Page 10 of A Very Grumpy Halloween

“I’ll wake you to the shop,” I tell her, and she shakes her head.

“You don’t have to do that.”

“I want to.”

She doesn’t argue after that, and we walk to Wet and Wild in companionable silence.

“Thanks for breakfast,” she says as we stop outside the doors.

“Anytime. I’ll pick you up for our date at six,” I tell her, and she nods, her cheeks turning pink as I smile down at her.

“Until tonight,” I whisper, leaning down and brushing a kiss against her cheek.

I hear her sharp inhale as my lips brush against her soft skin, and I smile as I pull back and head down the street.

Now, I just need to nail this first date and win my dream girl.

FIVE

Maple

Tonight.

I’m going out on a date tonight.

With Ryder.

My mind has been racing since he left me at Wet and Wild earlier today. Part of me still can’t believe that I’m going out on my first-ever date tonight. I can’t help but wonder if maybe he only asked me out because he’s trying to get lucky since I kind of fell asleep on him last night before we could get to that part.

I wince as I remember it.

“What’s that look for?” Saffron asks as she peers at me from above the book in her hand.

“Just remembering something,” I mumble, and her eyebrows raise.

“Remembering what? Your last dental appointment,” she jokes.

“I wish.”

“What could be that bad?” She asks as the front door opens and our youngest sister, Ginger, walks in.

“What’s bad?” She asks as she hops up on the other chair behind the counter.

“My dating life,” I tell them, and they both snort.

“Whatdating life?” Ginger asks, and I sigh.

“I asked Ryder out last night.”

“What!?!” Ginger asks, leaning forward with excitement. Saffron just looks surprised.

“Yeah…”

“How did it go?” Saffron asks, and I sigh again, louder this time.

“Terrible. Or, well, not so bad considering that I got drunk and fell asleep on the guy that I had invited over for sex.”

“How is that not so bad?” Ginger cries, and I can’t help but laugh.

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