"On it." Jenny winks at me before walking away.
I bury my face in my hands. "This town is the worst."
"This town is the best," Grayson counters. "Everyone knows everyone's business, which means you can't hide."
"That's supposed to be a good thing?"
"For someone who runs from her feelings? Yeah." He's still got that almost-smile. "Hard to run when everyone's watching."
"You really are an asshole."
"You already said that."
"It bears repeating."
His smile widens. "Eat your burger when it gets here. You get mean when you're hungry."
"I'm always mean."
"No." His voice softens slightly. "You're scared. There's a difference."
The observation lands too close to home. I look away, out the window where Seth's cruiser is long gone.
"Hey." Grayson's voice pulls me back. "For what it's worth? Seth's a big boy. He'll survive seeing you with someone else."
"Will he?"
"Yeah." He sounds certain. "And if he's half as interested in you as I think he is, he's not going anywhere."
The words settle strange in my chest. Not quite comfort, but something close.
"What about River?" I ask quietly.
"What about him?"
"He's going to be hurt that I lied. That I left."
"Probably." Grayson shrugs. "So apologize tomorrow. Be honest. Tell him you panicked."
"Just like that?"
"Just like that." He makes it sound simple. "Honesty tends to work better than avoidance."
The food arrives. We eat in comfortable silence for a while, the tension from earlier dissipating into something easier.
"So," I say around a fry. "You really watched me make out with River."
"Yep."
"And that didn't bother you."
"I didn't say that." His eyes meet mine. "I said I'm not threatened by it. Those are different things."
"How?"
"Being bothered means I wanted to be the one kissing you." His voice drops. "Being threatened means I think River kissing you means I never will."
Heat floods my face. "Oh."
