Page 19 of The Fangirl and the Grump

“Oh, my God,” Willow says a little too loudly, then leans forward to hiss, “Youlikeher.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” I scoff.

“Why is it ridiculous?” she needles. “She’s gorgeous and funny. And exactly your type with all those curves. Don’t even try to tell me you haven’t noticed her ass.”

I have, indeed, noticed her ass. Not that I’d ever admit it.

“Willow. She’s the one.”

“That’s what I’m saying,” she says with a satisfied grin.

“No,” I grumble. “I mean she’s the one who catcalled me in front of this whole bar Friday night.”

“Oh,” she says, her smile turning devilish, “I know.”

“What do you mean, you know?”

She shrugs. “She told me all about it when we talked. She didn’t know how much you hate it, obviously. But now she does. Don’t worry, brother, I set her straight.”

“She talked about me?”

“Oh, yeah,” she says. “I also know about the whole kidnapping scene at the lodge. Did you really huff and stomp away like a toddler when she called you––you know what––again?”

“She said that? ThatIwas the one acting like a toddler?”

“Oh, she admitted her own immaturity and looked properly embarrassed by it,” Willow says, then lowers her voice again. “But, Trace, she’s really going through some shit. You should cut her some slack.”

I remember the way she looked that day, her eyes swollen and red like she’d been crying. A lot. Annoyed by the slight sense of compassion trickling through me, I stiffen my spine.

“Regardless of what she’s going through, acting like a lunatic and calling people stupid nicknames they hate is uncalled for,” I say stiffly.

“Oh, you really do like her,” Willow teases. “You should go for it.”

“Willow,” I say firmly, losing patience.

“Come on, Trace. I haven’t seen you this riled up over a woman in like…ever. Is it the age thing? I know she’s my age, but age gap romances are all the rage now.”

“Age gap…what in the hell are you talking about?”

“I’m just saying. Women like older men. She probably finds that silver at your templessexy.”

“Stop,” I say, not wanting to hear my little sister use that word. Ever.

“Don’t be such a prude, brother,” she huffs. “Besides, you might like it if she called youDaddyunder different circumstances.”

My eyes fall closed, and Willow’s laughter bounces off the walls around us. She’s trying to get under my skin, and it’s working.

Really well.

“Okay, okay. I’ll stop,” she says as her laughter dies down. “But I still think you should ask her out. I think she might surprise you.”

I shake my head and meet her gaze. “Willow, she’s aCursedCub.”

She rolls her eyes and blows out an annoyed breath. “So, she’s a fan of the movies. What’s wrong with that?”

Everything, little sister.Everything.

ChapterNine

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