Page 60 of Good Girls Don't Date Rock Stars (Rock Canyon, Idaho 2)

“Night, Mom. Love you,” Charlie said from the bed.

“Love you, too,” Gemma said, and added, “Good night, Travis.”

Travis gave her that heart-stopping, knee-jerking, melt-into-a-puddle-on-the-floor smile. “Sweet dreams, Gemma.”

Fleeing the scene, she went to her room and changed for bed. Too keyed up to sleep, she scrolled through her DVR and found an old episode of Grey’s Anatomy she’d saved, then deleted it.

She had enough drama right now. Turning on The Mindy Project, she sat back and tried not to think about how she was going to survive two weeks of this.

Chapter Sixteen

* * *

GEMMA WAS UP at six and out the door a little after seven, trying not to wake Travis or Charlie. Driving into town, her first stop was The Local Bean f

or a little best-friend advice.

Gracie looked up from behind the counter as she walked in and gave her a wide, friendly smile. Gemma’s attention was drawn to the frilly green apron she was wearing. It had little pies all over it and said in bold writing, MY PIES ARE HOT AND SWEET, JUST LIKE ME.

Gemma chuckled.

“What up, bestie?” Gracie said.

Gracie was sometimes outrageous, and her mouth was too big for her little body, but she was a loyal friend. “I came by for a little coffee and talk.”

“Well, I’ve got plenty of both. Trisha, I’m taking a break with Gemma,” Gracie said, pulling two cups off the stack. “One shot or two?”

“Two, please.” Gemma went over to their usual table by the window. Sitting down where she could see Gracie, she caught strange looks from several of the patrons and wondered if everyone was talking about Travis and her.

“So, everyone’s talking about you and Travis and your reception,” Gracie said as she sat down across from her and handed her a cup and a bowl of fruit salad, Gemma’s usual breakfast.

“Thanks, but I kinda figured that. They won’t stop staring at me,” Gemma said, taking a sip with a sigh. “That hits the spot.”

“Well, can you blame them? It’s not every day a small-town girl like you marries someone famous. I don’t think it’s been this gossipy since Katie Connors started dating Chase Trepasso. I think you’re gonna be the topic of conversation for a long time.”

Just what I wanted to hear. She wrinkled her nose in distaste. “Gee, Gracie, that’s just what I wanted to hear. Super awesome comforting skills.”

“Don’t be so sensitive. It’s not like it’s bad. It’s all good, and everyone is really excited about the reception,” Gracie said.

Gemma set down her fork and buried her face in her hands, groaning.

“What did I say?”

She looked up at Gracie and caught the gleam in her eye. “Please tell me you aren’t talking about the cockamamie reception Sam Weathers came up with?”

“Cockamamie . . . I like that. I’m going to use that today; it’s so old school.”

“Gracie . . .” Gemma growled.

Gracie shrugged. “You should feel good. People want to celebrate with you and Travis, and they’re willing to organize it. It’s like someone throwing you a party while you just have to look pretty and get gifts and cake.”

“I don’t want cake, I don’t want a party, and I don’t want to be the center of some titillating round of entertainment for the masses,” Gemma said loudly, stabbing a piece of cantaloupe in frustration.

“Simmer down, drama mama, I was just saying that people like you and want to do something nice for you.”

“But it’s not real,” Gemma said, her voice barely above a whisper now that she’d drawn the attention of the whole shop. Several older ladies were leaning into each other, whispering, while they frowned at her, and Gemma almost frowned back. She was tired of everyone butting their noses into her business.

“Says who? You guys stood in front of an officiant and said your vows. I don’t care how drunk you were, part of you wanted to marry Travis or you wouldn’t have done it. And now he’s living in your house. Close quarters, sexual tension . . . it’s like a recipe for an explosion of white-hot desire and wild, butt-crazy monkey sex!” Gracie said.

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