“You don’t mean that, Kat,” Nana Boo chided, making Kat feel instantly remorseful. She swirled the wine in her glass. “So, you have an interview for a new job,” Nana Boo stated, seamlessly changing the subject.
“For a juvenile detention facility in Brooklyn,” Kat confirmed. “It’s to start in the new year.”
The job had been one of the first that she’d come across in Beth’s folder and, although Kat hated to admit it, the job sounded perfect. They’d accepted her application immediately. Despite the parts of her that were sad about leaving Kill, Kat was excited.
“And this is what you want?” Nana Boo asked.
“I want Carter.”
Nana Boo’s eyes sparkled with the romance of it all. “As long as you’re happy. That’s all that I care about. Your mother’ll come around.” There was so much conviction in Nana Boo’s voice, Kat almost believed it.
Despite her hurtful words, and the animosity still between them, Kat would have given anything for her mother to be sitting at the table, having a glass of wine, being understanding and happy. Weeks had passed and still the two of them were at loggerheads. For Kat anger had given way to sadness and acceptance. Things between them would never be the same.
She dipped a Dorito into the sour cream with a weary hand, needing a distraction. “So, tell me more about why Grandpa didn’t like Dad.”
Nana Boo chuckled. “Danny had a few skeletons in his closet, just like your Carter.” She eyed Kat carefully. “He’d done things before he met your mom that he wasn’t exactly proud of, and your grandfather always had a bee in his bonnet about it. I have some things upstairs you can look at. I think it would be easier to explain that way.”
“It’s nothing bad, is it?”
“No. It’s nothing bad.” Nana Boo hesitated. “Unlike your mother, who thinks it unnecessary, I believe it’s time you learned more about what they went through to be together.” She placed her hand on top of Kat’s. “I assure you it’s nothing scary, and it’ll make sense when you see what I have.” She glanced toward the back door. “Just know that Carter and your father are very alike in many ways.”
Before Kat could ask any more, the back door reopened and Carter hurried back in with lumps of snow covering his dark hair, followed by a very cold-looking Reggie.
“Jesus Christ, it’s fucking freezing out there,” Carter grumbled. He rubbed at his scalp, splattering water onto the floor. “I can’t feel my damned fingers!” He stopped abruptly, clearly realizing what he’d said and in whose company. “Shit.” He blinked. “Dammit, I mean, sorry.”
Nana Boo snorted loudly and cupped her hands to her mouth to stifle her giggles. “It’s quite all right,” she managed through her fingers. “I’ve heard a lot worse. I was married to Kat’s grandfather for nearly forty years.”
Kat’s shoulders shook from holding in her own giggles. Carter exhaled and shuffled back to his seat, where he took an enormous gulp from his bottle of beer.
“Don’t you worry any.” Nana Boo snickered, patting his knee. “You just be yourself. You’re perfect as you are.”
*
“Are you sure it’s okay?” Carter watched Kat roll her small weekend suitcase into their room, the room they were sharing under her grandmother’s roof, with her grandmother down the hall.
“You know,” Kat singsonged from her spot across the room, “for a convicted felon, you sure have prudish ideas about our relationship.”
He rolled his eyes. She skipped into the en suite, pulling her sweater off. Prudish? Sure, that’s why he had a semi on just from seeing her naked back.
“I’m not being a prude,” he griped. “I— It’s Nana Boo’s house.” He dropped his ass down onto the edge of the huge bed, ripping off his boots and socks.
He was rubbing the tiredness from his face when Kat reemerged from the bathroom, leaning against the doorjamb with a peculiar expression on her face.
“You called her Nana Boo,” Kat whispered, fingering the hem of the Harley T-shirt she’d changed into. His T-shirt. The edge of it skimmed her creamy thighs, while the V-neck dipped between her breasts.
“Yeah,” Carter replied. His eyes devoured her.
Kat walked toward him. She nudged his knees apart with her own, and placed her hands on his shoulders while he placed his on her hips.
She bent down and rubbed her nose against the side of his. “I love that you call her that.”
Carter hummed when their lips met, gentle and warm.
“Are you feeling better?” She placed a knee on either side of his thighs on the bed.
Carter smiled against her throat. “I do feel better.” He sat back a little, focusing on the way Kat’s hair curled at the tips. “I feel good.” He tilted his chin toward the door. “She’s amazing.” He shook his head in wonder. “She’s just so— I mean, the woman made me an Oreo cheesecake! How cool is that?” He kissed her jaw.
Carter trailed his hands down her sides and tickled the back of her thighs. “For the first time, in a long time,” he murmured, “I don’t feel like I’m missing anything.” He placed his lips at the side of her mouth. “I feel like I belong.”