Page 48 of Grumpy Darling

“Well, I don’t.” Again, I failed to convince even myself. Were Parker’s words really getting to me? “Was there something else you wanted?”

“Not really.” He darted into Cammie’s room and stole a charger off the wall. “I just came to grab this. Night, Paige.”

I didn’t have a chance to respond before he disappeared down the hallway to his room. I was left staring after him, wondering how one quick conversation could make me question myself so much. Parker was the last person I would have expected that advice from. If even he thought having my first kiss at a party was a bad idea, then it must truly be terrible.

Bonnie had encouraged the idea, but she’d been kissing people for ages. And, now that I thought about it, her first kiss had been a super-cute moment in a tree house with the boy who lived next door. Maybe I had this all wrong. Maybe I did need the date and the chemistry and the excitement and everything that went along with a first kiss. And, maybe, my new coach would be able to help with that too.

“You’re not a fan of ice skating either?” Violet sat beside me on the bench overlooking the frozen lake. It was a perfect afternoon in Ransom, and Gray and his siblings had dragged us here for a skate before Sunday dinner. The sun was dipping low in the sky and the clouds had turned the color of cotton candy. The soft pink glow was reflected across the ice like something out of a dream.

Reed and Gray were already racing each other around the lake’s perimeter, while Cammie had made her way to the center of the lake and was carving perfect circles. We’d only just arrived, but Parker had found a group of girls and was already trying his best to get each of their numbers. They looked like they were old enough to be in college, but that didn’t seem to matter to Parker.

“I normally don’t mind it,” I said. “It’s just a little less enjoyable when the ground is refusing to stay still. I only had two shots last night, but clearly my body hates tequila.”

Violet gave me a sympathetic look. “I’m sorry I missed you at the party.”

“I wasn’t there long. I spilled a drink down my top and made Gray take me home.”

“He’s a good friend.”

“Yeah, the best.”

The race had finished and Reed was celebrating while Gray rolled his eyes. The moment he turned away from his brother though, his mouth twitched as though he were fighting a smile. The afternoon sun was hitting his hair at the perfect angle, almost creating a kind of halo. In moments like these it was easy to see why girls at school were so intrigued by him.

“How about you?” I nodded at the skates Violet was yet to put on.

“Uh... me and skating don’t get along. But it’s not so bad when Reed’s helping me.”

It was impossible not to notice the way her eyes warmed when she talked about Reed. A small twinge of jealousy panged inside me. I wish I had a guy to light up over. All hope wasn’t lost though. Things may not have gone as I’d hoped with Damien last night, but I had a new strategy.

“Was Reed your first kiss?” I asked.

“Uh, no.” Violet shuddered like a cold wind had rushed under her jacket. “I wish.”

I laughed at her reaction. “What do you mean?”

“My first kiss was bad. It was with a boy back home in California. He slobbered all over me and left me with a massive cold sore.”

“Oh no!” I raised both hands to my mouth to smother my laughter.

“Awful, right?”

“The worst!”

“It was right before school pictures too,” she said, shuddering again. “My cousin Mia found the photo and set it as my caller ID picture, so it pops up whenever I call her. She said she needs the daily reminder to never settle for a guy that would give her a cold sore.”

“That’s pretty solid advice,” I admitted with a grin.

“Stop laughing. It was horrific at the time.”

“Sorry.” I did my best to straighten my face, but Violet’s lips curved in a smile.

“Why do you ask? What was your first kiss like?”

“Uh, it’s a work in progress.”

Her eyes filled with disbelief. “You’ve never kissed anyone?”

“Not yet,” I replied with a shrug.

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