Page 111 of Romancing the Grump
I almost laugh out loud at the thought of Dad, a professional violinist and retired professor, going to a hockey game, but then, it’s exactly the kind of thing he would do. For me, if not for his own enjoyment. Even though he spends his free time listening to classical music and reading books and doing crossword puzzles, he’s curious by nature and loves to make people feel seen and appreciated. Especially people who are important to the women in his life.
“I can absolutely get you tickets if you really want to come,” I say. “The games are a lot of fun.”
Mom gives my shoulders a quick squeeze, then moves off to find my dad.
As soon as she’s gone, Lucy drops onto the barstool next to where I’m standing. “Still haven’t told Mom the truth?” she asks as she pulls a stuffed mushroom cap off one of the overflowing appetizer trays.
Lennox and Tatum, one of Flint’s brothers and his wife, are both professionally trained chefs, so food at the Hawthorne family gatherings is always next level.
“Honestly, why would I at this point?” I answer. “Wewon’t keep faking, so if we don’t decide to pursue something real, I’ll just have to tell her we broke up anyway.”
“True,” Lucy says. She nudges the tray of stuffed mushrooms toward me. “Try one. They’re amazing, and I haven’t seen you eat anything since you got here.”
I force myself to take a mushroom, but I hardly feel like eating. I’m too keyed up, too preoccupied. I’ve only heard from Nathan once since he left, when he texted to tell me Blake’s charges had been dropped. Otherwise, it’s been radio silence. Andfine.That’s what I told him to do. To take some time, figure out his emotions, not feel like he had to call or text or stay in touch. But the waiting is killing me. Every fifteen seconds, I’m wondering where he is or what he’s doing. Is he with his family? Hanging out with his nieces? Is he back in Harvest Hollow already?
“Lucy, what if he doesn’t love me back?” I suddenly ask.
Her expression softens. “Then he’s a first-class idiot.”
“I just keep thinking about what it felt like to sayI love youand not have him say it back. Was I crazy to say it in the first place?”
“Not if you feel that way,” Lucy says. She reaches over and squeezes my hand. “I know it’s hard, Sum. But I have a good feeling about this. I really think everything is going to work out.”
I’m about to ask what makes her so sure when Lucy’s doctor boyfriend, Eric, walks into the kitchen, hesitating when he sees us sitting side by side at the counter. I know that look. The way he’s gazing between us, panic barely concealed.
I can’t contain my scoff—he genuinely can’t tell us apart.
This should be Lucy’s first sign, even more than the age gap, but she just rolls her eyes.
“Shoes, Eric,” Lucy says. “Check the shoes.”
His eyes drop to her feet, and he nods. “Got it. Right.”
Comically, and completely accidentally, Lucy and I are wearing the same dress. It’s black and flowy and casual but also a little classy, easy to dress up or down and basically perfect. Usually, we would just buy one and share, but we were shopping right before I moved to Harvest Hollow, and it felt absolutely necessary that we each have our own. We found them on clearance at Nordstrom Rack, there were only two, and they were both in our size. It was fate. We were meant to have them.
Now, we look more like twins than we have since we were kids. We’re even wearing our hair the same way—loose waves, parted in the middle. Our shoes don’t match, but that’s it. If you know us well, there are definite differences, but first glance? It might take a minute to tell us apart.
“I really should have gone and changed,” I say, letting out a little laugh.
“Are you kidding? This is so fun,” Lucy says. “I used to love it when we matched.”
“Even when my boyfriend tried to make out with you instead of me?”
Lucy frowns. “I still say he knew it was me and was just trying to double dip. We weren’t even really dressed alike that day. We both had on black shirts. That hardly made us match.”
Most of the time growing up, Lucy and I loved being twins, but neither of us ever loved people acting as though we’re interchangeable. Guys liked to makethatparticular joke a lot when we were in high school, and it quickly became a standard we lived by. If guys couldn’t figure out a way to tell us apart, they weren’t worth our time.
I don’t remind Lucy of this rule, since Eric looks like he’sconsidering handcuffing himself to her just to keep from mixing us up.
“That guy was a jerk,” I say.
“Agreed.” Lucy lifts a cracker covered in some sort of melty brie cheese. “Here’s to hoping Nathan knows you with his eyes closed.”
“I’ll toast to that,” I say, grabbing my own cracker.
“Hey, Summer, where’s the new boyfriend?” Lila asks, her smile warm and sincere.
Lila is married to Perry, Flint’s oldest brother, and she’s lovely and wonderful and so completely sweet, I can’t be mad that she’s asking. Not when she has no reason to suspect anything out of the ordinary.
