Page 12 of Sunshine for the Grumpy Grizzly

I’ll just go in for ten minutes?—

Bang. Bang.

Oh, god. Someone’s at the door.

I pull on my T-shirt again and yank it open.

A huge dark shape fills the doorway, almost blocking out the light.

My stomach flips.

Ohh… it’s him.

And he’s gotten changed. He’s no longer wearing the blood-stained shirt. Instead, he’s in a crisp white T-shirt.

All I can do is stare.

His biceps are all pumped up and his skin is deeply tanned and scattered with scars, like he’s been fighting a bear or something. And the way the T-shirt clings to those massive pecs of his…

Lucy Cole, pick your jaw up off the floor.

He doesn’t say anything. He’s just standing there looking hot.

“H-hi,” I say at last.

“Got some stuff.” He raises his hands and I finally notice that he’s holding two overflowing shopping bags.

“Oh, great!” I grab one of them.

“Lucy, it’s heavy!” he warns.

Too late. I’ve hauled it over to the bed, but the momentum upends it and the contents spill all over the coverlet.

A box of Graham crackers and a Hershey’s bar falls out, followed by marshmallows, bbq sauce, chips and pretzels, and burger buns. “Wow, this is just perfect. Thank you!”

“Wasn’t sure if it was right, so I asked someone.” He shrugs his massive shoulders.

“Oh, this is awesome. Everyone’s gonna be real happy.” In my excitement, I grab the second one.

“Wait—” he says, but I’m absorbed in my task.

This one contains more of the same, but there’s also something else—a big, red foil-wrapped heart. I hold it up to the light. “Whatisthat?”

“It’s for you.”

“Huh?” I whirl around to face him.

For the first time, that laser beam gaze shoots to the floor, like he can’t meet my eyes anymore. “Wanted to get you something,” he grunts.

My own heart gives a little jump. I’m not used to people getting me things. I examine it eagerly. The label says it’s a hollow chocolate shell, which contains twenty more chocolate hearts, all with soft centers. My favorite. I swoon a little.

“W-what did I do to deserve it?”

His jaw works back and forth, like he’s angry. Or embarrassed? Sometimes I get people’s reactions confused. Then he shrugs. “Just because you’ve been having a hard time.”

Ohh. A silly little part of me hoped it was because helikedme. “Not really!” I say, pretending my shoulders aren’t slumping in disappointment.

He fixes me with a real serious look. “Lucy, the way those… those people have been treating you, it ain’t right.”

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