Page 107 of Falling for the Grinchy Bad Boy

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COOPER

Iwas doing my best impression of a functional human being. On my usual walkthrough, I checked for unseen dangers and reviewed emergency protocols for the Christmas market opening. Joy was around but we were both avoiding each other.

I could just leave. I could walk right out of town square and end the torment. But I couldn’t do it. I needed to be near her even if I didn’t know what to do with her. Or me. She was acting like I had the plague. Or maybe I was acting that way toward her.

I just didn’t know how to handle the situation. She was clearly avoiding me. Was she done with me? My head was a mess. The best thing I could do was go home and contemplate life. Contemplate every choice.

Katrina stepped in front of me. She was absolutely in my personal space.

“Who pissed in your porridge?” she demanded without preamble, crossing her arms and fixing me with that penetrating stare that had me taking a step back.

“Whatever, I’m fine,” I lied and looked past her. “Just making sure we’re prepared for anything and everything tonight.”

“Bullshit.” Katrina grabbed my chin and forced me to acknowledge her presence. “You’ve been skulking around this market like someone stole your favorite toy. And don’t think I don’t notice you watching Joy like a sad puppy. What’s wrong with you? Why are you being so weird? This isn’t the seventh grade, so why are you acting like a freak?”

“I’m not acting like a freak.”

“Yes, you are. What’s wrong? What happened? Why are you skulking around here? I don’t like it. It’s weird.”

“You already said that,” I muttered. Apparently my sister’s twin radar was functioning at full capacity today. “And I’m not skulking.”

“You’re absolutely skulking. You’re practically radiating misery, and it’s making everyone uncomfortable.” She lowered her voice, glancing around to make sure we weren’t being overheard. “Cooper, I’ve been hearing some crazy rumors about Lynn being back in town. Someone said she burned her parents’ house down trying to win you back.”

The absurdity of that particular piece of gossip would have been funny if it weren’t so representative of how quickly facts got twisted in small-town telephone games. “Seriously? No. Lynn didn’t burn anything down. Her father had a turkey fryer accident, and yes, she’s back in town, but it has nothing to do with me.”

And the second I said the words I knew we both knew that was a lie.

Dammit. I wished I was a better liar.

“Cooper.”

“Katrina.”

“Cooper.”

I rolled my eyes. “I would rather cut my dick off than get back together with Lynn,” I said and meant it. “The only feelings I have left for her are disgust and annoyance. Whatever people are saying, they don’t know what the hell they’re talking about. They’re just looking for something to talk about.”

The words came out sharp but the whole situation was bringing back uncomfortable memories of last year. After Lynn had humiliated me at the altar—literally left me standing there in my tuxedo while guests watched in horrified silence—everyone in town had something to say about it. Everyone was whispering behind my back, speculating about what had gone wrong, creating elaborate theories about my personal life.

I had heard everything, from I had some kinky bedroom habits to I demanded she give me six kids. I was a tyrant or too soft. I was lazy or all I did was work. The rumor mill covered all the possible scenarios.

The rumors had been inescapable then, and apparently they were starting up again now. Different rumors, same invasive scrutiny, same feeling that my private pain was being turned into public entertainment. And I had a feeling Joy was going to get dragged into the rumors.

Maybe she already had.

“Then why are you all bummed out?” Katrina pressed, clearly not buying my attempt to deflect. “If you’re not worried about Lynn, what’s got you looking like someone ran over your dog?”

I stared at the clipboard in my hands, weighing how much I wanted to reveal to my sister. Katrina meant well, but she also had a tendency to want to fix things. I wasn’t sure this particular problem had a solution that could be engineered. And I really didn’t want my sister mixed up in my sex life. And the thing with Joy was all about sex right now. I wanted more. At least I thought I did but now I didn’t know where the hell things were heading.

“I’m worried about Joy,” I admitted finally. “About whether she’s planning to stay in Calton Hill long term or if this is just a temporary thing for her.”

“And?”

“And I really like her, Katrina. More than I should, considering how short a time we’ve been hanging out again. But she’s avoiding me and now I’m worried it’s a mistake to let myself fall for her.”

Katrina was quiet for a moment, studying my face with that unnerving intensity that came with sharing DNA. “You’re scared,” she said finally.