Page 70 of Romancing the Grump
Her hands press into my chest, and she gives me a little shove. “Shut up. Did you never play that game in middle school? Where two people are randomly picked and they’re supposed to go into the closet and make out?”
My pulse quickens, my brain immediately recalling the feeling of her lips on mine. It takes me less than four seconds to imagine exactly how I’d spend seven minutes with Summer, and every single one of them would feel like heaven.
For a half-second, I wonder what she would do if I reached out and pulled her against me.
She wants seven minutes in heaven? I could give them to her. Right here. Right now.
But that would blur the lines, break all the rules weagreed to follow. She said she didn’t want to be confused, and that woulddefinitelybe confusing. I’ve always thought I know what I want—or don’t want—as far as relationships go, but now…Summer is making me question everything.
Once I’m sure I can open my mouth without saying something I might regret, I clear my throat. “So, what do you want to talk to me about again?”
“Right. That’s why we’re here,” Summer says. She takes a steadying breath, like she’s gearing up to admit something big. “Mostly, I just need you to know I had nothing to do with this.”
“With what?”
She sighs. “We’ve been set up.”
“Explain?”
“None of the single guys are here tonight. Not Alec or Van or Dumbo or Tucker or anyone.”
“Okay. So whoishere?”
This time, Summer huffs, and I smile at the sound. She’s kind of adorable when she’s irritated. “Felix and Gracie. Logan and Parker. Eli and Bailey. And you and me,” she says.
“Ah.”
“At first, I thought it was Parker wanting to give us more time to get to know each other, so we can, I don’t know, look more natural when we’re faking or whatever. But she swears she had no idea this was happening. I think it’s probably Felix and Gracie pulling the strings.”
The thought gives me pause. Do Felix and Graciewantus to be together? I mean, sure. I’ve been battling my own thoughts about Summer. And Felix did mention he wouldn’t be opposed. But he knows how anti-dating I am right now. He should want to keep Summer as far away from me as possible.
“I reminded them we’re just friends,” Summer continues. “That the dating, the kissing, it’s all fake. But they all just grinned at me with these knowing expressions, and…I don’t know. I guess I just thought it would be easier to get through this if we’re on the same team. If we both know what we’re up against.”
“I appreciate the heads-up,” I say.
“Okay, next question. And this is an important one.” She leans toward me, close enough that I feel the warmth of her radiating off her skin, but not quite close enough to touch. It would be so easy though.Too easy. “How are you at Settlers of Catan?”
The question surprises me, mostly because board games are the last thing on my mind right now.
“It’s a board game,” Summer says. “I guess Bailey is really good, and she and Eli want us all to play tonight. Do you know the game?”
Just saying yes would be a pretty drastic understatement, but it’s less nerdy than the truth, and I’m still trying to wrap my brain around what this has to do with anything.
“Yeah, I know it,” I say. Not the full truth. But not a lie either.
“You do? That’s good. Because I’m positive they’re going to make us play as a team—the rest of them definitely aren’t splitting up—and just because they were so sneaky tonight, I really want us to win.”
I didnotsee this one coming. Playing Catanwith my hockey teammates?
I smirk into the darkness. I could just tell Summer how well I know the rules myself. The words are right there, on the tip of my tongue. But maybe it will be more fun to keepthisace up my sleeve for now.
“Okay. We should probably go,” Summer says. “Theothers might start catcalling if we don’t. Sorry again for kidnapping you.”
I reach for the door handle, but Summer must reach at the same time because my fingers close around her hand instead of the cool metal knob. We both react at the unexpected touch, jerking back, and Summer bumps into the shelf, then rebounds directly into me.
Her hands collide with my chest, and she wobbles, like she’s lost her footing. I brace myself, lifting my hands to her elbows to steady her. I don’t know if it’s instinct or attraction or just a serious streak of self-sabotage, but I drop one elbow and wrap an arm around her waist, my hand pressing into the small of her back, and tug her against me.
She lets out a tiny gasp, but she doesn’t pull back. In fact, she leans closer. Like she wants to be here as much as I want her to be.
