Page 17 of Grumpy Darling

“I can’t think of a better one. It’s on my list because I want it to happen. And it’s high time it did. Maybe now there’s a chance that it actually will.”

Guilt tightened my chest once again as she reminded me I was to blame for this.

“I’m just saying this isn’t the kind of thing you should rush,” I added. “Obviously, it’s okay if you want it to happen soon, but you don’t have to kiss the first guy you see either.”

Although, while I was sitting right in front of her, perhaps that wasn’t the worst idea.

“Parker made it sound like no big deal.”

“You talked to Parker about this?”

She smirked at the outrage on my face. “It wasn’t exactly by choice,” she admitted. “Parker accidentally saw my list, and he had a lot of thoughts about my lack of kissing experience.”

Not for the first time, I wanted to kill my younger brother. “You should never listen to Parker.”

“But I think he might be right. I need to get out there and be more proactive. Just having you play nice might not be enough to change anything. Maybe you could start talking me up too. You know, put in a good word for me around the guys at school. Kind of like my wingman...”

“Uh...”Just tell her no. Two little letters. One word. Easy.Why couldn’t I say it?

“Please?” She blinked her big brown eyes up at me.

“Don’t make that face,” I grumbled. “You know you get your way when you make that face.”

“So, you’ll help?”

“You know I’ll always help you,” I replied. “With whatever you need.”

“Thank you. Thank you!” she squeaked as she threw herself into my arms. These moments were the best and worst part of my day. Paige always smelled sweet, like the candies she was constantly sneaking. And she fit so perfectly in my arms, it was like she was made for them. I closed my eyes, wishing for the millionth time that things were different. That I was the kind of guy who deserved Paige. That she returned my feelings. That I was selfish enough to risk our friendship and show her how great it would be if we were something more.

She grinned up at me as she pulled back. “And I bet you thought me staying here was going to be boring. Look how fun I’ve just made things for us.”

“Yeah, sounds great. I can’t wait.”

She laughed and swatted a hand against my chest. “I’ll see you in the morning. Provided I survive the night with Cammie. I’m a little scared I may not make it.”

I struggled not to chuckle. “I’m sure you’ll be fine.”

“You may laugh, Grayson Darling. But if your sister takes me out, you’ll miss me when I’m gone.”

I watched her leave, and the room felt so much emptier. I wasn’t worried about Paige disappearing from my life because my sister was a little unhinged. But Iwasconcerned about her leaving me for another guy. I was scared of losing her, even though she wasn’t mine. Any idiot could see how incredible Paige was, and if word got out she was searching for someone to kiss, there would be a line of guys a mile long volunteering to help.

I wanted to be at the front of that line, but how could I when I knew she didn’t want me there? She wanted me to be her wingman; to be a supportive friend. So, I was going to have to keep on pretending that was enough. What other choice did I have?

Chapter 5

Paige

“I still can’t believe you’re sleeping with the Darling Devils!” Bonnie gasped as she appeared beside my locker at the start of lunch. She was sporting a new pixie haircut today, and it seemed to have given her even more attitude than normal. While Grayson was my best friend, Bonnie had been giving him a run for his money ever since she moved to town in freshman year. Though if she kept shouting things like that for everyone to hear, I might have to reconsider our friendship entirely.

“Would you keep it down?” I hissed as several girls glanced over at us. “I’m staying at their house, not sleeping with them.”

Bonnie flashed a wicked grin. “It’s pretty much the same thing.”

“It’s definitely not.”

She shrugged away my concern and focused on straightening her blazer. She was always so well put together at school, as though she could be called away on an assignment for the school newspaper at any moment. She took her role as editor of theDevil’s Advocatevery seriously. But once the weekend arrived, her wild side came out and she favored sky-high heels and little black dresses. She’d always been far more fashionable than me.

“I’m sorry you couldn’t stay with me,” she added. “But not that sorry. I think I might have done you a favor. I’d pick sleeping with three hot hockey players over a screaming baby any day. Tabitha is still a nightmare.”

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