Tackling Love - Kathleen Kelly Page 0,30
out beautifully,” informs Minerva.
“You made them?” asks Skye.
“Oh, yes! Have you seen how many windows are in this house? The money they wanted to charge for curtains was highway robbery.”
“Momma, I told you I didn’t mind paying.”
“Nonsense, Grayson. I made them for a fraction of the price those people wanted to charge you. And they look better,” scolds Minerva.
“Yes, ma’am,” agrees Gray.
“You know, Minerva, the school I work for…” she sighs, “… worked for, is hiring a seamstress. If you’re looking for work, I’m sure they’d love to have you.”
“Worked?” I ask.
Skye smooths her hands over the front of her dress, a nervous gesture. “It doesn’t look good. Maybe you could ask Juliette?”
“I could ask Miss Carson if you’re looking for a job?”
Minerva looks at Skye then to me. “I don’t know… it’s been a while since I’ve had to work. It could be fun to do something I love.”
“I could set up a meeting?” I offer.
“How about we have dinner, and I think about it?” suggests Minerva.
“Food, now!”
“Oh, Grayson… the way you carry on, Skye will think I starve you,” chastises Minerva.
Skye giggles. “I think all anyone needs to do is look at Gray and Colt to see they are well fed.”
Looking seriously at Gray, I say, “Did she just call us fat?”
“No,” shrieks Skye.
Gray and I double over with laughter.
Minerva links her arm with Skye’s. “Oh, honey, let’s leave the children to their own devices, and you can come help me get the food out before they clearly fade away from malnutrition.”
Skye nods, smiles at me, and they leave Gray and me alone.
“Momma likes her,” states Gray.
“Yeah.”
“You mess this up, and Momma is going to whup your ass.”
“Yeah.”
Gray pours me a glass of whiskey, neat, and vodka for himself. “How’s the fundraising going for the school?”
“Good, it’s like they can’t get rid of the money fast enough. With the league’s help, and two construction companies on board, it should all be done and dusted by next fall. Between the league and the team I only had to donate twenty thousand. A far cry from two hundred thousand.”
“You going to donate more?” asks Gray—he knows me so well.
“Depends on what the school needs, but now they’ve let Skye go over some bullshit agreement, I’m not so sure.”
“Man, you know it’s like our deal with Calvin Klein. You don’t do anything to embarrass anyone. You’re lucky you had on the right underwear when that photo of the two of you hit the papers.”
I nod as arguing with Gray is like talking to a brick wall. “Come on, let’s go eat,” I say, changing the subject.
Gray follows me into the dining room as Skye places a bowl of rice on the table.
“Jambalaya?” I ask.
“Momma knows it’s your favorite, but she made my favorite dessert… Key lime pie.”
Grinning at Gray, I tease, “She still made my favorite meal. Dessert is like an afterthought.”
“Now, Colton, don’t you tease Grayson, or you won’t get any dessert,” scolds Minera as she walks into the room with a ladle in her hand.
“Yes, ma’am,” I reply with a smirk.
“You get to serve.” Minerva hands me the ladle.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Yes, ma’am,” mimicks Gray.
“Grayson, you get to put paella in everyone’s bowl,” says Minerva with a stern look.
“Yes, Momma.”
I wink at Gray who grabs my bowl.
“Boy, you were taught better than that. Ladies first.”
Skye giggles and hands her bowl to Gray. “Thank you, Gray.”
Gray gives Skye a quick smile and puts paella in the bottom of her bowl then hands the bowl to me.
“So, Skye, when did you say you were going to England?” asks Minerva.
I drop the bowl, spilling its contents all over the table. “What?”
Minerva runs off to the kitchen, and I look at Skye.
“Colt, I told you my dad said to join him if it didn’t work out with the school.”
“I didn’t realize you had made plans to go,” I say, anger lacing my voice.
Gray leaves the room. I guess he senses an argument brewing.
“I don’t understand why you’re so upset.”
“Because I thought we were building something here. That we’d be doing this together after football season.”
“And what am I supposed to do for the next few months? Sit around and wait for you? I can’t do that.”
Minerva walks back in with paper towels in hand to mop up the mess with Gray standing a little behind her.
“Why don’t you two go into the living room while I clean this up?” suggests Minerva.
“Don’t be silly. Please let me help,” replies Skye as she rips some paper towels