Kiss King - Mickey Miller Page 0,88
a terrific artist,” Grant says. “She’s really made some amazing stuff this term.”
“Art is my favorite class,” Michelle comments. “It’s the best!”
I bite into a cracker with some cheese. “I agree, it is the best.”
“So, you’re studying art?” Cade asks.
“Well, no. I don’t have time to take art classes.” I notice Michelle staring at me when I say that. “What about you, Cade?”
“I’m going to Alabama for football,” Cade says, grinning.
Wow, Grant has two older brothers, Cade and Sean, and they both seem successful in very different ways. Grant’s older brother who went to Greene seems like much less of a jock. Cade seems like he’s one-hundred percent jock. And Grant is a combination of the two.
“We’re most proud of Cade’s academic achievements,” Mrs. Taylor cuts in. “He’s almost as talented as his older brother Sean when it comes to engineering.”
Cade cuts in. “Actually, the new coach at Greene has been recruiting me to come there for my senior year. I might do it.”
“Seriously? You might come next year?”
“Yeah,” Cade winks. “Would be good to be reunited with old Granty-pants here, too. I’d be a senior and he’d be a junior. It’d be pretty damn fun.”
“Why don’t you take art, Maya?” Michelle asks, seeming very concerned. Clearly, she was fixated on that comment I made back there. Funny how kids pick out one detail like that.
“I just don’t have the time. I’m taking Business and Art History classes.”
“Ugh! Boring.”
“Now, Michelle,” Mr. Taylor interrupts. “What did I tell you about calling classes boring?”
“Sorry, Dad.”
She leans in and whispers, “But they are boring.”
I think my inner child and Grant’s sister are kindred spirits.
I turn toward his parents. “What about your son Sean? He studied engineering at Greene?”
Cade nods. “Yes. He worked a crazy job last year designing a factory.”
“That’s really cool. So you’ve got a son who designs, a son who plays baseball and studies psychology, a football star, and a future artist. Quite a well-rounded family you’ve raised.”
“Mommy says I’m a blessing baby,” Michelle says, smiling.
Cade chimes in. “She was the later in life sibling before Daddy got the snip-snip.”
Nancy facepalms. “Please, Cade.”
“Mommy, what’s the snip-snip?” Michelle asks.
His parents groan, Grant sees my saucer-eyed face and damn near spits out his wine.
Michelle whispers to me across the table. “Josh at school says I’m for sure a mistake baby. That’s why my brothers are all older than me. Mom and Dad were done with babies for ten years, then I popped out accidentally.”
“Now, Michelle,” Nancy says, “Shelly, you know that’s not true. We love all of our children equally, and none of you were mistakes.”
“Shelly, we can hear you when you whisper like that, you know.” Mr. Taylor smiles.
I try to change the subject. “I’ve got five brothers. Jim, Dave, Hector, Tom, and Paul, and they all live in different cities spread across the U.S and U.K. It’s nice that you all have a place to get together.”
“Yes, we try to get here as often as we can, even if it’s just for one night,” Mrs. Taylor says. “Which reminds me, we actually need to head out tomorrow morning. It’s a quick trip. We weren’t even going to come, but Michelle insisted.”
“I love the cabin,” Michelle states. “It’s my favorite-est place in the world.”
I smile at her, and when I turn back to Grant, I catch him looking at me.
“What?” I ask.
“I’m just glad you came up here with us. You enjoying yourself?” he replies.
“Oh, yes.”
We drink and hang out into the night, watching a movie on their couch before everyone goes to bed.
I’m so happy that Grant has a nice warm family. My family gatherings seem forever tainted in the post-divorce era.
Grant stops by my room before he goes to bed. “Knock knock Maya…Good night. Don’t let the bed bugs bite.”
“I won’t,” I smile, pulling the covers up to my chin. “So, are we really doing magic mushrooms tomorrow?”
“That’s the plan. You nervous?”
“Not when I’m doing them with you, Mr. Shaman.”
27
Grant
We wake up early the next day to the sound of car doors slamming as my family leaves. They weren’t joking about a quick visit.
I feel the nerves for what we’re about to do today as we eat breakfast and have coffee. More for Maya’s first magic mushroom experience, than for me.
“You nervous?” I ask her as we stare at the magic mushrooms in front of us on the table.
“No. I was on the way up here, but now I’m just excited.”
“I like to start the day off with a tarot