Page 49 of Grumpy Darling

“How is that possible?”

“I’m not very good with boys.” As I’d proven last night. Grayson’s negative contribution to the situation was practically a blip next to my own disastrous actions. Now that I thought about it, I wondered if he’d actually been doing me a favor. How many more embarrassing moments would I have endured if I’d ended up close to kissing any of the boys he’d scared away?

“I find that hard to believe,” Violet replied. “They should be flocking to you; you’re one of the friendliest people I’ve met here.”

“That’s only because I don’t want to kiss you. If I did, I’d be acting like a total gremlin right now.”

She laughed. “A gremlin?”

“Yep. Glowing red eyes, pointy horns, sharp claws. You’d be running for the hills.”

“Well, maybe some guys are into that sort of thing.”

“Hopefully.” I playfully lifted my hands to show my fingers were crossed.

“Just, when you do find one, don’t make the same mistake as me. Check his lips for any blemishes first.”

I laughed again and nodded. “Oh, I will.”

Reed collapsed onto the bench at Violet’s side. “Are you two planning on joining us anytime soon?”

“I can’t,” I replied. “The ice won’t stay still.”

Reed frowned with confusion. “Uh, Paige, it’s frozen solid.”

“The ice is not the problem . . .”

“Okay.” He laughed uncertainly, before he turned his attention to Violet. “What about you, Sunshine?”

“I think I might be allergic to ice and snow,” she replied.

“Allergic, huh?”

“Deathly,” she added. “Such a shame. But at least the view from the bench is pretty great.”

“I guess we’ll have to enjoy it together then.”

Violet had turned Reed into such a softy. I’d never seen him act that way around anyone. He definitely would not have given up an afternoon skating to sit on a bench with a girl before.

Gray cleared his throat. He’d skated to the edge of the lake and was standing in front of me with his hand held out.

“I’m allergic to ice and snow too,” I told him.

“Then try not to touch it if you fall.”

My eyes narrowed on him. Where was the sympathy?

“Come on, Pidge.” His eyes were practically sparkling, and I found them incredibly inviting.

“I haven’t skated in ages, and the world is still spinning after the shots Bonnie gave me last night.”

“All I’m hearing are excuses.”

“Valid ones. I really don’t feel like falling on my ass today.”

“Do you think I’d let anything bad happen to you?”

“I think I have a better chance of keeping my butt ice-free if I’m not skating.”

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