Riley: Yeah. You?
Grant: Can't sleep. Your dad is going to ask me about my five-year plan, isn't he?
Riley: Probably. And your retirement savings. And whether I'll have health insurance if I move back.
Grant: Wait, you didn't tell him I have a 401k and dental?
Riley: I'll add it to the briefing packet.
Grant: There's a briefing packet?
Riley: There should be. You're walking into the lion's den.
Grant: I've survived worse. Remember when your mom caught us making out in the basement junior year?
Riley's face went hot. She absolutely remembered. They'd thought they were being so sneaky, waiting until everyone was distracted by the football game upstairs.
Riley: Oh god. I'd blocked that out.
Grant: She made us sit at opposite ends of the couch for the rest of the night. Kept checking on us every ten minutes.
Riley: She still brings that up sometimes. "Remember when you two thought you were subtle?"
Grant: We were not subtle.
Riley: Not even a little bit.
Grant: At least this time we're adults, who are actually dating. Allegedly.
Riley: Right. Allegedly. So she can't give us the "you're too young" speech.
Grant: Just the "when's the wedding" speech instead.
Riley: I'm so sorry in advance.
Grant: Don't be. I can handle your family.
Riley: Even Tyler's interrogation?
Grant: Especially Tyler's interrogation. I'll charm him with my extensive knowledge of proper fence maintenance.
Riley: That's your secret weapon? Fence maintenance?
Grant: Works every time.
Riley smiled at her phone, shaking her head.
Riley: You're ridiculous.
Grant: You like it.
Riley: Maybe a little.
A pause. Then her phone buzzed again.
Grant: For the record? I'm a much better kisser now than I was in your basement back then.
Riley's stomach flipped. Her cheeks burned, and she was suddenly very aware of how alone she was in her dark bedroom, staring at those words on the screen.
