Page 81 of Mountain Pine
While packing, I call Carly to tell her everything. She doesn’t answer and my texts are left on delivered. Dang.
Bursting to tellsomeonemy good fortune, I call Grace next.
“Hey girl! What’s up?”
“You got a minute?”
“Always!” Grace says something I don’t catch, but I quickly realize she’s not talking to me. “Damnitgirl, you’re going to make me trip! Oscar! Stop! Ooof!” There’s more muffling. “You’re such a menace.”
Dean shouts in the background. “Damnit, dog! Leave Grace alone!”
Everyone knows Oscar doesn’t listen and does whatever she wants. She’s the most carefree creature on the planet.
I want a pet.
“So…” Grace clears her throat. “Does this have anything to do with why you canceled plans with me last night?”
Her teasing tone has a massive smile spreading across my face. “Yes.”
“I’m coming right over.” Grace yells to Dean about how he’s on his own for a while and to miss her like crazy while she’s gone and to not forget to post another thirst trap online today. “Taylor, I’ll be there in twenty!”
She’s here in fifteen.
Pulling up in a car that costs more than my house, Grace blasts a musical soundtrack with the windows down. When she climbs out, I meet her in the yard because I’m excited to have someone to talk to about my love life. I’ve missed Carly so much, but having Grace as a bestie has been such a joy. We’ve grown super close since she moved here.
Grace lifts her sunglasses up. “Tell me it’s Conner. Please, for the love of all things hot and sexy, tell me you finally smashed that man.”
I cup my mouth and scream-squeal. She matches my energy instantly. Rushing over to me, we jump and yell in my yard like two crazy ladies. “Holy shit!”
“I know.”
“Finally!”
“I know!”
“The guys are going to flip!”
“Iknow.” There’s a pang in my belly, a worry that they might not be as excited as Grace is about me and Conner, but it doesn’t last. Our friend circle has to be tight enough to survive anything right?
RIGHT?
If Conner and I break up and he leaves town for good, will they hate me for it? Blame me?
“Hey, whoa.” Grace grabs my shoulders. “What’s that face?”
“Nothing.”
She’s suspicious but doesn’t push it. “Okay, let me ask one thing first.”
“Shoot.”
“Are you happy?”
That’s not at all what I thought she’d ask. “Yes.” Thinking about a future with Conner has my heart skipping all over the place. Tears spring to my eyes. “Big, colossal, massive, huge yes.”
“Then let’s pack your stuff up and you can tell meeverything.”
She hooks her arm in mine, and we head into my shop.
