Page 89 of Grumpy Darling

“I knew we were still friends,” Bonnie cheered as she answered. “You love me far too much to stay mad.”

“Love you? I’m not sure I evenlikeyou right now.”

“How’d the interviews go?” she continued, completely ignoring my comment. “You didn’t chicken out, did you?”

“No, I didn’t chicken out. I’m not ready to forgive you for those questions though.”

“What? The questions were great. I told you I wanted to spice up the profiles a little. I’m trying to get people to actually read the school newspaper.”

“They don’t want to read about hockey players’ underwear!”

“Oh my gosh, you actually asked them that?”

“Of course I did. It was on the list.”

Her laughter rang out clearly down the line. “Brilliant. It’s been on my mind ever since you so cruelly prevented me from raiding the drawers at the Darlings’ house. But you know I was only messing around with that one, right?”

I had suspected as much. “Well, most of the players answered, so maybe I won’t share it with you now.”

“No! You have to,” she pleaded. “Give the people what they want, Paige.”

“I’ll think about it,” I said. “But listen, that’s not actually why I called...”

“It’s not?”

Practice was winding down, and the guys were gathered around Coach Ray. Gray was looking in my direction, and I gave him a small wave to let him know I was leaving.

I drew in a breath as I swung my bag over my shoulder and started for the exit. “Damien asked me out to dinner this weekend.”

Bonnie squealed so loudly I had to pull my ear away from the phone. When I was brave enough to bring it back, I could hear her mom hissing in the background, “Don’t wake the baby!”

“Sorry!” Bonnie called more quietly, then asked me, “Why didn’t you start with that?”

“Because I didn’t say yes.”

“What? Why?”

“He asked, but then I hesitated.”

“You hesitated? Why on earth would you do that? This is Damien Stone! Damien Stone!” It didn’t matter how many times she said his name, I couldn’t seem to spark the same level of excitement as her.

“I know his name, Bon. But when he asked, I wasn’t thinking straight, and I couldn’t seem to say yes.”

“Is Grayson eventryingto coach you?”

“Of course he is. Look, I know I messed up, but I need your help to fix it. Damien told me to think about the date. Should I wait around until he finishes practice to tell him I’ll go?”

“Definitely not,” she replied. “The only thing worse than leaving a guy hanging is seeming too desperate. Wait until he asks again.”

“What if he doesn’t ask again?”

“Trust me, he will.” I had no idea how she could be so confident, but then her voice turned serious. “Can I ask why you weren’t thinking straight?”

I was nearing the entrance to the rink, and I glanced over my shoulder at the reason. Gray was leaving the ice, his brothers on either side of him as they headed for the locker room. His expression was stoic as always, but I couldn’t stop thinking about the playful side of him that had emerged when I’d been interviewing him. We’d always bantered, but this past week, the way he’d been acting had been getting under my skin, making my pulse quicken and filling me with a buzzing nervous energy I had no idea what to do with. But I knew it wasn’t real. He was just my dating coach. We were just practicing. And as much as I wished it were different, I needed to get over it.

“You know me,” I replied. “I might be training with Gray, but I’m still stumbling over my words around Damien.”

It was a total lie, but I didn’t think I could tell Bonnie the truth. I knew how she’d react, and I already understood how these feelings could ruin my friendship with Gray. I had a plan to get over them. I just needed to stick to it.

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