Page 115 of Grumpy Darling

But then I heard a groan and a yell from the hallway. “Paige! What the hell happened out here? I want this mess cleaned up yesterday!”

Well, perhaps things wouldn’t completely change between us. But it seemed we’d at least taken one step in the right direction today.

I walked out into the hallway and started gathering up my things. Among the scattered clothes and shoes and books, I found my school diary and, as I picked it up, the pink piece of paper with my bucket list written on it fell out. It floated to the floor, but I plucked it from the air.

As I cast my eyes over all the items I’d tried and failed to love, I was surprised to find I didn’t feel angry or upset or disappointed. I’d done all these things because my parents had made me feel like I needed to decide what I was going to do with my life now. And, unlike them, I wanted to make sure I was doing something I loved. But over the last two weeks I’d realized that it was okay not to have an immediate plan. It was okay if you didn’t have everything figured out. Because sometimes life threw something at you that was better than anything you could ever have dreamed up anyway. My first kiss was proof of that.

As I stared at the item at the bottom of my bucket list, I thought about ticking it off. My fingers itched to reach for a pen and finally mark it complete. But instead, in one swift movement, I tore the list in two.

I grinned as I let the pieces fall to the floor.

I was done making lists, and I was done trying to find all the answers today.

I was ready to see what life threw at me and make the best of it.

But first, I was going to sit down with my mom and fill out a college application form.

Chapter 30

Grayson

I probably shouldn’t have stayed up half the night before such an important game, but I couldn’t bring myself to regret a single moment of my night under the stars with Paige. I had to stifle a yawn as I sat in the locker room tying my skates, but I knew the instant I hit the ice for our game against the Waverley Wolves, any remnants of exhaustion would melt away. I wished I could say the same about the pain in my knee.

It didn’t feel too bad right now, but I wasn’t expecting that to last long after the game started, especially after my failed test on the lake the other night. There was just one more game to play, and I could only hope that once today was over, I would be able to relax in the knowledge that my next year, at least, was secure.

“I thought you might look a little happier once you and Paige finally got together.” Parker sat across from me in the locker room, grinning.

“Parker...” Reed warned our brother from beside me.

“I’m glad things worked out, though,” Parker continued. “Thanks, of course, to our brilliant plan. But I guess you’ll be the same old Grumpson forever.” He winked, and jumped up from the bench before I could react, heading across the locker room to talk to some of the other guys.

As I glared after him, Damien entered the room. I felt an unexpected twinge of guilt as he approached. While he and Paige had never actually gone on their date, it wasn’t exactly cool of me to swoop in and ask her to be my girlfriend before they did. Or to have spent the last week actively undermining his chances with her. Obviously, there was no way I was going to stand back and let him steal her away without a fight, but I still didn’t feel great about winning. And, even if he didn’t know we were competing, I was pretty sure Damien wouldn’t like being defeated.

“Reed. Grayson.” He nodded and gave us both a friendly smile as he passed.

I stared after him, unsure how to react. He was acting like nothing was wrong. And it seemed he was being genuine.

Paige must have told him about us, right? And if she had, he must be pissed. But he looked totally unfazed. When he reached his locker, he sat beside Owen, and the two of them fell into casual conversation. He looked awfully happy for a guy who’d had a date canceled on him. This was Damien Stone. Could he really take a blow to his ego this well?

I turned to Reed. “Paige canceled her date with Damien this weekend, right?”

“I’m sure she did.”

“What if she didn’t though? Her phone was dead this morning. Then she was in a rush to get home and had to deal with her mom. Maybe she forgot?”

“You really think she wouldn’t cancel the date after you two finally got together?”

“I think she has a lot of other things on her mind at the moment.” I glanced Damien’s way again. “Should I say something to him?”

“Like what?”

“I don’t know. Just make it clear we’re together now.”

Reed shook his head. “And I thoughtIwas a possessive boyfriend. You and Paige have been officially dating for, what, twelve hours?”

“More like eighteen.”

He laughed. “But who’s counting, right?”

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