Page 72 of Mountain Grump

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But this…

I peel up the tiny star sticker holding the end of the ribbon down and stick it to the side of the spool.

This is something he had to go out of his way to find.

I doubt a store in Lonely carries this.

I run the fabric between my fingers.

Ten minutes later, with a bowl of popcorn in hand, I make my way back across the living room.

The TV is playing credits, and even though I’ll be in the other room, I decide it’s time to put in a new movie.

I snap theAlice in WonderlandDVD back into its case, then open the top drawer of the movie dresser.

I slide Alice into place but pause as my fingers touch the next one in line.

I look over at Deerdra, and the new purple bows tied around her antlers, and decide to skip overBambi.

Chapter 48

Tilda

The coffee iswarm and sweet when it reaches my tongue, and I take my time savoring the moment.

The sun is rising on the front side of the house, and sitting in the shadows on the back deck, I’m glad I traded my pajamas for my pale blue sweatpants and matching hoodie.

I take another sip.

Last night…

I breathe in the crisp mountain air.

Last night wasan experience.

We didn’t even get naked, but it was still quite possibly the most sexually intense moment of my life.

I’m twenty-nine. I’ve been with guys before.

But none of them were like Ethan.

None of them demanded my attention like a gravitational pull.

I think back to that day nearly three weeks ago, when a stranger knocked on my door and changed my life with a letter.

I think about the sadness and the fear and the little bit of excitement I felt.

Sadness over losing Uncle Jack. Over not getting to say goodbye.

Fear over the unknown. Over leaving the only city I’ve ever known.

I smile at the forest that surrounds me.

Excitement over the possibilities.

Excitement of escaping what had been laid out for me.

The chance to alter my timeline.

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