Page 60 of Small Town, Big Storm

But…fuck that stings.

And maybe I’m enough of a bastard to want her to look at me like she looks at Rain.

To want me over him.

And if I do this, if I help save the fucking Pioneer Museum in fucking Cedar Hollow maybe she will.

Dumb, huh?

The air’s sticky by the time I finish the argument with myself, and the entire water heater is likely depleted.

But I don’t set my phone aside and get under the lukewarm stream just yet.

I grit my teeth and…double down.

STORM: It’s to raise money for a museum in my hometown. They provide afterschool and summer programs for the kids here in Cedar Hollow and they’re struggling. I said I’d play, but I figure we’d bring in more money if a few of you assholes joined me.

There’s a long pause.

A long ass pause.

Long enough for me to tighten a screw on the vanity cabinet so the door is no longer at risk of falling off.

Then my phone starts buzzing again.

GRIFFIN: Is it just me or is that the most words I’ve ever heard this asshole say?

SHEP: Or type, technically.

GRIFFIN: You know what I mean.

SHEP: I do. So what gives, Storm? Last I heard, you were shitting on your hometown. Now you’re raising money for it?

“Christ,” I mutter.

STORM: Nothing gives. Do you want to do it or not?

Another fucking pause has me typing⁠—

STORM: If you don’t want to, I’ll ask some of the Sierra guys.

I won’t. There’s no fucking way I’m going there again. But the lie ought to get them focused on the rivalry instead of the shitshow that’s my life.

SHEP: Yeah, that’s not going to work, kid. Spill it.

“Asshole.” I glare at my phone for a second.

STORM: Fine. Then I’ll text Smitty.

Which, thankfully, lights a fire under their ass.

Or Ace’s, anyway.

ACE: Don’t you fucking dare. He’s already obsessed with Vi and her job. If he gets wind of a chance to hang out with her then we’ll never get rid of him.

Vi—or Violet Lamour owns Blue Line Matchmaking, a secret, not-so-secret matchmaking company that hooks up hockey players with the women in their lives. She’s hardworking, beautiful, smart, and has an excellent slapshot.

Like Poppy.