Page 110 of Romancing the Grump
I’m still terrified. It’s hard to rewrite a narrative I’ve beenliving my entire adult life.
But for the first time, I’m realizing it isn’t just about letting myself love Summer, it’s also about letting Summer love me.
A peaceful warmth flows through me, reaching all the way out to my fingertips and all the way down to my toes. It’s what I want.
Sheis what I want.
I’m not sure I knew that before I met her. But she changed everything. She changed me.
I stand up, pulsing with sudden energy.
I reach for Mom’s hands, pulling her to her feet, then wrap her in an enormous hug. Cassie is next, and she only protests a little when I pull her coffee cup out of her hands and hug her, too.
Blake appears in the doorway, looking at me with furrowed brows. “What’s going on?”
I let go of Cassie and pull Blake into a hug, lifting him off the ground.
He groans and beats on my shoulder. “Dude. What is wrong with you?”
Behind us, Mom starts to laugh. “I think Nathan just decided that he’s in love.”
I spin back around and take Mom’s face in my hands, planting a kiss on her forehead. “I am in love. And I can’t wait for you to meet her.”
Late that night, before I crawl into a too-small twin bed in my too-small childhood bedroom, I take off my father’s ring and carry it to my mom’s room. She answers the door when I knock, and I reach for her hand, lowering the ring into her palm.
“I want you to take this back, Mom,” I say, closing her fingers around the ring. “I don’t need it anymore.”
CHAPTER 26
SUMMER
If I neededa distraction from wondering where Nathan is, what he’s doing, and whether he’s going to love me back or break my heart, a party at Audrey and Flint’s house is perfect.
Sometimes I’m still a little intimidated by my very famous brother-in-law. It’s just so weird standing across the kitchen island from Flint Hawthorne, someone I’ve seen in actual movies, watching him shovel homemade French onion dip into his mouth with a carrot stick.
Not to mention the fact that this gorgeous house—his multi-million-dollar mansion—is right here in Silver Creek. The house I grew up in is only ten minutes down the road. My high school with its faded bleachers and ugly orange lockers is the same high schoolheattended. He’s older than me, so I never knew him before he was famous, but even when I knew that the famous Flint Hawthorne was from my hometown, I didn’t think I’d ever actually see him here. It was just some weirdrandom fact, not something that was relevant to my life. He wasfromSilver Creek. But that didn’t mean he’d ever come back.
And yet, here he is.
I’m sure I’ll get used to it as time goes on. It doesn’t seem to bother Audrey anymore, though, to be fair, she didn’t even know he was famous when they first met.
I watch as my older sister steps in beside him, swiping a carrot and taking a bite while she slips an arm around Flint’s waist.
On his other side, Mom opens the fridge and pulls out a bottle of water. “Anyone else want one?” she asks the room at large.
I hold up my hand, and Mom grabs one for me. As she passes behind Flint and Audrey, Flint leans down and presses a kiss to my sister’s forehead, and a tiny twinge of pain shoots through my heart.
I wouldn’t wish my sister’s happiness away for anything, but I’ll be glad when the night is over and I’m no longer surrounded by so many happy couples. Flint’s entire family is here, celebrating his return after two months shooting on-location in New Zealand. He has three older brothers and one younger sister, all married, some even with kids. Plus, his parents are here, and my parents are here, and Lucy is here with her new doctor boyfriend, who is, incidentally, absolutely too old for her.
The point is, I am the only person here who isn’t partnered up. If the universe is taking notes, that just feels rude. Especially when Iknowwho I want my partner to be. I found him, I fell in love with him, and now I’m without him. I put myself out there, I saidI love you,and he didn’t say it back. It’s a terrible, lonely feeling.
Mom dodges Flint’s nephew, Jack, as he darts through thekitchen. When she finally reaches me and hands over the promised water bottle, she tilts her head toward Flint and Audrey, who are still wrapped up in each other’s arms.
“You’re staring, honey,” she says. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
I look away from my sister and force myself to focus on Mom. “Yeah. Just missing Nathan.” It’s an honest answer, even if Mom doesn’t know the whole truth. As far as she and Dad know, I’ve only ever been dating Nathan for real.
“I hope we get to meet him soon,” Mom says. “Your father really has learned a lot about hockey. He even mentioned wanting to go to a game at some point.”
