Page 10 of A Very Grumpy Thanksgiving

“Story?”

“Yeah, you know? Like what we’re going to tell your family.”

“Tell them about what?” he asks with a frown.

“Us? I’m sure that they’ll have questions. My sisters would want to know where we met, what our first date was, who asked who out, that sort of thing.”

“Oh. Right.”

“What have you already told them?” I ask as I finish off my slice.

“Just that you’re new to town too and that you’re my neighbor.”

“Okay, that’s good. We can just stick as close to the truth as possible then so that it’s easier to remember.”

“Okay.”

“We’ll say that we met when I moved in, that you asked me out, and that our first date was at the Italian place in town. Sound good?”

“Sure.”

My phone buzzes, and I look at the screen to see Ginger’s name.

“I have to get back to the bookstore,” I tell him. “I’ll see you later.”

He nods, and I stuff the pizza box in the fridge before I head back to my car and make the short drive into town.

Ginger was covering for me at the shop again today and I smile at her as I walk in and see her behind the counter.

“Hey, thanks for watching things here.”

“No problem,” she says with a wide smile. “How’s your man?”

I roll my eyes at her question. My sisters know all about Nolan and me. I told them as soon as he asked me because Iwanted to know if I was making a mistake. They assured me that it was a good idea, but now I’m having doubts.

The way that we talk, the way that he is around me, it all just feels so natural. With such a big family, it’s easy to disappear, but Nolan makes me feel seen, truly seen, for the first time in forever. It’s easy for me to forget that this is all fake, just some deal.

And that’s dangerous.

“He’s good. The bathroom and stuff is coming along really well.”

“And? Has he declared his undying love for you yet?” she asks, and I snort.

“Nope.”

She sighs, and I smile as I join her behind the counter.

“This isn’t a romance book,” I say, trying to remind both of us of that fact.

“I’ve seen the way that he looks at you. Plus, there has to be a reason why he asked you and not someone else.”

“I think that he just lied and said he was dating me because I was there when his mom called. I don’t think he sees me like that,” I tell her.

“Hmm,” she says as she twirls an envelope in her fingers.

“What’s that?” I ask, desperate to change the subject.

“A note.”

---