Page 46 of Grumpy Darling

“Do not say a word to Paige,” I ordered Parker.

“But—”

“I’ve got to go. We can talk about this later.”

I placed the empty pizza carton in the bin and started from the room before Parker could add any more of his bright ideas. The problem with my younger brother was that he tended to act without thinking things through. Already, he felt way too involved, and I didn’t want him messing this up.

I was halfway up the stairs when my phone buzzed with an alert. I’d been added to a group chat named, “Friends Without Benefits.” I growled under my breath and chose to ignore the messages that were flooding the thread, every one of them from Parker. I didn’t need to open it to know he was alerting the rest of his little intervention squad about their new assignment. I didn’t really want anyone else helping with this, but I guessed it was too late for that.

A part of me still wondered if it would be better to just tell Paige this was all a mistake. That she needed to figure it out by herself. But as I reached the upper landing she emerged from the bathroom and I knew I’d do no such thing.

Her hair was tied up in a messy bun, and she was still wearing my hoodie, along with a pair of pink and blue checked pajama pants. She didn’t have a lick of makeup on, but her skin still seemed to radiate. I’d meant it when I told her she looked beautiful at the party, but she was just as stunning when she wasn’t trying at all. I never understood how such an incredible girl could want anything to do with me.

“What?” She frowned when she looked up and caught me watching her. I bit back a curse word. Had I been checking her out that obviously?

“Why are you looking at me that way?” she continued.

“Uh...” Think, Grayson. Think. It was no surprise she was onto me. I was practically gritting my teeth and clenching my fists as I desperately fought the urge to close the distance between us. To lean in close and whisper in her ear and brush the hair away from her face. To glean any hint from her reaction that she might feel the same way. But then I realized something. If I took my brothers’ advice, I wouldn’t have to fight this feeling. I could give in to it.

“Wait, are you about to give me another flirting lesson?” Her expression brightened and a faint laugh left her lips.

“Is that what you want?” I murmured, stepping closer.

“Oh, I don’t know.” She grinned. “I’m still a little lightheaded after the last time you pulled your moves on me.”

It could still be the alcohol that was making her woozy, rather than anything I was doing. She probably needed to go to bed. Maybe, for tonight, I would just have to leave her wanting more.

I took another step closer, and with one finger I lifted her chin so she looked me in the eyes. “Another time then. You’ve left me a little lightheaded tonight too...”

Her eyes flared with surprise. I wasn’t sure if it was our proximity or my words that did it, but apparently, I was better at this than I thought. Flirting with Paige was addictive, and after one night I was hooked.

I stepped back, giving us both space to breathe. “We can pick up where we left off tomorrow.”

I started to walk to my room, but she called after me.

“You promise?” Something in her voice made my stomach dip with anticipation.

“I promise.”

Apparently, I wasn’t just at risk of ruining our friendship, I was also at risk of falling deeper and harder for Paige than I ever had before.

Chapter 12

Paige

My heart was fluttering in a strange and unfamiliar way as I stared at Grayson’s closed door. It wasn’t butterflies; definitely not. No, it was more a sense of surprise and anticipation. I’d never seen this side of Grayson before, and he had left me a little speechless. What girl wouldn’t need to catch their breath after being flirted with like that?

“How’s it coming along with your first kiss?”

I jolted and turned to find Parker in the corridor behind me, leaning against the wall.

“Where did you come from?” I gasped. More importantly, how long had he been there? He hadn’t heard Grayson and I talking about coaching, had he? I really needed to pay more attention. Or perhaps not accept when Bonnie offered me suspicious-looking shots. They were making it much harder to think straight.

“The stairs. Behind me.” Parker appeared to be holding back laughter. “This is the way to my room, you know.”

“Right.” I shook my head. “Sorry, I didn’t realize anyone else was home from Matt’s party yet.”

“Well, I am, and I hear you had to come back too after you spilled a drink all over yourself while chatting up the newest Ransom Devil.”

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