Page 59 of Perfectly Grumpy

“You really think it’s a good time to tick off the man who gave up his bed and is currently saving you from a mouse?”I huff out a breath. “You know what? I’m going to sleep. I’ve done all I can. Have a good night, Sunny.”

I turn around, headed for my sleeping bag.

“Tate!” Lauren leaps toward me and grabs my arm, trying to stop me from leaving her with the mouse. Because she’s wearing fluffy yellow socks, she’s basically skating across the hardwood as I drag her with me.

“Don’t!” she begs. “Don’t you dare fall asleep and leave me alone with that mouse.”

“I don’t know,” I say lazily. “It almost seems like youwantto sleep anywhere else. And I’m not stopping you.”

“I don’t,” she pleads. “Just tell me what I can say to convince you.”

I turn around to her. “I want to hear you say youwantto be here.”

She presses her lips together, pausing. “Well, I don’t want to be out there.” She nods toward the window.

“No, Lauren,here.With me and a mouse and probably spiders in the bathtub.”

“Oh, my word, Tate, there are spiders in the bathtub?!”

I sigh. “Pick your poison, Sunny. Here or the lodge. And you’d make my life a heck of a lot easier if you chose the lodge.”

She pauses, something warring in her expression before she finally opens her mouth and says quietly, “I want to sleep here, Tate.”

I step closer, angling my mouth near her ear and whispering, “You didn’t ask nicely yet.”

“Pleasecan I throw another skillet at your head?” she asks sweetly.

I laugh. “You have terrible aim, anyway.”

She gives me a playful shove, and I’m knocked off-balance before I catch myself. “Now, get in bed before you decide to burn the place down.”

She slowly makes her way over to the sofa bed, while I strip off my shirt, leaving only my shorts on. She’s right—the flooris hard as a rock, and I’m going to feel like I slept on a bed of nails in the morning.

“Tate?” Lauren gapes at my bare chest before she blinks, looks at the wall, and shifts uncomfortably.

“Yeah, what?” I say, fully enjoying the fact that she’s embarrassed now.

She hesitates, then says, “You know, this bed is plenty big. And I only need half of it. And a good sleep will be important for the first competition tomorrow.”

I stare at her. “It’s only a balloon toss.”

“I know, but it’s still important!” She fiddles with her ring, spinning it nervously around her finger.

I frown. “Lauren, are you okay?”

“Perfect. Never been better, Tate.” Then she curls her hands into fists and gives me a tight smile.

“Liar.” I stretch out across my sleeping bag.

“Well, I might want you close by. Just in case the mouse shows up again.”

“Is this what it’s going to take to get you to fall asleep?” I ask, slowly rising, before I drag my sleeping bag across the floor with me.

“Don’t make this weird,” she murmurs, shaking her head.

I give a low laugh. “It’s already weird.”

“Then what are we going to do about it?” she asks as I reach the bed. We’re inches apart, her looking up at me as she sits on the edge, like she’s as scared of me as she is of that tiny mouse.

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