Page 70 of Resisting the Grump

“And now she thinks you’re a liar,” the curly-haired member of the pack said. “Which means there’s almost nothing you can say to make it better.”

Maybe this was a bad idea.

“A jacuzzi sounds nice, though,” the one with blue hair said. “I’d forgive you for lying if you got me a jacuzzi tub.”

Better. “I tried to tell her that I’m sorry and want another chance, but she won’t listen to me.”

“What’s this got to do with us?” the one who hadn’t taken her coat off asked, eliciting nods from her companions.

“Well, I’m hoping she might listen to you.”

Blue Hair looked Avery up and down. “We’ll have to hear her side of the story first.”

“Ask her,” I said, strolling over to collect my pastries. “Make sure she doesn’t leave out a single detail.”

Yellow flames flickered in Avery’s eyes.

Grace tapped the top of my box on the counter. “Have a nice day,” she said definitively, her tone of voice suggesting it was time for me to say goodbye.

“One date,” I said to Avery, taking slow steps backwards. Then I turned to the women. “That’s all I’m asking for.” My eyes pleaded with them. “I want one more chance to give her multiple orgasms.”

Half the women’s mouths fell open.

“Well!” one of them cried, fanning herself. “If you won’t give him a chance, honey, I will!”

“Why do you look so familiar?” another asked, squinting at me. “I feel like I’ve seen you somewhere before.”

“I come here a lot,” I offered, feeling the weight of Avery’s gaze on me. “That must be it.”

I glanced back at Avery’s disbelieving expression one last time before disappearing out of sight, hoping I’d made enough of a scene to earn a second chance. But only time would tell.

Fortunately, I couldn’t spend the day dwelling on whether I’d done enough.

I flagged down a cab and turned my attention to my upcoming meeting with the producers Mac had opened negotiations with. Fingers crossed they’d be a lot easier to win over.

T H I R T YT H R E E

- Avery -

“This is so embarrassing,” I said, staring at the small treasure chest in my hands. Oliver left it outside my apartment days ago, but I still hadn’t managed to get it open. Apparently, it was some sort of puzzle box with a built-in key, but that was as far as I’d gotten with Google.

“Don’t worry,” Grace said, knocking on Noah’s door again. “We’ll crack it.”

I knew I could’ve popped next door and asked Oliver to open it, but my ego wouldn’t allow it. After all, that was probably exactly what he expected me to do, and I couldn’t bear being predictable. “What if there’s something embarrassing inside?”

“What if there’s not, and I don’t get paid for my help in giggles?”

I groaned. “I’m glad one of us is having fun.”

Colin opened the door in striped boxers. He looked slimmer than I remembered, but that might’ve been because I’d gotten used to gluttonous eyefuls of Oliver’s beefy muscles. My heart squeezed in my chest. Who was I kidding? I definitely missed him, and not just because he paired perfectly with red wine.

I wasn’t ready to admit it aloud, of course, but that’s why I was standing here clutching his stupid puzzle, wasn’t it? A stronger woman would’ve chucked it in the garbage and moved on with her life, but... I guess I was more stubborn than strong.

“Hey ladies,” Colin said before shoving his loaded toothbrush in his mouth.

“Hot date?” Grace asked, perhaps detecting his cologne the same moment I did.

“She better be.” He backed up to invite us in. “If I get catfished one more time….”

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