Page 57 of Just Act Natural

Her smile loses the strain it held just a minute ago when Wren was goading her. “He loves it. It’s got a big yard, and he spends time almost every day playing with our neighbor’s dog.”

My heart acts up just imagining him romping with a dog. “I love that for him.”

“Don’t skip out on us,” Hope says when I move back onto her side of the wide doorway.

“I won’t. You had me at Delish.”

“You had a good time though, right?” she prompts.

The trip flashes through my mind like a horror movie montage: the ants, the marmot holes, the camp toilet, the threat of leeches. But a true highlight reel springs up right after: swimming in the lake, the mountain views, gazing at the stars with Grant.

Everythingwith Grant.

“Yeah,” I say softly.

She grins wide. “I knew it.”

It’s probably not good for my stomach to go from the tasty but sensible meals Mitchell made on the trail to a massive hamburger and fries, but the heart wants what it wants. Next to me, Hope taps out a text to Griffin. I’m not trying to spy, but his answeringHave fun! Love youis hard to miss.

Also, apparently, a bacon emoji? I don’t understand these two.

We snagged a booth at Delish along with Wren and Tess, but like most locals, we don’t bother opening the menus. They change it up seasonally, but you’ll hear about their latest offering before you ever see it listed anywhere. I don’t love small town gossip, but when it comes to letting me know fresh strawberry milkshakes are back in season? Bring on the rumor mill.

Amy Ellison wanders over to take our orders looking at us like we’re her favorite customers. “It’s been a while since we’ve seen all of you in here together. Is there a special occasion?”

“Girls night,” Wren answers.

“Oh.” She makes a face like she knows we’re here to tell secrets. Probably because she and her wife Jodi have served us burgers and shakes since we were in our teens. If we asked her to, she’d sit down and join in the gossip. Amy and Jodi are Sunshine’s honorary cool aunts, and we love them for it.

She takes our orders but pauses next to Tess. “Is everything going all right over at the duplex? Ian’s not giving you a hard time, is he? My nephew’s been prickly lately, but if he’s extending that to you, I’ll talk to him.”

Pink washes over Tess’s cheeks as soon as Amy mentions Ian. Curious. I’m starting to understand the intertwining gossip Wren teased earlier.

“He was a little prickly at the beginning, but I think we’re getting along now.” Tess smiles sweetly, but oh, she does not want to talk about this. She’s wearing a customer service smile that doesn’t go all the way down. “Thank you again for renting us the apartment.”

Amy waves off her thanks. “It’s our pleasure to have you there. I’ll go get your orders in.”

As soon as she walks away, the rest of us lean toward Tess.

“I feel like we need to hear more about your neighbor,” Hope says.

“The guy with the dog?” I ask.

“Thehotguy with the dog.” In case her naughty tone wasn’t enough, Wren bobs her eyebrows.

Tess raises both hands. “I just stopped thinking of him as a growly hermit two days ago.”

“Her exact words were ‘plundering Viking.’” Wren’s little sister sing-song voice is as good as Hope’s.

Tess’s glare could melt metal. “We’ve known each other for two weeks. Could we please not jump straight into the deep end here?”

“Okay, but he did come into the bakery the other day, and sparks were flying all over the place.”

“Loads of people come into the bakery.” Tess’s defense feels like a borderline confession even to me.

“Yeah, but nobody else who looks at you like you’re the only thing he wants in the whole store.”

Tess does a quick scan of the diner, probably checking for her neighbor. It is a small town, after all. “Even if he does—and I’m not saying he does!—I haven’t been on a date since before August came along. I don’t know how to do any of this anymore. I don’t know what he expects, or what I’m willing to give.”

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