sound ready. But after spending time with him—”
“He’s ready,” Paige finished for him. “They both are. And so are you.”
He nodded slowly. “Yes. It’s wonderful to see them creating this beautiful new life together.” He hesitated, then added, “I very much want to be a part of it.”
Paige squeezed his hand. “You already are.”
He turned his palm up, threading his fingers with hers, a small gesture that surprised her with its tenderness. “Andrew told me he plans to propose to Nicole next month. It’s her birthday.”
“That’s wonderful.”
“They’ll have a small, private ceremony with just the two of them. It’s what he thinks she wants, but if that changes, he’ll let us know.”
“Maybe it will, now that she’s met you.”
“Perhaps,” he said, his tone hopeful.
A few moments of silence passed. He seemed to be lost in thought again.
“My life is going to change now,” he said quietly. “In ways I don’t think I fully grasp yet. I’ll want to visit more. Help when I can. Be the sort of grandfather my own father never had the chance to be.”
Paige’s heart warmed. “You’ll be spectacular at it.”
“I will endeavor to do my best.” He smiled at that, but the look he gave her next held something else beneath the surface. Something like hesitation or uncertainty.
“Paige,” he began. Just the way he said her name sounded odd. Like he was being extra careful. “May I ask you something?”
She straightened slightly, praying to whatever greater power might be listening that he was not about to propose to her. As much as she liked him, she was not remotely interested in marriage. “Of course.”
He rubbed his thumb across the back of her hand. “Why haven’t you shared anything about us on your TikTok? Since that first night, I mean.”
Paige blinked. “What?”
“I’ve seen your videos,” he said. “You must know I follow you now. And you post regularly. You talk about fashion, what it’s like to be a woman of a certain age, dealing with the issues of that age, all sorts of things.
And I enjoy your take on these things. I truly do.
But I couldn’t help but notice that you’ve said nothing about us.
” He swallowed, shifting slightly in his seat.
“Are you avoiding mentioning me? Or is it simply that you don’t want people to know you’re seeing someone? ”
Her breath caught. The look in his eyes wasn’t anger or suspicion. It was something far more fragile. Something that was maybe part male ego, but also very honest and sincere.
He stared at her hand in his. “Is there something about me that you don’t care for? Something you think might embarrass you?”
Paige’s heart squeezed so hard it almost hurt.
“No,” she whispered immediately. “Graham, no. Not at all.”
He looked at her and said nothing, just waited like he was hoping there was more.
Paige inhaled slowly, searching for the right words as the plane glided through the soft, glowing sky, carrying them from one chapter of their lives into the next.
She gathered her courage and her words. So much of what she wanted to explain to him was really just how she was feeling. And some of that was fear
She turned in her seat to face him more fully.
“Graham,” she said softly. “I didn’t share you on my TikTok because I wanted to keep this relationship private. And safe.”
He frowned, not unkindly. “Safe?”
She nodded. “My TikTok isn’t huge, but it still reaches a lot of people.”
“Forty thousand followers isn’t nothing.”
“No, it’s not. But the thing is, sometimes those people think they know everything about me because I share outfit ideas or talk about midlife changes or take them along for walks on the beach.
” She exhaled, feeling the truth expand within her.
“But they don’t know me. Not really. And I wanted to protect you from that.
I wanted to protect us. I didn’t want to toss something this important into the public eye before I was sure where it was going. ”
His expression softened, but he still looked troubled. “But you’re sure now?”
“No, I’m not.” Paige hesitated, then gave him a small smile. “However, this trip helped me see something clearly. Meeting Andrew and Nicole, sharing such a huge moment with you—that wasn’t just another date. That was family. Your family. And you invited me into it.”
He swallowed, eyes warming. “I wanted you there.”
“I know,” she said. “And it meant more to me than you realize. So, no, I’m not ashamed of you. Not embarrassed. Not hiding you. I’ve just been protecting us a little. Or maybe it’s more selfish than that. Maybe it’s me I’ve been protecting.”
A flicker of surprise crossed his face, followed by something tender. “You think you’re the one who needs protecting?”
Paige let out a small laugh. “I’m not really the woman I show on social media. I’m much more of a marshmallow. Maybe I look polished on-camera, but I melt under too much heat.”
Graham’s smile returned with the faintest hint of amusement. “I don’t want you to feel you have to hide any of that from me.”
“Likewise, I don’t want you to feel hidden,” she said earnestly. “But I really wanted to talk to you about it before I turned us into content. It’s a lot to put yourself out there for public consumption. And considering your work history, I wasn’t sure you’d want it anyway.”
He considered that for a moment. “It’s really up to you. I’m retired, so my past is my past. But it’s not necessary for me to be a part of your online persona.”
She arched a brow. “It’s not?”
“No,” he said, taking her hand again. “All I needed was to understand. To know that it wasn’t because of something I’d done. Or hadn’t done.”
Paige exhaled in relief.
“But,” he added, eyes twinkling slightly. “If you ever want to show me off, I won’t object.”
She laughed, leaning her shoulder against his. “Oh, trust me. I probably will. But only when it feels right.”
Graham nodded, their hands still clasped. They watched a movie together, holding hands the entire time. She didn’t know if she’d share him or not. Part of her wanted to now, to show the world what an amazing man she had in her life. Another part of her wanted to keep him all to herself.
The whole reason she’d started her TikTok was to prove to herself and her ex that she’d not only survived his betrayal and her wretched divorce, but that she was thriving.
Well, she’d done that. Did she need to keep proving that point? No. Not really. But it had become something bigger. An outlet. She enjoyed it more than she’d ever thought she would.
Did they need to know about Graham? Absolutely not.
It was a lot to think about. Especially when sharing this new relationship might be something that gave other women hope.
There was a lot to be said for that.
The movie ended and outside the window, the plane dipped slightly, beginning its slow descent through the painted sky. Between them, the silence felt warm and full and comfortable.
She didn’t know what the future held for them, but she didn’t need to know either. Things were good. They were having fun, enjoying each other’s company.
Why complicate that with plans that might not ever happen? What was wrong with just being happy in the moment?
Paige rested her head lightly against his shoulder. “I’m really glad you invited me along,” she murmured. “And that Andrew and Nicole were all right with it.”
Graham kissed the top of her hair. “So am I.”
Paige sighed happily, the rare sensation of something both new and safe filling her with contentment in a way she’d never felt before.
It was something worth keeping. Now she just had to decide if sharing it was worth the risk.