Page 11 of A Very Grumpy Halloween

“Okay, yeah, it was pretty bad,” I admit.

“I hope that you didn’t like the guy,” Saffron mumbles, and my smile drops.

“I do,” I tell them quietly.

“Then we’ll help you figure out a way to salvage this,” Ginger says, and Saffron nods, closing her book.

My sisters and I have always been close, and I love that even though they have no experience with dating or guys, they’re willing to drop what they’re doing to help me out with my boy troubles.

“He actually asked me out for tonight,” I tell them, and they both squeal.

“Really! He must be half in love with you then!” Ginger exclaims and I can feel my cheeks start to blush.

“Hey, sorry I’m late!” Lilou calls as she hurries in.

“No worries,” I assure her.

“We’re talking about Maple’s love life,” Ginger tells her with a saucy smirk and Lilou’s gaze swings to mine in surprise.

“Ryder?” She guesses, and I nod.

“I knew it! He’s always making eyes at you,” she says, and I laugh when she does her imitation of it.

“I, I don’t think that I’ve ever seen him look at me like that,” I say with a laugh, and she giggles as the door opens and Milo comes in.

Lilou is ducking behind the counter to put her purse and coat away so she doesn’t see him, and I bite my bottom lip as I wait to see her reaction.

“I wish that a guy would look at me like that,” she tells me, and Milo frowns.

“Darling, I’ll look at you any way that you want me to.”

Lilou stands up so fast that she almost tips over, and Saffron reaches out to steady her as she gapes at Milo.

“What are you doing in here?” She asks him, and he grins.

“I thought that you might like to point out a few of the things that you like,” he says and her face flames bright red.

“No thanks. Maple, I’ll be in the back doing inventory,” she says before she turns and practically sprints towards the back room.

Milo sighs, and I roll my eyes.

“Was your intention to scare her off?” I ask him, and he frowns.

“No, but I don’t know how to get through to her. I’ve tried giving her space, tried just talking to her, but it’s like as soon as I get close to her, she startles and takes off.”

“You should ask Ryder for some tips,” Ginger says, giving me a wicked grin.

I roll my eyes again and get back to stocking. I see Milo leave, and a moment later, I see him stop Ryder and say something. I watch them from beneath my lashes until Ryder opens the door.

“Are you here to get stuff for tonight?” I ask him, and he laughs.

“Nope. Hey, why did Milo just ask me to show him how I look at you?” He asks, leaning on the shelf above me.

Ginger and Saffron both giggle until Nolan walks in. Then Saffron shoves her book into her purse and stands.

“I’m headed home. I’ll see you guys tomorrow,” she says, and I wave bye.

“I’ll walk you,” Nolan tells her, and she ducks her head.

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