Page 63 of Grumpy Darling

“Because the other guy will be me, of course.”

I almost fell off my stool again. “You?”

“Yeah, why not? I’m supposed to be your coach, aren’t I?”

“I guess, but...” I paused. I couldn’t exactly tell Grayson I was suddenly having second thoughts about practicing flirting with him. How after just one day of coaching I was having inappropriate dreams about him, and was finding it difficult to stop my eyes from scanning his body and coming to rest on his chiseled abs.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, I just . . .”

“Come on, Pidge, you can tell me.”

Could I though? Could I really tell Grayson that I’d dreamed about him? Could I really tell him how good he looked wearing only a pair of loose-fitting gray sweatpants?

“I just...” Nope. I couldn’t do it. “I just worry he might think we’re together, or something.” It wasn’t my main concern with Grayson’s plan, but it was still a potential problem.

“He won’t.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because I made it clear to him that we’re not.”

That was news to me. “When?”

“At some point last week. You asked me to be a good wingman, remember?”

“Yeah, I remember.” I just didn’t realize he’d actually gone through with it. I was also a little shocked, because part of me had never really believed Grayson was fully on board with helping me find a guy to kiss. It seemed I was wrong. “Just how clear did you make it?”

“Pretty clear.”

That answered the question of how committed Grayson was. Not only was he planning ahead, he was also going out of his way to be a good wingman. I was the one letting the team down. I needed to shake off my uncertainty and focus on the plan, just like Grayson was.

“Okay,” I said. “Let’s do it. When were you thinking?”

“Uh, today at lunch?” He stumbled over his answer slightly, as though he was surprised by my enthusiasm, but quickly regained his composure. “I’ll make sure I’m sitting near Damien, and you make sure you do your best to pretend he doesn’t exist.”

“Works for me.” I made myself sound confident, but it was extremely daunting. Thisdidfeel like a whole new level, and I wondered if I was ready after only one lesson.

“Unless, of course, you want to come up with a new plan?” he said, looking at me with a hint of concern. Could he tell I was second-guessing myself, or was he the one having second thoughts? “It’s fair enough if you’re not feeling up to flirting in public yet...”

Or was he just doubting my abilities?

“You don’t think I can do it?”

“I think there’s a big difference between practice and a game.”

I clenched my jaw as I stood and closed the distance between us, poking a finger into his ridiculously warm and stupidly toned chest. “You’re wrong about me, Coach. And I’ll prove it to you at lunch.”

His eyes danced with amusement. He might not have made a sound, but I knew he was enjoying this.

“I’m going to flirt with you so hard you’ll forget your own name,” I added before stalking off.

“Don’t forget, we’re driving to school together,” he called after me, spoiling my dramatic exit.

I stuck my middle finger up at him. As I left the room, I was trailed by the faint sounds of his chuckles. Flirt with Gray. Ignore Damien. Should be a piece of cake.

Just a shame I had a habit of burning anything I baked.

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