Page 84 of Perfectly Grumpy

“Do you want to sit here?” She motions toward the sofa bed. “Look, I’m not offering anything more than a place to read. But if you need a backrest, it’s better than the floor.”

“Are you inviting me into your personalspace, Sunny?”

“I’m inviting your spine to not suffer,” she says, scooting over to the edge of the mattress. “Only doing this for your back health.”

I smirk. “How generous of you.”

She rolls to her stomach and adjusts her pillow beneath her. “Well, you did save my life today.”

I join her on the sofa bed, careful to keep some space between us, avoiding looking at her because it’s safer that way. “How do you feel about fantasy novels?”

“I should’ve known you’re reading Tolkien."

“Not Tolkien. A new writer. Someone you’ve never heard of.”

“Is he any good?” She’s tucked under her blanket, hidden from view.

“You be the judge. But let me set the scene for you first.” I shift slightly, getting comfortable against the sofa. “The story follows Thorne, a prince with ancient magic, and Kyara, a seemingly ordinary young woman with untapped potential. They’re sworn enemies from warring kingdoms who find themselves reluctantly allied against the dark forces threatening the Forbidden Forest of Eledon. Thorne must teach Kyara to wield both a weapon and magic—because if she doesn’t learn quickly, she won’t survive what’s coming.”

“Got it,” Lauren says. “Good versus evil. Training to survive. Basically, every fantasy novel there ever was.”

“That’s like saying hockey is just men chasing a puck around ice. The magic is in the details, Sunny.” Then I start reading:

Thorne adjusted Kyara’s grip on the bow, his hands warm over hers. “You’re holding too much tension in your shoulders,” he murmured, his voice close enough to send a shiver down her spine. “Breathe, Kyara. A bow is not meant to be wrestled into submission. It’s an extension of you. It moves with you, not against you.”

She exhaled slowly, his touch steadying her as he guided her arms into position, the warmth of his body against hers causing her to lose focus on her training. The night air hummed betweenthem, charged with magic and something she couldn’t ignore. This man was supposed to be her enemy. But now he was training her to fight, to survive in the forests of Eledon on her own, and it didn’t make sense to her. Why would he help her, when he could make her his captive? Instead, he was treating her like an equal.

“Now, draw back,” he instructed. “Feel the weight of the arrow.”

Kyara’s heart hammered as Thorne’s hands lingered just a second longer than necessary on hers. His breath brushed her cheek. She’d spent weeks fighting him, resisting his presence, his authority over her, his infuriating ability to see through her defenses. But right now, hidden in the quiet of the forest with only him guiding her, she felt something else entirely. Something far more dangerous…”

I pause in the story, glancing at Lauren, who doesn’t look like she’s blinked for the last few minutes. “I think we need to stop here. You look too sleepy to continue.”

“Stop…What? No! I need to know what happens. Why are they enemies? Is he one of these morally gray men?”

“I see somebody’s impatient.” I smirk, reveling in the fact that she’s asking for more of my book. “I thought you’d be out within minutes.”

“I will be,” she shoots back, sitting up in bed. “But I have to find out what happens first with Kyara. Oh, my gosh, do they end up kissing?”

“I’m not telling,” I say, flicking off my iPad, the room suddenly plunging into darkness.

Out of nowhere, a pillow smacks me on the head. “You’re doing this on purpose.”

“I thought you didn’t like fantasy?” I say, pushing the pillow back at her.

“I don’t, but this isn’t just fantasy, and clearly you’ve gotten to a good part and then left me with a cliffhanger. You think I cansleep now?”

“I think we should just call it a night,” I say, scooting to the edge of the bed, away from her pillow. “Big day tomorrow.”

“No, Tate!” She lunges toward me, grabbing my arm so I can’t leave. “I need another chapter. He just taught her how to fight. Now he has to fall in love with her.”

“So, what you’re telling me is…youlikeit?” My relief is growing bigger by the second.

She straightens her face. “Maybe a little.”

“You’re willing to admit you were wrong about my boring fantasy book?”

She exhales, clearly trying to downplay it. “It’s notthatbad,” she says, then pauses. “Okay, fine. I’m invested. Could you start at the beginning, though? I need their backstory first.”

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