Page 29 of The Proposal Pact
Hope Levine appears at the front door, followed by Joy and Joy’s best—and very, very pregnant—friend, Zoe, interrupting whatever else my best friend wanted to shriek about. “Jesus, Gracie Bear, I could hear your screech all the way from the second floor. Did someone steal all your unicorn panties again?”
“I’m not screeching!” Grace protests in that same high-pitched voice. “Shelet some randommanbreak her door last night.” She points to me.
They all stop dead, swiveling their gazes my way.
“To be clear, are we talking about her door orher door?” Zoe asks. I met all of these amazing women the first night at Grace’s parents’ house and found out I had three new best friends instantly.
“That’s an excellent question.” Grace narrows her eyes at me. “Did any otherdoorsget broken into?”
“I don’t know how I feel about that nickname for my vagina, if we’re being honest.” I pucker my lips. “And no, my other door did not get broken into. But he did break my TV as well, does that count?”
“Oh my God,” Hope gasps. “Are you all right? Did you call the police?”
“Oh, I didn’t have to call the police.”
“Why not?” Joy frowns and in that precise moment my front door swings open once again, and I nearly spit out—spray style—the sip of tea I just took.
You’ve got to be joking me. I barely hold in my laugh at the picture I’m seeing.
Luke is standing there, swinging the broken door back and forth, frowning as his blond companion—also known as Sheriff Hot Asshole—stands there with a scowl on his face, his arms crossed at his chest.
“Sophie, what the hell happened to your door?” Luke asks.
“That’s what we’ve been trying to find out,” Grace tells him. “Apparently, some asshole broke into her apartment last night and broke her TV as well.”
“Oh, yeah, a total asshole.” I roll my lips, trying really hard to rein it in as Sheriff Hot Asshole sends me a glare.
“What?” Luke shrieks just like his wife did earlier. “Did you call the police?” he asks me, but looks over to his friend who’s pinching the bridge of his nose so hard, I’m afraid he’s going to crack it in a second.
Oh God, I can’t hold it in anymore, I burst out laughing, clutching my stomach. “I didn’t have to call anyone,” I wheeze out, and the Sheriff Hot Asshole mouths to me,Don’t.
“Why?” Luke asks, his eyes back on me.
“I’m so lost right now,” Hope says, watching me like I’ve completely lost it.
“Because you see?” I’m still laughing so hard I have to wipe the tears off my face as I wave my hand at the grump. “He always shows up all by himself. No invitation needed. Oh God, I don’t remember the last time I laughed so much.” I try to catch my breath, fanning my face.
“Jesus Christ…” Sheriff sighs as all eyes go to him.
“Callum? Did you forget to tell me something?” Luke asks in that protective voice of his like I’m his little sister. Oh goodie, they would get right along with Vassar. But also, I kind of like it.
“Nope, I didn’t forget at all because I wasn’t planning on it in the first place,” he informs Luke in that drone voice of his.
I sigh, Callum…such a handsome name wasted on such a grump. Shame.
“For your information, I was very much dragged here against my will. Just like last night,” he informs me.
“Wait!” Hope puts up her hands. “Youwere the asshole who broke into her apartment and broke her TV last night?”
“Can we stop with the name calling? I was just doing my job, and the TV was an accident.”
“What’s all this commotion about?” A new voice sounds from behind the men as bright orange peeks through, followed by an array of colors.
Julie Owling is here. And she is my second favorite person after Grace in this town because I’ve never met someone with so much peace and kindness living inside them that it radiates through her skin, energizing everyone around her. She also happens to own an amazing non-coffee coffee shop, Sip of Love, in town and is married to Luke’s best friend, Griffin Owling with who she is expecting a baby.
“Callum? What are you doing over here?” She looks him over once before handing the drink carrier to me.
“Trust me, I’m asking myself that very same question.”
