Page 50 of Small Town, Big Storm

“And the posts aren’t bothering you?”

I frown.“Posts?”

She stills.

Then winces.

“Shoot,” she murmurs.“You hadn’t seen.”

“Seen what?”I ask, my heart thudding against my chest.“Clove,” I press.“Seenwhat?”

Another wince, but to her credit, she pulls out her phone, taps at the screen, then holds it up for me to see.

There’s a screenshot of an article from the Cedar Hollow Gazette:

LOCAL HOCKEY STAR RETURNS—AND DISCOVERS HE’S A FATHER

“Omg,” I whisper.

Unfortunately, the comments are worse.

user1:wait he’s actually back back???

user2:i thought he swore he’d never come back to cedar hollow

user3:yeah and poppy’s still here soooo…good luck with that

user4:NOT him showing up like nothing happened

user5:nothing happened???be serious

user 6:this town is about to be unbearable for the next few weeks and i for one am READY

user7:someone check on poppy immediately

user8:u guys don’t even know the half of it

“Oh, my God,” I groan, passing her cell back.

“You hadn’t seen it,” she says.

“Unfortunately not.”I tilt my head up to the sky.“Remind me again, why do I live here?”

“Because you love it?”Clover asks hopefully.

“Undetermined at this point,” I mutter.“Seriously,undetermined.”

She touches my shoulder.“Want me to try and get them to take it down?”

“Will that stop the gossip?”I ask even though we both know the answer.

She sighs.

Isigh.

“Want to depose your daughter and be my flower crown model?”She tilts her head toward her shop, which is located in the house she inherited from her grandmother, and…right next door to Storm’s place.

Heaven save me from Cedar Hollow.