Riley: I know but I didn't think it would be THIS immediate.
Riley: I also didn’t think anyone else in town would care.
Grant: Small town. Nothing stays quiet.
Riley: Clearly.
A pause.
Riley: Are you okay?
Grant stared at the question. Was he okay? He was lying to his entire town, pretending to date his ex-girlfriend, and actively falling for her all over again while she had no idea.
Grant: I'm fine. You?
Riley: A little shellshocked but fine.
Grant: Same.
Riley: We can do this though. Right? We can’t go back now…can we?
Grant thought about it for a moment. They could put an end to the farce, but if he were being honest with himself, he didn’t want to. Outside of the town crier, Mrs. Henderson, and everyone giving their two cents the night before, he enjoyed being with Riley. He didn’t have a particularly active social life; he went out with the guys and the friend group but he didn’t date much. Hadn’t really wanted to.
Even if he was quite certain he’d have a huge hole in his chest at the end of the holidays, he was already invested, and looking forward to the time spent with her.
Grant: Yeah. We can do this. Don’t worry about everyone else. Just have fun with it.
Riley: You’re right. Have fun with it.
Grant: I’ll text you later.
He pocketed his phone and got back to work, trying to ignore the weight settling in his chest.
By late afternoon, Grant had to run into town for supplies. He tried to be quick—in and out of the hardware store, no conversations, no delays.
That lasted approximately thirty seconds.
"Grant!" Mrs. Dawson waved from the paint aisle. She was eighty-something, four feet tall, and terrifying. "I heard the news! You and Riley!"
"Hi, Mrs. Dawson."
"We always knew you'd find your way back to that girl." She patted his arm with surprising force. "Your mother would be so proud."
Grant's throat tightened. "Thank you."
"You bring her by for tea sometime. I want to hear all about it."
"I will."
"Don't wait too long. I'm not getting any younger."
She shuffled away, and Grant grabbed what he needed and headed for the checkout.
Which is where he ran into Coach Patterson, his old high school baseball coach.
"Lawson! Heard you're back with the Monroe girl."
"Yes, sir."
