Page 127 of Perfectly Grumpy

And now it’s happening again. Someone else is getting their dream—Tate’s NHL offer—while I sit here waiting for mine to come true. Waiting for someone to pick me first, just once.

The ache in my chest tears me up inside like an old seam ripping apart. That familiar feeling of not being enough, not worth staying for.

But even through the ache, I know one thing with absolute certainty: Kansas City isn’t right for me. The Crushers is home. I feel it in my bones, in the way my heart expands when I walk into the rink, in how this team has become my family. And then there’s my actual family. My sister needs me more than ever before.

I can make that choice, at least. Even if I can’t control whether Tate stays.

I pull up the unsent email to Kansas City, no hesitation as I read over my response once more:

Subject:PR Manager Position

Thank you for the opportunity, but I’ve decided to decline your offer. After careful consideration, I’ve realized this position isn’t the right fit for me.

Lauren Williamson

I hit send before I can second-guess myself. Because I won’t be overthinking this part of my future. I already know what I want.

My phone rings. It’s Dad, and for a second, I consider letting it go to voicemail. “Hey, Dad.”

“Lauren, hi.” He almost sounds surprised I answered. “I wanted to find out how your Kansas City interview went.”

I pause, the usual script forming on my tongue.Oh, it went great.

But I don’t say it, because I’m done acting like the girl who’s always fine, always sunny, always ready to slap a polished PR spin on something that’s truly awful.

“I just turned them down,” I say instead. “Kansas City wasn’t right for me. It made me realize something. Sometimes, the dream of what you want is totally different than the reality.”

“Oh,” Dad murmurs. “You want to talk about it?”

“I don’t know where to start,” I admit with a sigh. “I feel like I’ve been lying to everyone, including myself.”

“Honey, what’s going on?”

“The job was completely wrong for me, but that’s not even the real problem.” I pause, knowing I need to just say it. I close my eyes. “I haven’t been honest with you about Tate. When I brought him to the reunion, we were just pretending to date so I couldavoid all the awkwardness with Bart and the family questions. But during the reunion—I don’t know how it even happened—I fell for him. I got to see who he is when no one’s watching, how gentle he is with kids, how he made me laugh. What started as a favor turned into something real. And now I don’t know what to do. I was counting on Kansas City working out.”

Dad pauses, then chuckles. “I suspected as much.”

I blink. “You knew?”

“Of course. I’m yourdad. It was the way you looked at him when you thought no one else was watching. You have two smiles, Lauren. The polite professional one. And the one that’s like joy spilling out of your heart. And when I saw him draw that second smile out of you, I just knew.”

“And you were okay with it?”

“Honey, I just wanted to see you happy. And you were happier that week than you’d been in years. So what’s the problem now that you’re staying in Sully’s Beach? Seems like the answer is right in front of you.”

I let out a sigh. “Because Tate just got an offer from Seattle. And even though I’m happy for him, it came right when I was ready to make a life with him.”

“Why is that a problem? Tate is a logical guy. He won’t make a decision without thinking through every angle.”

“But I don’t want to be the reason he questions this opportunity. I don’t want him to regret anything.”

Dad lets out a breath. “You know, your mom used to say that love wasn’t about sacrifice—it was about choosing each other. Again and again, even when the road splits.”

“Mom was so wise.” I pause, wishing Mom was here now to give me advice, then say quietly, “You miss her?”

“Every day,” he admits. “But I need you to know something about Patty.”

Her name hangs between us, and I realize it doesn’t feel like a wedge anymore. Just a bridge I wasn’t ready to cross yet.

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