Rhythm by Ena Page A

the attic, but Mama
wouldn’t cave in to my request until the time came she wouldn’t
cave in anything that concerns me.
    I hurry towards the bed, and I jump in.
“Soft.” Hmm. I want to be eaten by the bed.
    I hear Grant chuckles. “I’ll let you rest for
a while. I’ll be back.”
    I wave at him as I let the bed consume
me.

Chapter 24
    Grant
    “Isaac.”
    “Grant! Is Rip with you?” he asks in
excitement, peeking behind my back if Rhy’s with me.
    “No. She’s in my room, resting.”
    “Oh. Okay. Dad and Mom already met her?”
    I nod.
    “Was she scared?”
    I laugh. “She was nervous, but they gave her
a pretty heartwarming welcome that she adjusted right away.”
    “I can’t wait to meet her. She seems
nice.”
    “Why do you say?”
    He shrugs. “My instinct says so. I have good
instincts, you know.”
    “Yeah, I know. And yes, she is nice.”
    “Grant, honey?” Mom calls me.
    “I’m here, Mom.”
    “Where’s Rip? Are you fighting? What did you
do to her?” She looks extra worried than the situation
warrants.
    “No, we’re not, Mom. I didn’t do anything to
her.” Geez, she’s in a mom mode right now—with Rip . “She’s
in my room, taking a rest.”
    She releases her breath. “Oh, thank goodness.
Don’t you ever hurt her, Grant. I like her too much.”
    I give a smothered laugh. Not even a day has
passed and my mother is already head over heels with Rhy. “I won’t,
Mom. Besides, I am so in love with Rip.”
    She beams. “I know, and I know that she loves
you, too.”
    “Hmm . . . Love is in the air,” Isaac
interrupts.
    “Now, you two, go and get ready. Dinner will
be in few minutes. Grant, call Rip in 15.”
    “Okay, Mom.” I smile at her then turn to
Isaac and continue our conversation about my beautiful Rip.

Chapter 25
    Rhythm
    I wake up, startled. I catch Grant staring at
me. “Grant. You’ve got quite a pretty view there, huh?”
    He speaks with a bob of his head. “Very
beautiful. You look like an angel.” He beams. “Dinner will be in a
few, get ready.”
    “Okay. Wait me outside. I’ll be ready in
5.”
    “Mmmkay, angel.”
    I’m overwhelmed by how his parents welcomed
me. Their reaction both makes me happy and at the same time, worry
to death. I am happy that I can get to feel again how it’s like to
have parents. About the worry part . . . He’s definitely won the
bet even before I meet Isaac. It’s as if he has been talking with
them about me all of those two years that we’re together.
    Hmm . . . maybe it’s okay to hold hands. It’s
totally harmless, right? Right?
    I jump as Grant opens the door. “You’re
making me worry, Rip. I’ve been knocking, but you’re not answering.
Are you okay?”
    “Yup.” I calm myself and say, “C’mon. I’m
starving.”
    He lets out a deep breath. “There’s my Rip,
always a starving little monster.”
    “What monster?” A boy, who definitely looks
like Grant—only younger—asks.
    “Isaac, this is the starving little monster,
Rip. Rip, this is my brother, Isaac.”
    “I didn’t know you’re this beautiful, Rip. I
thought Grant was kidding when he told me how he’s dying to be with
the most beautiful girl he has seen in his whole life,” he pauses
then looks at Grant. “You’re not kidding, Grant. You won.”
    “Won?” I ask Isaac, bemused.
    He nods. “We have a bet, and I lost, so he
won,” he says it matter-of-factly.
    “Bet about what?” I ask him again.
    “About how beautiful you are. I didn’t
believe him, but you are way beyond my expectation.”
    I turn to speak with Grant. “Grant, tell me
you paid him. You bought him something, didn’t you? Where’s the
gotcha part? I’m so ready for it.”
    Grant laughs and shakes his head, while Isaac
speaks, confused. “Why would he pay or buy me something? I don’t
get it.”
    “No. I don’t get it.”
    “Rip, he’s not kidding. We really have a
bet,” Grant reveals.
    My mouth hangs wide. I couldn’t believe this.
Me?