“Grams, please.”
“Oh, okay.”
I helped her get situated, making her a fresh pot of coffee while I tended the bacon and eggs. “How are you feeling?” I asked her over my shoulder.
“I’d feel better if I knew how Celeste is?”
“What?”
“Well, did you talk to her yesterday or not?” A knowing smile tugged at her mouth.
“She was fine, Grams. You don’t need to worry about Celeste.”
“I suppose I’ll see her at the center in a day or two. I can ask her myself.” She huffed, only ramping up the guilt I already felt.
I’d taken her virginity in the back of her Range Rover and now I had to tell her we were done. If she didn’t hate me already, she would after that. Maybe Nix was right though—maybe it was for the best.
I’d let things go too far. Taken advantage of her strange infatuation with me. And although I couldn’t undo things, I could end it before either of us got too deep.
Who the fuck was I kidding? I’d already gotten deep when I’d fucked her into the leather seat.
It was something I wouldn’t forget in a hurry though. How good she’d felt, how eagerly she’d moaned my name.
I didn’t know it could be like that. But I should have known that sex with Celeste would be intense. She was so different to the girls I was used to.
“Zane, dear?” Grams said, pulling me from my thoughts. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I might have some good news actually.”
“I will always appreciate some of that.”
“The shift manager down at the mill said I might be able to get some more hours. And it’s the twilight shift so I’ll get a better hourly rate.”
“I thought we talked about this? I don’t want you—”
“Grams. You need that treatment and I want to help. I’mgoingto help.” She didn’t need to know my story wasn’t quite the truth. In fact, the less she knew, the better.
“Zane, dear, it isn’t your job—”
“Stop with that shit, Grams. You looked after me for years when Mom left. It’s my turn. I have to do this, okay? I need you to let me do this.”
“O-okay.” Tears clung to her lashes. “So long as it doesn’t interfere with school or the team.”
“It won’t, I promise. I’ve already worked out a schedule, and he’s willing to give me a month’s advance.” The half-lies rolled off my tongue but left a sour taste in my mouth. “Isn’t that great?”
“You’re a good boy, Zane Thackeray. You deserve so much happiness, my sweet boy.”
“Okay, Grams. Don’t go getting all teary on me. You know I don’t like it when you cry.”
“One day we’re going to need to talk about it,” she said, a sad, tired look in her eyes.
“One day, Grams.”
But today was not that day.
* * *
“You look like shit,” Kye said as we hauled ass into the locker room.