Page 67 of The Fangirl and the Grump

And while I know I should talk to him about the possibilities so I don’t end up leaving Evening Shade with a bunch of questions and what ifs, that’s a conversation for later.

Tonight, I just want to enjoy being here with him, his body warming mine while the stars shine down on us from a perfect, velvet sky.

ChapterTwenty-Nine

Trace

Iwalk into Wolfsbane Tavern like I’m on a mission, and Bram must see something in my expression, because he has a beer waiting for me by the time I make it to the bar. I slide onto the empty stool next to him with a mumbled thanks, and he picks up his own beer and clinks the neck of it against mine.

He’s off today, but had no problem meeting me here at noon when I called and asked if he had time to get together.

“So, what’s going on? You sounded stressed on the phone,” he says after we both take our first drinks.

“Something’s going on with Keegan,” I grumble, feeling stupid even saying it. I know I sound like a lovesick teenager, but I forge ahead. “I went to get my coffee this morning, and she wasn’t at work. Willow said she’d called in sick, and when I called to talk to her, she didn’t answer. She just texted back, saying she didn’t feel well and might be contagious.”

“Why does that have you all grumpy and suspicious?” Bram asks, cocking his head to study me. “Sounds like she’s looking out for you and doesn’t want to get you sick.”

I shake my head. “Something is off. I was with her last night down at the lake, and she was fine.”

“Maybe she caught a cold. It gets chilly down by the water at night.”

“Call it a sixth sense. I don’t know why,” I say, taking another long pull from my bottle, “but she’s lying.”

“I think you should take her at her word,” Bram says, his voice firm.

I wish I could. It’s not like I don’t trust her. I do.

At least, Iwantto. But when you live your whole life with trust issues because your loser parents didn’t love you like they should, it’s hard to fully trust anyone.

And I have this nagging feeling, like maybe she’s changed her mind and wants to end things with me. Or maybe she’s planning to pack up and go back to Seattle sooner than she planned.

And I fucking hate the hollow feeling in my gut at just the idea of that.

This thing between us was never supposed to last. Easy, carefree, no strings attached. That’s all.

Yet here I am, freaking out that she might be lying to me about being sick. That she’s packing her bags at this very moment, planning to sneak out of town without so much as a goodbye.

God, I really am a lovesick teenager.

Minus thelovebit, of course.

My phone chimes, and I pull it from my pocket to see a text from the woman in question.

Keegan:Can you come over to the lodge? We need to talk.

That hollow feeling expands, putting so much pressure on my lungs, I can’t breathe. What in the fuck is wrong with me? God, man. Get it together.

“Was that her?” Bram asks.

I nod. “She wants me to come over so we cantalk.”

“Oh.”

That’s all he says. Nothing more. Nothing less. JustOh.

“Right,” I say, tipping my beer bottle up and chugging the rest down. “Guess I better get this over with.”

“Don’t assume anything. Go in with an open mind,” he calls out as I give him a salute and walk away.

---