Without thinking about why she did it, Ginny quickly whipped her new Sugartree Sweatshirt over her head, pulled the sleeves down to cover the friendship bracelet, and cleared her throat.
“Well, what do we have here?” she said, surprised at how steady her voice sounded.
Ryan glanced up and then over her shoulder. “Uh, oh. Hey, Gin. I, um… I just met this little fuzzball on my way to… um, well, to something else.”
Inside she was screaming,“To meet me, you beautiful peacock!” But she played it as cool as a cucumber, crouching down and greeting the spotted puppy still lying on her back at Ryan’s feet.
“She’s just the cutest, isn’t she?” Ginny cooed, adopting the voice she reserved only for the sweetest of creatures—puppies and babies—and was amazed that she’d managed another sentence without internally combusting. “She seems absolutely charmed by you, Ryan.”
“Ha. I don’t know about that.” He shrugged and looked at the gazebo entrance again, clearly waiting for her, Mood Music, to arrive.
The puppy rolled over, tongue lolling out of its mouth and somehow raising its adorableness level off the charts. Ginny couldn’t help but swoon as Ryan took the mutt in his arms, cradling it like a baby.
She made a note that she would have to admit to Sadie that Melody Man was indeed, as Sadie had referred to him, a musically inclined, hot man. “Looks like you got yourself a new girl in your life.” She winked, but inside screamed,“What are you doing, Virginia?! Tell him the truth!!”
He looked down at the dog in his arms, like he couldn’t quite make eye contact with Ginny as he admitted, “I… I was planning to meet a friend here, but then I came acrossthisgirl. Shedoesn’t seem to have any tags, so I’ll have to spread the word and see if I can find her owners.”
Ginny knew it was wrong. Knew she should approach this situation with honesty. But she thought about how open Ryan had been as Melody Man talking to Mood Music. And howhewas the one who wanted to meether. Melody Man initiated contact. If Ginny fessed up, what would he say? Would he look at her just as he had in her parent’s driveway and then again at the antique store? Like he couldn’t trust himself or his feelings.
She couldn’t risk it.
She decided then and there she’d just have to stop writing to her musical, mystery penpal. She’d never be able to tell Ryan the truth without him regretting the things he’d told her. But while she was there, standing exactly where she was supposed to be, Ginny couldn’t help but have a bit of a good time with it all.
“Cool,” she said so very,verycasually. “What friend are ya meeting? Wanna grab some dinner on the street when they get here?”
Ryan sighed. “I’ve actually never met… her.” He pinched his lips, clearly uncomfortable, and used that sweet, innocent pup the same way he used his guitar. A security blanket to devote all his attention to.
“Oh. Her?”
“Yeah.” His green eyes flicked up to hers. “Yeah, she’s… We’ve been exchanging letters or notes… Really, it’s hard to explain, but we said we’d meet here today. And I don’t know why I’m telling you this and why I feel… well, I don’t feel great.” He blew so much air through his mouth a raspberry noise came out.
“And do you…” Ginny bit her lip, “feel something for this mystery girl?”
Oh goodness. No matter how he answered, she’d regret it. She started to feel sweat pooling in her pits.Was it the heat orthe shame of her deception?She should’ve walked away and left the whole thing—
“Yes.”
Yes. Whoa. Ginny loved that word.
Could she enjoy a corn dog every day of her life? Why, yes. Yes she could.
Was kissin’ the best? A resounding, yes.
Did Ryan Hood have feelings for real Ginny and Mood Music—also real Ginny—YES!
“I’m sorry, Ginny. I know that’s a really sleazy thing to hear from me. Especially after we…”
“Snogged?”
Ryan snorted and the puppy perked her face up from his arms and licked him. Doin’ a little kissin’ of her own. “Yeah, Gin. Afteryousnoggedme.”
“You sure didn’t seem to argue until… like three seconds after, Coach.”
“You’re right.” He looked back at the dog and offered her to Ginny. “Ya wanna hold her?”
She took the puppy in her arms and imprinted like a teenage werewolf with a million red flags. She was in love. Forget that adorable man staring at them both. She’d just run away with this puppy. “Everyone’s always tryin’ to distract me with babies and puppies.”
“Is it workin’?”
