Grumpy Darling (The Darling Devils #2)

by Alexandra Moody

“I think you broke Dad.” Cammie smirked in Mom’s direction.

“I think he just coughed up a lung,” Cammie added. “Probably because dinner was spicier than Mom’s dirty books,” Parker joked.

“I love your mother, but marry a girl who can cook.”

said. All I could think was that I’d happily put up with terrible cooking every night for the rest of my life if it meant I could be with Paige.

We were only seven, but even then I’d been so struck by how pretty she was, I could barely speak. I went to say her name, but I was so nervous I stumbled over it. Ten years later, I was still pretending it had been on purpose.

“Paige, any guy would be lucky to kiss you.” They’d also be lucky to be alive, thanks to Paige’s new decree that I couldn’t threaten them anymore. This was going to be tougher than I thought.

Gray: Just wear what you had on at the game. You looked perfect. Me: I was wearing your jersey.

Gray: Like I said . . . perfect.

“I think if you wear that dress for a second longer, I’m going to forget we’re just friends.”

I stilled as I entered Cammie’s room. There was already a dress laid out on my bed. I approached it slowly. It looked familiar, and when I reached it, I immediately recognized the small, delicate flowers printed on the pale pink fabric.

There was a note on it: The perfect dress for my perfect date. Grayson did this?

“You got me flowers?” He’d already gone to more than enough effort, and this was the sweetest thing, but I had to do my best to mask my disappointment. Bouquets of flowers always filled me with a twinge of sadness. Why pick something so beautiful only to let it die in a vase? But when I took them from his hands, I realized there weren’t any real flowers. The bouquet was actually an arrangement of all my favorite candy.

Gray had bought me the perfect dress, given me my favorite candy, and taken me for my favorite food in what might be the prettiest, most romantic location in town.

“I’m sorry I’ve taken so long to tell you this,” I continued. “But somewhere along the way, you became much more to me than just my best friend. I get butterflies when you enter a room and sparks on my skin when we touch. I’m happiest when I’m with you, and when I’m sad, you’re the person I want by my side. I know you deserve so much better than me.

“I’ve fallen in love with you, Paige.”

“No, Pidge. That was my first kiss too.” “But . . . What? Who?” She blinked. “How is that possible?” “Why would I kiss someone else, when I was waiting for you?”

“You’re stuck with me forever, Pidge. I promise.” “I’ll be holding you to that.” “Good.”