Page 32 of Grumpy Darling

I was doing my best to watch Grayson play, but it was a little difficult to concentrate when Bonnie’s commentary was purely focused on each player’s ability to pucker up rather than their performance with the puck.

“Aren’t you supposed to be covering the game for the paper?” I asked.

“Nah, I assigned it to Abby. I knew this game was going to need my full attention for a different reason.” She was surveying the players closely, but she probably didn’t even know the score.

“And that reason is...” I already knew the answer.

“Damien Stone.” She grinned at me. “I’m trying to plan our best form of attack for the party tonight.”

“And that involves watching him skate?”

“The way a hockey player skates says a lot about their personality.”

“And what does Damien’s skating say about him?”

“He likes to take command of a situation.”

“You could probably say that about half the guys on the team.”

She shrugged and continued forming her game plan. “I think your best bet is to flirt with him tonight, and then lure him onto the dance floor, but let him think he’s taking the lead.”

“Flirting. Dancing. Okay,” I muttered. Why did that sound so simple, but also completely terrifying?

I was distracted by the action down on the ice, as a Jefferson High Giants player prepared to take a shot at the Devils’ goal. I held my breath as I realized our goalie, Elliot, was completely out of position. The Giants were certain to score. But Grayson appeared out of nowhere, swooping in front of the Jefferson player before he could swing his stick. Gray snatched the puck away, surprising his opponent so much the guy lost his balance and ended up sprawled on his stomach across the ice.

I applauded Grayson’s play along with all the other Devils fans in the building, but then instinctively moved to the edge of my seat as he made a pinpoint pass up the ice to Parker, who had a clear opportunity to score. When he flicked his wrists and sent the puck sailing into the top corner of Jefferson High’s net, everyone leaped to their feet and the noise of the crowd practically shook the arena. I was still watching Grayson, who modestly accepted the praise of nearby teammates, including a very relieved Elliot, while Parker celebrated wildly at the other end of the rink.

Bonnie couldn’t have looked more disinterested in the game as she gave a half-hearted clap at my side.

“You still want to go through with this, don’t you?” she asked as the applause died down and we lowered ourselves to our seats again.

I had no idea how she expected me to focus on this conversation and the game at the same time. “The kiss?” I asked.

“Obviously.”

“Uh, I think so?” I wasn’t feeling nearly as confident as I’d hoped. As much as I wanted my first kiss over and done with, it made me nervous to think of kissing anyone, especially someone like Damien. We hadn’t had much of a chance to talk this week, but whenever I’d seen him around school, he’d been confident and charming. He was the kind of guy that would make any girl go weak at the knees. Could he really be interested in someone like me?

“Because if you’re not sure about Damien, we can always try someone else,” Bonnie said, turning her eyes back to the Devils players. “Like, Elliot Ford has a really great ass,” she added, pointing to him.

“He’s a useless goalie, though,” I muttered. It seemed Grayson was out there saving his “great ass” at every turn today.

But Bonnie couldn’t be derailed. “And I hear Matt Cleaver is an amazing kisser, which is pretty important for the task at hand...”

“No way! Kissing Reed’s best friend would be too weird.”

“Okay, how about—”

“No, it has to be Damien,” I said before she could suggest more names. “I can’t risk another guy evaporating into thin air and, like you said, Grayson hasn’t yet had a chance to scare him off. Also, I know we were really little when Damien left town, but even then, I had a huge crush on him.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. I thought he was super cute.”

“Aw, that’s so sweet. It’s like you guys are meant to be.”

“I’m not sure I’d go that far . . .”

“I would.” Bonnie tilted her head and batted her eyelashes. “Damien’s lips are your destiny.”

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