It's Terribly Perfect.

13. It's Terribly Perfect: Death.

I turned quickly back around after realizing it was my grandmother who walked up. Maybe if I pretend if I didn’t see her, she’ll go away, I thought to myself. Though I did already speak to her, but she’s old, maybe she didn’t hear.

“Kasynne you can’t pretend you didn’t see me,” she spoke in her small voice, placing a hand on my shoulder.

Did I say that out loud?

“Right, I can’t pretend. But you have no problem with it. You had absolutely no trouble pretending for nine years you didn’t know where my father was.” I twisted around in my chair to glare at her. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Marcus shrink down in his seat, a sheepish smile on his face.

“I know you’re angry with me but you could have at least told me the baby was a boy,” she stated as she crossed her arms, looking down at me with her pale blue eyes. Marcus must have told her the news when he went to visit her the other day.

“And you could have at least told me you knew where my dad was all these years,” I snapped back, scrunching my nose.

We had a staring contest for a moment, both of us too stubborn to give into the other’s glowers until Marcus decided to speak up.

“Well, Kasynne,” he clapped his hands together, “we should probably get home, don’t you think?” he suggested as he began to get up. “Emma is probably lonely-“

“Sit down, Marcus,” my grandmother ordered. He looked like he was about to protest, but slowly sunk back down in his chair. I shot a look at him and he returned it with a shrug and a guilty smile. I huffed out a breath, standing up in front of the flustered woman facing me. I was surprisingly taller than her, though not by much.

“We do have to get going, I told a friend I’d come see them today and I don’t make a habit of lying. Goodbye,” I said to her, annoyance biting through my tone. It wasn’t a complete lie, Ryan and I have been making a habit of Friday movie nights. I just wasn’t supposed to meet him for another few hours. But anywhere is better than here with my grandmother.

She didn’t say anything as her eyes bored into mine, arms crossed over her chest. I didn’t look very threatening with my protruding belly and pastel maternity dress Arin forced me in. I whirled away from her, stomping off towards Marcus’s vehicle.

“Come on, old man,” I mumbled to him. I didn’t look back to make sure he was following but soon after I heard heavy footsteps behind me. I swung open the passenger door once I reached the shiny black Impala and slammed it after I got in.

“You two are so much alike,” Marcus muttered as he plopped down in the leather driver’s seat. My head snapped to look at him.

“Excuse me? I am nothing like that old bat,” I hissed through my teeth. He chuckled, driving away from the restaurant.

“You’re both incredibly stubborn and-“

“I’m not stubborn!” I whined, causing him to send a disbelieving side glance my way. I pursed my lips, turning to look out the window as I pouted. Another chuckle emitted from his chest.

“You going to Ryan’s or back home?”

“Home, then to Ryan’s. This dress is bugging me,” I mumbled as I tried to situate the neckline. Uncertainty flashed across his face but quickly disappeared as he hesitated to say something. I narrowed my eyes at him.

“What?” I questioned.

“Um, it’s nothing really. I just don’t like you being alone with that boy in his house with no parents around,” he replied, gaze on the road. I couldn’t help but laugh.