Page 16 of The Fangirl and the Grump

“Oh, no,” she says on a laugh. “What happened?”

“I may have seen him at the tavern while I was a bit…inebriated Friday night.”

“That was you?” she blurts, laughing. “Trace was grumpier than usual Saturday morning. I had to drag the story out of him.”

“And again yesterday,” I admit, and her eyes widen.

“Yesterday?”

I shake my head. “He came by to give me his direct number since I’ll be staying for a while. I kind of freaked out since I was all alone and accused him of being a kidnapper. He finally convinced me he was who he said he was, and I opened the door only to be shocked it washim.”

“Oh, Keegan,” she chuckles. “I wish I could’ve been there. What did he do?”

I cross my arms over my chest and huff. “He turned and stomped away like a toddler after shoving his card at me. Didn’t say a single word.”

“What did you do?” she asks, unabashedly enthralled.

I shrug. “Gave him the double bird salute.”

Willow goes still for a moment, her eyes unfocused like she’s picturing the whole scene. Then her gaze snaps to mine, her eyes fill with tears, and she throws her head back and laughs. I try to hold onto the anger I felt in the moment, but seeing myself through a stranger’s eyes, realizing I’d acted just as childish as her brother did, I can’t hold it in.

I laugh right along with her at the ridiculousness of it all.

“Oh, God,” she breathes, her voice an octave higher than before as she wipes the tears from her cheek. “What I wouldn’t give to have been a fly on a wall for that.”

We change the subject after that, and she tells me about the witchy side of the store, promising to give me a crystal that promotes clear thinking and another for good luck. As we finish up with our food and coffee, I realize she’s been sitting here with me for more than a half-hour.

“Thanks for listening,” I say. “I know you must be busy.”

She waves the words off. “Eh. What’s the point of being the boss if you can’t do what you want, when you want?”

“Good point,” I say with a chuckle, then sober. “Hey, I need to pick up some food for the house, and maybe some more clothes and toiletries for my stay. I only packed for two days. Is there somewhere close I can get stuff like that?”

She nods. “There’s a big box store out on the edge of town off Route 12. It’s maybe five miles from here? You should be able to get whatever you need there.”

“Oh. Okay. Thanks.”

“What’s wrong?” she asks when my expression falls.

“Nothing.”

“Keegan.”

My shoulders droop as I sigh. “I don’t have a vehicle. We all rode together in Madison’s car.”

“They just left you here with no way to get home?” she asks, looking appalled.

I shrug. “I did scream at them to pack their shit and get the fuck out.”

“Still,” she says, frowning, then shakes her head. “Wait right here.”

I watch as she rushes around the counter and disappears through an open door in the back. Picking up our plates, I set them on the counter with Willow’s mug before slurping up the last of my iced coffee and tossing the disposable cup into the trash. As I’m pulling my purse onto my shoulders, Willow reappears.

“Here,” she says, stretching out her hand.

I stare at the set of keys resting in her palm, then raise my gaze to hers. “What is this?”

“My keys,” she says with an inferredduh.“Borrow my car. Go shopping. Then you can bring it back when you’re done.”

---