Page 39 of Grumpy Darling

“Bad doesn’t even begin to describe it.”

“I’m so sorry, Paige.”

I shook my head. “It’s not your fault. And it turns out, it’s not even Grayson’s fault I haven’t been kissed. I’m the one to blame. I’m hopeless with boys.”

“You’re not hopeless.”

I waved at my ruined top to emphasize my point.

“Don’t be so hard on yourself. It was your first try. You’ll do better next time. You just need a little more practice.”

“A little more practice? I’d be better off getting a brain transplant.” I tried to pull the top from my skin—it was starting to stick. “I need to go deal with this.”

“Okay,” she agreed. “We can regroup after. Maybe try a different approach.”

I nodded, but deep down I knew I was done for the night. I had blown things with Damien so thoroughly I was going to need far more than a pep talk from Bonnie if I was going to turn this around. I was going to have to do something drastic. I just wasn’t sure what that might be.

Chapter 10

Grayson

I would rather eat another batch of Paige’s poisonous muffins than watch her kiss another guy. Surely death would be less painful than the suffering I was enduring at the mere thought of her with someone else. The party had only just started, but I’d spent the entire time standing in the rec room, watching the door like a hawk. I knew Paige could arrive at any moment what might happen when she did.

“She’s not here yet,” Reed said as he came to stand next to me. It was like he’d read my mind.

“Don’t know who or what you’re talking about.”

“Uh-huh.” Reed looked like he was fighting a smirk. “Have you thought any more about the friendly advice we gave you the other day?”

“Friendly advice? You mean, when you guys cornered me in the locker room and told me I needed to change my entire personality?”

“Yeah, that.”

“I’ve been doing my best to pretend it never happened.” I lifted my drink to my lips and took a slow sip.

“So, you’re going to sit back and do nothing?”

“That’s the plan.” Although, the thought of doing nothing almost pissed me off more than Reed and the guys’ insulting list of suggestions. I’d been doing nothing since forever, and unsurprisingly, it had gotten me nowhere.

“You really need to stop being so stubborn,” Reed said. “It’s making you miserable.”

“Perhaps I like misery.” Misery was safe. Misery was comfortable. And, however miserable I might be now, surely it couldn’t be worse than the devastation I’d feel if I shared my feelings and it ruined my friendship with Paige.

Reed shook his head at me. “You can choose to be happy, you know? You can fight for it. You’ll regret doing nothing, and will only have yourself to blame.”

As he spoke, I followed his gaze to where Violet was chatting with Matt on the other side of the room. Reed was staring at her with bright, wide eyes. He’d had that look on his face pretty much every day since they’d officially started dating.

“You don’t have to just pine after her from a distance anymore,” I said. “You got the girl.”

“I know.” Reed grinned as he pulled his eyes away from her to look at me. “It’s awesome. You should try it.”

He walked over to join Violet and wrapped his arms around her waist. He made it sound easy. Like I could just wave a wand, and everything would fall into place. I’d magically become the guy Paige deserved, she’d return my feelings, and we’d live happily ever after. It was a fantasy. One I wanted to become reality far too much.

I was almost grateful that my knee was still hurting from the game today. I needed the distraction. Although, even that wasn’t enough to fully take the edge off the anxiety swirling in my gut.

“So, what are you going to do if Paige kisses Damien tonight?” Parker said, appearing out of nowhere at my side. “Matt bet me fifty bucks you’d punch him. I bet you’d interfere with the whole thing before he gets a chance.”

What was it with my brothers and their sudden obsession over my relationship with Paige?

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