Page 83 of Mountain Pine
“Do you want to round everyone up and meet Grace and I at the Salt Lick?”
He’s quiet and I wonder where he is. “Uh. Yeah, sure, if you want.”
I know that tone. “We don’t have to.”
“No yeah. It’s fine. I can be there in about an hour.”
Anhour? “If you’re in the middle of something, don’t worry about it. It’s not a big deal. I just finished setting up the booth with Grace and we were talking about grabbing a beer and shooting some pool.”
“I’ll be there when I can.”
Nervousness stirs in my gut. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah. Fine. Why?”
My tongue freezes in my mouth and I don’tknow what to say.
“I’ll text the group chat,” he says.
“Okay. I’ll order your usual.”
“Sounds good. See you soon.” Just before we hang up he goes, “Taylor?”
“Yeah?”
“Are we telling them now or did you want to wait?”
I’ve already told Grace and tried to tell Carly, but they’re different from Nick, Dean, and Bennet. “What do you want to do?”
“I want to tell them. I’ve been dying to do it but kept my mouth shut in case you weren’t ready or in case we…”
Didn’t work out. Blew up. Chickened out.
“No, let’s tell them tonight. Together.”
“See you soon.” He hangs up.
“Seven in the right pocket.” I lean on the pool table and take my shot, effortlessly sinking the ball.
My Spidey senses go off, and I look up, locking gazes with Conner the instant he walks through the door.
My heart gallops as he storms through the packed bar, eyes still on mine, and heads right for me. I have just enough time to straighten my spine and turn towards him when he cups the side of my face and kisses me hard enough to arch me backwards just to take it all.
Okay. Wow. That’s one way to tell all ourfriends that we’re officially a couple.
Nick starts the slow clap. Dean and Bennet join in.
And then the rest of the bar follows suit.
Oh. My. God. The whole damn bar watched us kiss like that!
“It’s about time!” Nick shouts, putting one arm around me, the other on Conner. “I’ve never seen a slower burn in my life.”
Conner playfully knocks him back and wraps his arms around me again. His breath tickles my ear when he whispers, “I’ve missed you.”
I swear I’ve sprouted wings and can fly. “Missed you too.”
Grace leans against Dean and sighs. “I love this.”
