Page 16 of Sunshine for the Grumpy Grizzly

“Oh, just making sure everyone else got served. What’s left?” I peer at some dark scraps of meat at the side of the grill.

He turns and picks something up with his tongs—I can’t see so well in the dark—and lays it over the flame. “Saved you a deer filet. It’s real tender. Did a marinade, too.”

I stand at his side and watch him cook it with an expert hand. His quietness makes me feel peaceful. For once in my life, I don’t feel like I need to fill every single space with my chatter.

“You only talk when you’ve got something to say, huh?” I blurt out.

He shoots a glance at me. “Sorry.”

“Huh?”

“I know people hate it how I’m so quiet.”

I lay my hand on his shoulder. “I didn’t say that.”

Something flashes in his eyes.

“Who hates it?”

He lets out a sigh that seems to come right from his boots. “My family. Apparently, I didn’t start talking till I was four. They all thought I was slow.”

My heart twinges. “Of course, you weren’t.”

He turns back to the grill. “It’s ready.” He plates up the deer filet, slices it thinly and presents it to me.

He watches keenly while I fork up a morsel.

It’sincredible. The most delicious thing I’ve ever eaten. A little moan escapes my lips.

“How is it?” he looks worried.

“Sogood. You saved that for me?”

Relief flashes across his features. “Of course.” Then he gives me a serious look. “Even when you put yourself at the back of the line, you come first, Lucy.”

I stare at him wordlessly.

Icome first?

The grill gets mobbed again, and I drift off into the trees, repeating his words to myself.

That’s not me. People like Natasha come first. I’ve always known that, and I’m cool with it. But Preston sees me in a different way. And the thought of that makes my heart feel like it’s too big for my chest.

Things get louder.The IT guy turns the music way up, then a conga line starts snaking its way through the trees. I stand back and watch. The sight of everyone having a good time makes my tummy tingle.

Although, if I’m honest, a little part of me can’t wait for them all to head to bed so it can be just me and Preston again.

When the conga is done, there’s a karaoke sing-off… three whole rounds of it. Then at long last, they start to clear out, laughing, shrieking and stumbling into the bushes.

And that’sa lotof mess left behind. Better get this cleared up.

I go to grab a garbage bag, but Preston snatches it out of my hands.

“Not your job,” he says firmly.

“I can’t leave it all to you.”

He shrugs. “I’m big enough.”

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