Page 32 of Perfectly Grumpy

Withme.

I speed-walk across the arena, panic alarms blaring in my head. “Hey!” I blurt, inserting myself between them and staring at my sister. “What are you doing here so early?”

Olivia beams. “I just wanted to say hi. And lucky me, I got to meethim.”

I glance at Tate who gives a polite, but slightly confused smile.

“Oh! Right. Introductions,” I say. “Tate, this is my sister, Olivia. Olivia…Tate. Great, done.”

I grab her elbow like I’m redirecting a child away from the candy aisle. “Tate’s got a pre-game routine,verystrict. Involves rituals and focus. We should really let him?—”

“I just wanted to talk to him for a second,” Olivia says sweetly.

“Sure! But did you know the concessions are serving bacon-wrapped corn dogs tonight? With mustard.Spicymustard.”

She shakes her head. “I’m not hungry.”

“You love a good corn dog,” I insist. “Go. Get. A. Corn dog.”

“I’m fine. And why are you acting so weird?” Then she turns back to Tate with a smile. “Anyway, what I was saying?—”

“Olivia,” I say through my teeth, “now is not the time?—”

But she’s already committed. I can see it happening like a train wreck in slow motion.

“I just wanted to finally meet your?—”

Please say friend. Co-worker. Random acquaintance.

“—boyfriend.”

I freeze, my face glowing like a human bonfire, lighting up the whole arena.

Tate’s brows disappear into his hairline as he looks at me. “Boyfriend?”

I laugh. Or try to. “Funny story about that…”

Olivia cuts in before I can even explain. “Listen, I know what you told me. That it was just a few dates.” She looks between us, like she’s about to burst from excitement. “But I couldn’t miss an opportunity to meet the cute guy with the puppy.”

Then she has the audacity to actuallywink at me.

Tate glances between us, clearly trying to decide if he’s walked into a PR stunt or a family drama.

“Well, what Imeantwhen I told you about Tate was that…” I stop because I have no words. Not one. There is no world where I explain this well.

Tate looks at me, then back to Olivia. “I’m nottechnicallyher boyfriend.” He pauses as his look slides to mine. “Yet.”

My face snaps to his.Yet?

His eyes dance in that teasing way he seems to reserve only for me. “What she means is, we’re taking things slow. Really…reallyslow.” Then the corner of his mouth tips up. Oh, he isfullyin on the joke now.

Olivia gasps and touches my arm. “Lauren. You didn’t tell me he had dimples.”

I shake my head firmly. “Liv, this isn’t the time…”

She ignores my death glare and continues, “You know, thefamily reunion is coming up next month. Just outside Sully’s Beach.”

My laugh is strained. “Yeah…no. Way too soon.Waytoo soon.”

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