Page 45 of Perfectly Grumpy

“Believe me, I can handlenotwinning. What I can’t handle is Bart’s ego.” I glance toward the table where Bart and Abby are sitting. He looks over at me, then deliberately drapes his arm around Abby’s shoulders before whispering something in her ear that makes her giggle.

As I’m contemplating how many ways I could use Kaylie’s plastic fork as a weapon on the back of Bart’s head, a microphone squeals and Granny steps onto the makeshift stage. “Welcome to the Williamson Family Reunion! Tonight, we wanted to honor someone very special, someone who made these reunions what they are and who made our family what it is. That person is my daughter, Rose Williamson.” She looks directly at me, and my throat tightens a little. “This year, we’re establishing the Rose Williamson Memorial Foundation, a foundation dedicated to supporting causes close to her heart. And Rose specifically requested that Lauren choose the first beneficiary of this foundation. It was one of her final wishes.”

I move next to Granny before taking the microphone and a deep breath that helps steady my racing heart. “Mom loved a lot of things—her homemade pies, Dad’s terrible jokes, and shooting all of us in paintball without guilt. But one thing she really loved was animals. She once told me she liked them better than most people.”

A few chuckles ripple through the group.

“So I’d like the first donation to go to Sully’s Beach Animal Shelter.”

Everyone applauds, and for a moment, something blooms in my chest—a feeling so close to joy that I almost don’t recognize it. It’s the first time since Mom died that I’ve felt anything besides numb or shattered when speaking about her.

From across the room, Bart’s voice cuts through the applause. “Well, that makes sense,” he says. “Lauren’salwayspreferred dogs over men.”

My whole body stiffens as I look down at the notes I wrote about the animal shelter. The old Lauren would have a razor-sharp comeback ready. But tonight, with Mom’s memory hanging in the air and Dad and his new girlfriend watching, I just…can’t.

From the back of the room, someone replies through the awkward silence. “I disagree.”

The voice is familiar, pulling my heart to a hard stop. I look up to see Tate striding into the room, holding Annie the puppy. “Most dogs do make better companions than men,” he says. “That’s why it takes arealman to prove otherwise.” His eyes lock on to mine with the same steady intensity he brings to his games.

“Tate?” I say with barely more than a whisper.

He’s here. At my family reunion. He came—forme.

The shock rolls through my body like a wave. He navigates around the tables, never once easing up eye contact with me.

“Who’s this handsome young man?” someone whispers loudly.

When I don’t answer, Olivia says it for me: “Granny, that’s Lauren’s boyfriend.”

And for the first time tonight—possibly the first time ever—Bart is completely speechless.

SEVENTEEN

Tate

Annie gives a tiny bark when she sees Lauren. A bark that seems to say,I remember you.Lauren looks from Annie to me in confusion, like she doesn’t believe this is really happening.

“What are you doing here?” Lauren asks, her tone somewhere between shocked and horrified.

“I wanted to meet your family,” I say, my confidence slowly evaporating the longer this awkward moment goes on. In my head, this seemed like a good idea after what Brax had shared about Lauren meeting with the commissioner’s wife privately and smoothing things over.

But based on the look on her face, I’m not so sure now. What was I expecting? She’d throw her arms around me and thank me for this favor?

After how hard she’s worked to help my PR, I felt like I owed her this, no matter what she told me over a text message.

Granny puts a hand to her heart like she can hardly hold back the way she’s melting over Annie. “If that isn’t the sweetest thing ever. He brought her a puppy.” A collectiveawwwerupts from the family.

“Notmypuppy,” Lauren corrects, shaking her head as Annie wriggles in my arms, clearly wanting to get to her.

“She’s from the Sully’s Beach Animal Shelter,” I explain to Granny.

She seems surprised. “That’s where the family foundation’s first donation is going—picked by Lauren. Did you know that?”

“I had no idea,” I say, smiling at Lauren. “Thank you.”

Everyone is still staring at me and Annie like they’re curious who this stranger and dog are that crashed their family dinner.

I lift a hand, waving to the group. “Hi, everyone, I’m Tate.”

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