"Round two of what?"
"Everyone asking us about our relationship."
Riley groaned. "Hannah's hosting tonight. She's going to grill us."
"She's already been grilling us."
"This will be worse. Trust me."
Grant's hand found hers across the console. "We'll survive."
Hannah and Mark's house was already full by the time they arrived—fairy lights strung across the living room, Christmas music playing over the sound of kids laughing upstairs, the smell of mulled wine and cinnamon filling the air. Most of their friend group had already shown up: Emily and Chris, Jenna and Ryan, a few other Pine Valley locals Riley had known since high school.
Hannah opened the door, took one look at them standing together on her porch, and grinned like the cat who'd caught the canary.
"Well, well, well," she said. "The lovebirds have arrived."
"We're not—" Riley started.
"You absolutely are." Hannah ushered them inside. "Come in, come in. Everyone's dying to hear about last night."
Grant helped Riley out of her coat, his hand lingering on her shoulder. The simple gesture felt so natural, so couple-like, that Riley's chest went tight.
"There she is!" Hannah announced to the room. "The woman of the hour."
"What are you talking about?"
"Oh, you know exactly what I'm talking about." Hannah handed Riley a glass of wine. "Girls, living room. Now."
Riley found herself being dragged to the couch where Emily and Jenna were already waiting, matching grins on their faces. Grant caught her eye from across the room where Mark and Chris had immediately cornered him and winked.
"So," Emily said without preamble. "On a scale of one to ten, how satisfying was it to kiss Grant in front of Tessa Martin?"
"Extremely," Riley admitted.
"I knew it!" Jenna crowed. "The look on Tessa's face was priceless."
"She practically ran out of there," Hannah added. "I don't think I've ever seen someone retreat that fast."
Riley took a sip of wine, trying not to look too pleased with herself. "I may have gotten a little carried away."
"A little?" Emily laughed. "Riley, you staked your claim in front of half the town."
"Tessa needed to know Grant's taken."
"Oh, she knows now," Hannah said. "Everyone knows. Mrs. Ames has probably told half of Pine Valley by now."
Mark wandered over with Grant, Chris, and Ryan in tow. "What are we talking about?"
"Riley's territorial display," Hannah said cheerfully.
Grant's eyes met Riley's, amused. "Is that what we're calling it?"
"That's exactly what we're calling it," Emily said.
"In my defense," Riley said, feeling her cheeks heat. "Tessa was being inappropriate."
"She was," Grant agreed, settling onto the arm of the couch next to Riley. His hand found her shoulder, thumb tracing absent patterns. "Very inappropriate."
