Page 18 of Grumpy Darling

“Technically, if I’m sleeping with anyone, it’s Cammie.”

“She’s hot too,” Bonnie replied, though the amusement in her eyes quickly dimmed. “But she is mildly terrifying. Did you have to sleep with one eye open last night?”

“Of course not. Cammie isn’t that bad.”

“I heard she threatened to cut off her last skating partner’s balls with a pair of skates...”

“She must have been having a bad day.”

“I’ll say,” Bonnie agreed with a laugh. “But enough about your psycho new sleep buddy. You said you had news to tell me? Spill.”

I drew in a deep breath. “Parker found my bucket list.”

“So?”

“So, there’s an item on it that I would prefer he didn’t know about, but now he and Grayson both do.”

“I’m lost.” Bonnie shook her head. “I thought the list was just a bunch of hobbies you wanted to try out. What’s so embarrassing about this one thing?”

Bonnie was one of the few people aware of my list, but I wasn’t sure she really understood it. Unlike me, she knew exactly what she wanted to do with her life and how to get there. Inquisitive by nature and capable of digging up dirt on pretty much anyone or anything, she was destined to fulfill her dreams of reporting for a major national newspaper. I was still working out what my dreams were. The list was meant to help with that.

I’d come up with all sorts of things I could try to help find my passion in life. I’d started a veggie patch, then tried to learn an instrument. I’d volunteered as a candy striper at the local hospital and offered a dog-walking service on the weekends. I’d tried to sew a dress, taken a woodworking class, and auditioned for the school play. I’d even spent a day in Danny Darling’s garage.

Nothing had stuck. My vegetables had died, one of the dogs had escaped, and the dress I made looked like a last-minute Halloween costume. Bonnie had watched me go from one failure to another, and I could never work out whether she thought it was hilarious, heartbreaking, or just plain boring.

I found trying all these different things was fun though. The list was also forcing me to get outside my comfort zone and experience things I never would have otherwise. So, any time I thought of something I wanted to do before I graduated, I added it to the bottom of the page. The kissing—well, I was seriously regretting that addition now.

I fished the list out of my bag and handed it over to her. “See for yourself. It’s the one at the end.”

Her eyes darted to the bottom of the page, and she immediately started to grin. “That’s what you’re worried about? I’ve told you before, there’s nothing embarrassing about the fact you haven’t kissed anyone. It’s just a little bad luck. If you really want to, I’m sure we could make it happen in no time.”

“Except it’snotbad luck.”

She gave me a curious look as she waited for me to explain. We’d reached the entrance to the cafeteria, and I pulled her aside so people wouldn’t overhear.

“It’s Grayson,” I whispered. “He’s been scaring guys away from me.”

Bonnie was silent for a moment but then she let out a laugh. “Oh, of course he has.”

“It’s not funny.” She was taking this far better than I had. “And why don’t you seem surprised?”

“Because this totally explains your guy problems,” she replied. “You’re like Rapunzel—trapped in a tower with a fire-breathing dragon keeping guard. The beast is so terrifying, only the bravest knights in the land would consider battling it to rescue you.”

“Gray isn’t a dragon.”

“Oh yes, he is. Scales and all.” She grinned. “Your very own personal dragon. It’s actually pretty cool. I’m jealous.”

I rubbed a hand across my forehead. “What if I don’t want to be rescued?”

“You don’t want a brave warrior to ascend your tower, clamber into your highest room and release you?”

I poked her in the ribs. Hard.

“There’s something wrong with you, Bon. I meant, I don’t need protecting from guys, and I certainly don’t needreleasing.”

“Pity.” She looked thoughtful. “Maybe Grayson’s just going to have to make it up to you then...” She let the end of her sentence drift, as if I was supposed to know what she was implying. When I didn’t respond, she filled in the blank for me.

“With his lips, Paige!”

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