page35 (1/2)

“I didn’t know that,” I said “Why are you telling me now?”

“Because it damn near tore us apart,” he replied “And you knohat I realized?”

I shookwith this

“I realized that I could live without your grandmother, but I just didn’t want to”

“I still don’t knohy you’re telling me this, Gramps”

“Why did you coears

“Because I was unhappy in Chicago,” I replied, perplexed

“We both know it’s more than that”

He stared atthis conversation

“You came back for Demi,” he stated, very sure of himself My first instinct was to deny it, so I did

“That’s not true, Gramps Demi and I are over But you know all this”

“I know you don’t believe that”

“Why else would I have come home?”

“You realized that you could live with out her, but you are choosing not to”

I looked at ht me about what it took to be a man

“Have you spoken to her yet?” he asked

I put hheavily on my shoulders

“No,” I replied “I’m not sure I’m ready for that yet”

“Bullshit,” he said loudly I was taken by surprise He never cursed “You caht for her, didn’t you?”

I couldn’t lie to this ht for Dehting for

Before I could say as randmother came outside

“It’s alet leave for Huntley and Grayson’s barbeque You boys nearly ready?”

“I’et ready like you wo it to get a rise out of randmother

She pointed her index in his direction and fixed hiaze “Don’t sass me Clayton Scott” He stood up and walked towards her, encasing her in his arms “I wouldn’t dream of it, sweetheart” He pressed a kiss to her lips, and I looked away to give the your grandparents ers In ht? They had the kind of love people write novels about, and I wasn’t too much of a man to admit that I wanted it

“Are you corandmother asked after they’d unlocked their lips

“I’ll join you a little later,” I replied “I’ to take a shower and unpack first”

“Don’t take too long,” er to see you and catch up”

“Yes sir” I gave thes frorandparents had left, I hopped in the shower and got ready I wasn’t even sure I’d be seeing Denore the s I would

GRAYSON GREETED ME at the front door, followed by a rather enthusiastic Hunter

“Good to have you home,” Grayson said