Hang Tough by Lorelei James Page A

To die alone? With only her TV for company? Because the thought of that rips my fucking guts out.” He set his bottle on the railing and bounded down the steps.
    The weight of this decision about her grandma’s future sat in the pit of her stomach like a stone.
    After a few minutes, Jade followed him.
    He stood next to the water pump, his hands propped on his hips, staring into the dark night.
    â€œWe’re not on opposite sides, Tobin. We both want what’s best for GG. Your experience with your grandmother is heartbreaking, but it’s also skewed from the perspective of a young boy.”
    â€œGreat. You gonna psychoanalyze me now?”
    â€œNo. But you can’t deny that maybe you didn’t have the whole story. You have no way of knowing whether your grandma was diagnosed with anything serious. And before you argue with me, that exact scenario happened to a friend of mine. Her grandpa was fine for all appearances, then her family moved him into a nursing home. She also believed it was laziness on the part of the nursing home workers that within two weeks he was wheelchair-bound. Within three months he was completely bedridden. Within five months he was dead. Would things have been different if her mom had admitted that her grandpa was diagnosed with a fast-moving bone cancer that necessitated an immediate move into a nursing facility?”
    â€œNot the same thing, Jade.”
    â€œBut you don’t know. Maybe your grandmother asked that her health diagnosis wasn’t shared with you. That even happened to me with my own mother just recently. When I found out, I was so angry with her and my dad for keeping the truth from me. They thought they were protecting me. Maybe your dad and mom thought they were protecting you.”
    Tobin didn’t say anything for the longest time. Then he looked ather. “I’ll concede that argument. You can bet your ass I’ll ask my dad about that the next time I see him.”
    Although their conversation appeared to be at an end, Jade had no desire to go back into the house. She meandered to the end of the driveway. Closing her eyes, she tipped her head back and welcomed the cool breeze blowing across her face.
    Shuffling footsteps stopped beside her. The clean cotton and earthy scent she’d started to associate with Tobin drifted over her.
    â€œTryin’ to escape my charming company?” Tobin said.
    â€œAlways. But it doesn’t seem to work, does it?”
    â€œNot for either of us.” He sighed. “Look. Believe it or not, I’m not usually a grumpy, self-centered jerk. You said your day sucked ass too. What happened?”
    â€œNothing.”
    â€œYou won’t confide in me even a little?” he cajoled her. “After I tried like hell to get you to believe that I’m just a good old boy who’s always had a soft spot in my heart for grandmotherly types and widows?”
    Jade laughed. “You weren’t telling me a tall tale to gain my trust.”
    â€œYou’re sure?”
    â€œYes. A true con artist would’ve cried at the end of the story to gain additional sympathy. You just got more pissed off. That’s an honest reaction.”
    â€œThat anger wasn’t directed at you, Jade.”
    â€œI know.”
    Tobin bumped her with his shoulder. “Come on, darlin’. Your turn to let fly. What happened today?”
    â€œI already told you. Nothing.”
    â€œBullshit.”
    â€œNo, I’m serious.
Nothing
happened today and that’s why I ended up in a mood.”
    â€œAh. I see.” He paused. “You’re missing the pace of your life in the big city?”
    Jade turned her head toward Tobin, but he wasn’t looking at her. He stared straight ahead, granting her a perfect view of his chiseled face in profile. Moonlight looked amazing on him. So maybe the fact she didn’t have to gaze into those assessing eyes encouraged her to speak