Page 110 of Just Act Natural

“None of the other applicants put on the best Independence Day celebration this town has seen. After that, the job was yours.”

My mouth hangs open for a second. “You don’t know that.”

“How do younotknow that? Griffin’s mom is on the council, and she told me the only real concern is if they can afford you.”

I’d been relieved to see Kat McBride in the council audience, but I would have been a whole lot more relieved if I’d had this information at the beginning of the week. “Nobody told me that. My hair’s been falling out from stress.”

Of course, I spent half the week after the Fourth Fest sick in bed, so I didn’t have a lot of opportunities to find out.

“I’m sorry. I thought you knew they weren’t going to find anyone better than you.”

I laugh, but it’s half sob. It’s been a while since I’ve truly had that kind of confidence. I’ve been freaking out for weeks that I needed to be some kind of expert in the wilderness to get thepromotion, and now she tells me it was a lock the whole time? “You mean I’ve been doing all this outdoorsy stuff for nothing?”

I know it’s wrong the moment it’s out of my mouth. Every activity I did, no matter how reluctantly, helped me improve my plans for Sunshine’s website, social media, and calendar of events. They gave me more ideas for expanding our local services and how we might attract new residents and businesses. I wouldn’t have had the idea for half the presentation I gave today if I hadn’t stepped outside my cozy comfort zone.

“I don’t know if I’d call it nothing,” Hope says. “You came away with a pretty good souvenir from that first hike.”

My heart squeezes. If I hadn’t signed up for that five-day nightmare, I wouldn’t have met Grant. Trying to picture the last month without him…it’s impossible. I wouldn’t be in the same place I am today. By far, I wouldn’t be as happy. Even if that happiness comes with a giant question mark.

“I just wish I could keep my souvenir.”

“You’ve still got a few days left. Mom’s going to try to get you guys to come to dinner, so be prepared.”

“I figured.” I just want to hide out with him until he has to leave on Sunday. Make a blanket fort and tuck ourselves away from reality like we did last night. Pretend none of this has to end.

Maybe I should face the fact that pretending never worked very well for us. Starting now.

“I need to tell you something.” I shore up the last reserves of ego boost left in my purple power blouse. “Grant and I didn’t come back from that trip a couple. I ran into Josh as soon as we got to town, and he was doing like Josh does, and Grant stepped in as my fake boyfriend. Or, I stepped in as his fake girlfriend. It’s fuzzy. Either way, the key word there isfake. I’m sorry I lied to you.”

She blinks at me for a second. “You tried to fake date Grant? What in the rom-com scenario?”

“I know. Josh was being so humiliating, and I thought the lie could be contained to just him, but thenMomwas there, and it spiraled.”

“Huh. When did you realize it’s real?”

I love that it’s not even a question for her.

“For me? It was gradual. For him…I wasn’t sure until maybe a week ago. And now…” I draw in a deep breath as though my lungs can never fill enough. “I don’t want to let him go.”

She rounds the counter and wraps an arm around my shoulders. “So tell him.”

“I did.” Pathetically, and while I was hitched to his back, but it counts. “But he’s got his family business back home, and I can’t compete with that.”

I can’t be the kind of person who asks him to give up his life’s dream for me. I’m a lot of things, but I’m not that selfish.

“Lila, you had to compete for Josh’s attention, but I don’t think there’s any competition when it comes to Grant. Josh wanted everyone to look at him. Grant never takes his eyes off you.”

He sees past the ideal image I try to put forward in a way no one ever has before. I can just be myself, and he’s still right here with me. The good, the bad, and the violently ill. “I’ve never felt so seen. It’s annoying…and so immensely comforting. I want to beseenby Grant all the time.”

“Likenakedseen?”

Hope and I turn to find Wren standing in the pass-through. Of course. The open doorway is a brilliant marketing move and an ongoing source of irritation.

“Not exactly what I was going for.”

She smirks. “Your blush says I was right, though.”

Wren Krause is also an ongoing source of irritation, nomatter how much I love her. I release Hope and smooth the wrinkles in my blouse.

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