Page 32 of Sunset Catchers

“That’s fucking great, Lou. How is Avery holding up?” he asks, earnestly.

“Great! She’s in good health and very excited,” she tells him.

“You know, I still win,” Kit states, with pursed lips.

“Come one grandma,” Levi intervenes, “This isn’t a race.”

She huffs out a breath through her nose. “It sure is.”

“Fine,” says Louise, “the first one to seven great-grandchildren wins.”

“I’ll accept the deal.” They shake hands on it, which has Levi rolling his eyes.

“So, tell me Winnie. How is everything going?”

“We’ve made good progress this week, I tell Kit. She dismisses my answer with a casual wave of a wrinkled hand. Kit only responds to my update texts with thumbs up emojis. She wants the reveal to be a surprise; apparently, surprises keep her heart interested in healthily beating.

“That’s great, but I’m talking about my grandson. Has Levi been nice?”

“Oh! Well.” I laugh awkwardly. This is the last thing I thought I’d be doing this morning. “He’s been very helpful.”

At this moment, Levi places an iced coffee in front of me, seeming sort of sorry, sort of entertained. I thank him for the coffee and take a first sip. It’s perfect.

“I’ve heard he’s gone over his way to be pleasant, even,” adds Louise. She sounds almost…amused? Kit looks mighty mischievous. I’m missing something here. Levi looks as puzzled as I am.

“Spill it out, you old bats,” he instructs. Kit huffs in mock offense while Louise giggles.

“Is that a way to talk to your grandmother?” Kit says.

“It is when she’s sporting that shit-eating grin of hers,” Levi replies, undeterred by the fake reprimand. Clearly, they love each other dearly and would never truly insult one another. Mustn’t that be nice!

That said grin only gets bigger on Kit’s bright pink lips. “I’m disappointed you’re not wearing your coverall today. My car is in dire need to be filled up.”

Levi closes his eyes, muttering a curse. My groan of dismay makes the same noise as a chair being dragged on hardwood flooring, while my ears catch fire. I’m sure they have fully turned cherry red. Honestly, I’d forgotten about the whole gas station incident already.

“It was all a big misunderstanding,” he defends, wincing.

“It was the branded coverall,” I add weakly, also wincing.

Kit gently double taps my thigh, then says, “Do tell us, dear Levi, exactly what happened.”

Both ladies grab another scone, as if they are about to watch the new episode of their favorite show. Levi dips his chin toward the plate filled with baked goods; an invitation to take a pick. I grab a cranberry and orange muffin, if only to have something to do while I die of mortification.

By the time he’s done recounting our first meeting, both Kit and Louise are cackling hard, holding their sides. Levi crosses his arms on his chest, trying hard to appear annoyed. He soon cracks and joins in on the mirth.

“I knew I heard Winnie call you an asshat that first meeting,” Kit confesses.

My brows and Levi’s fly up. Although I’m stressed while he’s affronted.

“And you didn’t say anything?”

“If that sweet girl called you that, I knew you must’ve deserved it.” He musters an unimpressed expression on his face, while a snort escapes me before I can contain it.

“Thank you for your vote of confidence, Grandmother dearest.” She takes a sip of coffee. “It was an honest mistake. I thought I would never see her again.”

Kit hums, unimpressed with his explanation, then turns toward me.

“What is your take on the story?” she asks me.