Page 15 of Grumpy Darling

“It’s a geography test on storms, Paige. And there’s nothing you hate more than storms.”

“Most people don’t like storms. They’re scary and they cover up the stars... I wish this test was on astronomy. I’ve always thought people don’t spend enough time stargazing.”

I knew she was trying to change the subject, and she was still avoiding my searching gaze. “Something is clearly up with you.”

She fell quiet.

“Are you still annoyed I made fun of you for being a mouse killer?”

“Actually, I’ve decided I prefer the term ‘unwitting mouse assassin.’”

I chuckled quietly, but she didn’t even notice, keeping her eyes locked on her cue cards. There was no way I could let this drop now. “You might as well spill. You’re staying here now, so I can just bug you for an explanation for the next two weeks straight.”

She finally glanced up, but it was only to shoot me a glare.

“Come on, Pidge . . .”

“Don’t call me that,” she grumbled. Using my nickname for Paige was always a surefire way to win her over in situations like this, and she knew it. I’d been calling her the same thing ever since we first met as kids. We were only seven, but even then I’d been so struck by how pretty she was, I could barely speak. I went to say her name, but I was so nervous I stumbled over it. Ten years later, I was still pretending it had been on purpose.

“You know if something’s bothering you, you can talk to me, right?” I wasn’t the kind of guy people usually chose to unload their feelings onto. Probably because I didn’t tend to sugarcoat my responses.

“It’s just...” She was still frowning down at the cue cards in her hands but slowly let them drop to the floor. I waited patiently for her to continue, but she was quiet for so long I thought she might not respond at all. Then she suddenly looked up at me. “I want to be kissed.”

My eyes widened. “What?”

“I want to be kissed.” She said it a little slower, as if she was trying to make sure I heard. I stared back at her, still unsure if I’d understood correctly.

“You know, kissing?” she finally added, looking at me like I’d taken too many pucks to the head. “Two sets of lips meeting? Maybe a little tongue...”

“Yeah, okay, I know what kissing is.”

“Well, good. Because I’ve never kissed anyone, and I need your help with my first time...”

“Uh, like, now?” Was I too young to go into cardiac arrest? Because the way my heart was pounding couldn’t be healthy.

“You wanted to talk about what’s bothering me,” she said. “So, let’s talk about it.”

I rubbed a hand down my face as the reality of her words hit. Of course she didn’t want to kissme. She only wanted my advice. And that meant she wanted to kiss somebody else. I was already regretting starting this conversation and wondering who I was going to have to murder.

“No guy will go near me...” she continued, and my eyes shot straight up to hers.

“Why?” I growled. “What’s wrong with them?” I might not like the thought of Paige dating or kissing anyone, but the idea that a guy couldn’t see how amazing she was made me see red.

“That.” She pointed at me. “That’s the problem.”

“Me?” I mimicked the way she was pointing directly at my chest.

“You’re scaring guys off.”

“No, I’m not.” At least, I didn’t think I was. There were a few guys over the years who’d taken an interest in Paige, but they were mostly total players who weren’t nearly good enough for her. I hadn’t told them they couldn’t ask her out. Not exactly. I’d just warned that they’d have to answer to me if they broke her heart.

Okay, yeah, maybe I was scaring them off.

“Think about it,” she continued. “Almost every guy at school is terrified of you. You just have to look at them the wrong way and they run in the other direction.”

“I can’t help it if some people have weak dispositions...”

She folded her arms across her chest as she stared me down.

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