Page 258 of Mountain Grump
I can’t help it.I snort.
Both of the Grant siblings turn their attention to me, and my eyes widen. “Sorry.”
Ethan shakes his head, amusement pushing past his obvious annoyance. “You’re not sorry.”
I bite my lip, then shrug. “She has you.”
Sandra laughs, then steps forward and pulls me into a hug. “I like you already.”
Tension drains from my body as I hug her back. “Sorry you just learned about me. But I’ve heard lots about you, and I’m so excited to finally meet.”
It’s true. The nerves are also true. But I can already tell she’ll be just as easy to be around as Ethan.
We pull apart just as the boyfriend, Fisher, steps up.
Together, they look a little opposite.
She’s edgy. Short black hair. Piercings. A tight floral top. A studded belt. And black denim cutoffs.
He’s dressed… a lot like Ethan. Jeans. Gray T-shirt with the logo for a lodge on the chest.
Opposite, but they fit.
A lot like me and Ethan.
And it takes me a moment, but then I recognize him too.
He grins. “Saw you guys buying that kiddie pool.”
It comes back to me. Ethan’s hat on my head. Standing so close. And I feel myself blush. “Hello, again.”
“Wait, what?” Sandra turns to Fisher. “You knew?”
He shakes his head, his smile still in place. “No idea they were married. Just saw your brother here helping her get one of those little plastic pools into her truck.”
“We, um, weren’t married yet,” I add, just in case that helps.
I almost tell them the pool was for my duck, but that detail feels unnecessary.
“How long?” Ethan crosses his arms as he stares at Fisher.
The other man cocks his head. “Two, maybe three months ago?”
Ethan’s jaw ticks. “How long have you two been dating?”
“So…” Sandra starts, and I have to hold in another laugh.
Ethan drops his arms as he lets out an exasperated sigh. “Just tell me.”
“Ten months.” Sandra grabs the cupcakes from Fisher and holds them out to Ethan like a peace offering.
“But that’s only because it took me a few months to get the courage to ask her out.” Fisher drapes his arm around Sandra’s shoulders.
“How’d you meet?” I smile as I ask, because they really do look cute together.
“She cut my hair.” Fisher looks down at Sandra, and I can feel the affection between them.
“Yeah, and he came back two weeks later for a trim.” Sandra rolls her eyes. “And every two weeks after that until his hair was almost as short as mine before he asked me to dinner.”
