Page 16 of Romancing the Grump
“You all right, man?” he asks under his breath. “I think that’s the cleanest that bowl has ever been.”
“It just slipped,” I mumble. I turn off the water and dry my hands on the towel sitting beside the sink.
Wait.If Summer worked for the DA, she might have some insight into how I could help Blake. Would it be too obvious to ask her now? It might clue her in to the fact that I was eavesdropping, but for Blake, I’m almost willing to out myself. I’m about to open my mouth to do just that when Alec calls over from the table.
“Hey, Summer. If you’re finished eating, come play. It’ll help you learn the rules.”
She rolls her eyes at Gracie, but she still gets up and heads to the table, smiling the whole way. My teammates are pounding their fists on the table as Van hits the salt-shaker-lid-turned-hockey-puck into a tiny goal they’ve constructed out of toothpicks and napkins. When he makes it in, he lifts his hands over his head to cheer. “Hat trick, baby!”
I watch Summer until she’s sitting in between Van and Alec, then look away, catching Gracie’s gaze.
She’s studying me, her head cocked to the side. “You okay?”
I nod. “Yeah. Thanks for the soup. I’m gonna head out.” There’s no way I can bring my brother up to Summer in the middle of the mayhem Alec has created. I nod toward the table. “Thanks for dealing with…all of us.”
Gracie nods, her smile wry. “Felix is worth it.”
I’m still standing by the door, shrugging on my coat when Summer calls after me.
“Bye, Nathan.”
I look over my shoulder, my gut tightening when I see her gaze fixed right on me, her shoulders back, her posture relaxed and confident as she lifts her hand into a wave.
The same sensation from before washes over me, and goosebumps break out over my skin as a thought settles into my mind with utter certainty.
Summer Callahan does not find me the least bit intimidating. Instead, she seems to find joy in sparring with me, evenprovokingme.
I like it way too much.
Pretty sure that means I’m in serious trouble.
CHAPTER 5
SUMMER
To sayI’m nervous about a nine-hour bus ride with twenty professional hockey players would be the understatement of the century. I cope with my nerves by doing what I usually do when I’m stressed out.
I call my sister.
“Hey!” she says, her cheerful voice filling my car. “Are you there yet? Are you on the bus? Can you send me a picture?”
“Stop it. I’m not there yet. I’m driving over now.”
“Are you nervous?”
“Weirdly, I’m more nervous about the bus ride than I am the actual contract negotiation. Is that the stupidest thing ever?”
“Not for you,” Lucy says. “You live for contract negotiations.”
“True.”
“How’s Nathan?” she asks, and I grip the steering wheel a little tighter.
“Why are you only asking about him?”
“Because he’s the only one you ever mention by name. Are we ready to call it a crush yet?”
I sigh. “I’ve been trying so hardnotto have a crush. Am I that obvious?”
