Page 93 of Perfectly Grumpy

“But youhadto be my date,” she says. “If you go to prom once in your life, it should be with someone you love to spend time with.”

I step toward her, closing the space between us until I can see the dark pools in her eyes, catching the moonlight. “Lauren, look at me.”

She meets my gaze, and I let her see everything I’ve been tryingto hide all week. “There’s never been a moment tonight—or any time this week—when I didn’t want to be exactly where I am.” My fingers find hers in the darkness, intertwining slowly. “There’s only one girl I ever wanted to take tonight…” My free hand moves to cup her face, my thumb brushing across the hollow of her cheek, before I gently tip her chin toward me. “And it’s you.”

She blinks, her lips opening slightly. “Me?”

I nod, moving closer until the space between us feels electric. “But the worst part is wondering how the night will end.” My hand finds the curve of her waist. “Every real prom ends the same way—with a goodbye kiss.”

Her eyes drop to my mouth, and that’s when I know she’s thinking of it too. My fingers trail to her neck, threading gently into her hair. “I’ve been wondering all night if we should follow tradition.”

She pauses.

“Sunny,” I whisper, “if you don’t say something soon, I’m going to do the thing I’ve been tryingnotto do all night.”

“Tate, if you’re asking for permission to kiss me, the answer’s yes.”

I dip my head toward her, my mouth hovering just above hers, close enough to feel her breath against my lips. For a moment, everything narrows to just this—her fingers curling into my hair, the hammering of my heart, her scent lingering on my skin.

A rustling on the path stirs behind us. “Aunt Lauren! Where are you?” Kaylie’s voice rings through the forest.

Lauren jumps back, her hand flying to her mouth. I fight the urge to groan out loud.

“Tate!” Kaylie says, appearing around the bend, followed by Olivia holding Camden, who’s now in his pajamas.

“We’ve been looking everywhere for you!” Kaylie says.

“Why didn’t you text?” Lauren says a little breathlessly.

“We did,” Olivia says. “But you didn’t answer. Then Kaylie suggested a walk to come find you.” Her sister frowns. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong.” Lauren takes another step away from me, smoothing down her dress.

“Dad sent us,” Olivia says. “He’s starting a bonfire and wants everyone there for s’mores and family stories. They moved it from tomorrow night to tonight because it might rain.” She hoists a sleepy Camden higher on her hip. “We tried to tell him we could just wait for you to text back, but you know Dad.”

“We’ll be right there,” Lauren says.

“Great!” Olivia says, then pauses, her gaze shifting between us. “Did we…interrupt something?”

“No!” Lauren says quickly, shaking her head. “Not at all.” Something in her tone makes me wonder if she’s relieved her sister found us right before we crossed a line we can’t turn back from.

Maybe I misread the signals. Maybe what almost happened was just her getting caught up in the night and everything we’ve been pretending. It’s probably for the best we were interrupted, since we’re sharing a cabin. Lines are getting blurred enough without adding a first kiss complication to the mix.

The walk to the bonfire is awkward, with Lauren keeping a careful distance away from me while chatting with her sister like nothing happened.

On our way, I drop my phone while fumbling for it in my pocket, and Lauren picks it up, her fingers accidentally swiping across the screen. The message notification glows in the darkness.

“Looks like there’s a message from someone named Lydia?” she says, stopping beside me.

I frown. “That’s my ex from college,” I say, taking the phone as Olivia and the kids keep walking. “She hasn’t contacted me since we graduated.”

Lydia

Saw your Instagram picture and wanted to ask if we could talk sometime. Would be great to see you again.

Lauren studies me. “What does she want?”

“Lydia wants to get together. She saw the picture of me with Annie.”

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