SIX
Grant
Grant woke up way earlier than he needed to, staring at the ceiling of his bedroom and replaying the night before.
Riley's hand in his. Her body pressed against his side. The way she'd leaned into him when Hannah hugged her, like it was the most natural thing in the world.
The way he'd almost kissed her in the truck.
He groaned and threw an arm over his face.
Get it together, Lawson.
His phone buzzed on the nightstand.
Mark: Dude. DUDE.
Mark: You and Riley??? Since when???
Mark: Why didn't you tell me?
Mark: Hannah won't stop talking about it. Send help.
Grant smiled despite himself and typed back.
Grant: It's new. We wanted to keep it quiet.
Mark: Well it's not quiet anymore. The whole town knows.
Grant's stomach dropped.
Grant: What?
Mark: Mrs. Henderson saw you two leaving together. Posted about it on Facebook. You're officially Pine Valley's hottest gossip.
Grant: Great.
Mark: Hey, at least you're not "everyone's plus-one" anymore. Now you’re just Riley’s plus-one.
Grant stared at the message, then tossed his phone on the bed.
He should have expected this. Should have known that in a town this small, nothing stayed secret for more than five minutes.
He got dressed and headed downstairs, the smell of coffee pulling him toward the kitchen.
His dad sat at the table, reading the newspaper like it was still 1995.
"Morning," Grant said.
"Morning." Thomas didn't look up. "Saw you came home late last night."
"The reunion ran long."
"Mm-hmm." Thomas turned a page. "How's Riley?"
Grant poured himself coffee, keeping his face neutral. "She's good."
"Good enough to hold hands with at the reunion?"
