"Good thing I like a challenge."
Grant grinned wide, and took his coat off before hanging it on the coat rack by the door.
“Shall we?” He gestured to the kitchen.
They stood in the entryway, the house already filling with noise—Tyler's music thumping upstairs, Lily laughing at something in the kitchen, her dad's voice booming from the living room.
"They're going to interrogate you," Riley warned.
"I know."
"Tyler's going to ask about your intentions."
"I have very honorable intentions."
"My mom's going to make comments about the future."
"I can handle it."
Riley looked up at him, this man who'd agreed to fake-date her through the holidays just to save her from being the punchline. Who showed up when he said he would. Who never asked for anything in return.
Mr. Dependable.
Except Tessa had made it sound like an insult. Like Grant was boring. Predictable.
But standing here, looking at him, Riley didn't see boring.
She saw steady. Solid. Safe.
She saw home.
"Grant?"
"Yeah?"
"Thank you. For doing this."
"You don't have to keep thanking me."
"I do though. Because you didn't have to offer. You could've let me drown in my own mess. But you showed up anyway."
Grant's expression softened. "Riley. I'll always show up for you."
The words hit her square in the chest.
Before she could respond, the kitchen door swung open and her mother appeared, face lighting up.
"Grant! You're here!"
The moment shattered, but Riley felt it settle somewhere deep in her chest.
Warm. Dangerous. Real.
And later—after dinner, after Grant had charmed her entire family, after he'd left with promises to see the family at the tree lighting, Tessa's words kept echoing.
Mr. Dependable. I'm sure I'll see you and Grant there.
And Riley realized with sudden, terrifying clarity:
