Romancing the Grump (Appies, #4)

by Jenny Proctor

“Can we have seconds?” Wyatt asks from across the table. “Not yet,” Gracie says as she ladles out another bowl and sets it on the counter. “Summer is on her way over, and I promised her soup.” I jerk at the sound of Summer’s name and knock over my water glass, sending it sloshing across the table. “Dude, what’s up with you?” Alec says as he picks up his bowl and scoots back. He’s sitting closest to me and would have gotten a lap full of water had he not moved when he did. “Sorry,” I mumble as I take the dish towel Felix offers me. He eyes me knowingly, but he’s too good a friend to say anything out loud. Which is just as well because whatever he thinks he knows, he doesn’t. Although, based on how I acted at practice today, I understand why Felix might assume. I’m not saying Dominik hasn’t been an idiot—he’s not playing like an Appie or behaving like one when he’s off the ice. But once I saw Summer up in the stands, something came over me, and I stopped thinking about anything but wanting to impress her. I laid into him too hard, then acted like some kind of hotshot center, leaving my zone and scoring just to show her that I could. It had to be a momentary lapse in judgment. Summer does talk too much, and I’m not interested in her. In fact, I’m so not interested that as soon as I finish this ridiculously good soup, I should probably take off and head home. Once the mess is cleaned up, I pursue my food with renewed determination, scarfing down the last few spoonfuls with rec...