Page 63 of The One You Want

“Agreed,” Iris said. “He’s intoyou.”

“Definitely,” Rileysaid.

“He’s not,” I insisted, seized bydiscomfort.

“Sure.” Libby rolled her eyes. “Guys totally pretend to date girls they’re not into just to benice.”

“He probably figured it was the easiest way to get her to clue in,” Riley said smugly. “Maybe turn those fake dates into something moreinteresting.”

They’re all giggling like it’s some big joke and all of a sudden, a temper I’m not used to feeling takes hold ofme.

“Stopit!”

That silences them. As well as several of the tables closest to us. Riley’s mouth was dropped open in surprise and Libby and Iris both suddenly looked verycautious.

“It’s not like that,” I said again, managing to lower my voice. “We’re just friends. He doesn’t…there’s no way he…He doesn’t like me like that. Hecouldn’t.”

“Jenny,” Iris said softly. “Why on earth don’t you think he could like you? You’re beautiful and smartand—”

“Hedoesn’t,” I insisted. I couldn’t let them get into my head. I couldn’t let myself start thinking like that. I could still remember the sheer mortification I had felt when I realized Dr. Miller was messing around with someone else. It had knocked me on my ass forweeks. I didn’t go to Libbies meetings, I didn’t go into town. I even skipped a market day, something I neverdid.

I couldn’t afford to feel like that again right now. I needed to figure out this job thing and I wasn’t going to do that if my confidence was shot from yet another foray into obsessing over a guy who was clearly out of myleague.

“Look, I really need to figure out this career thing,” I said. “That’s my focus right now. Nothingelse.”

They were all still shooting me searching glances, clearly wanting to push the issue but surprised enough by my outburst to be careful. To my great relief, a waiter appeared at our table just then, Grant and David close behind so they could order somebeers.

“We’re done talking,” I told Grant in a pointed tone I hoped the girls picked up on. “If you want to order foodnow?”

“Yeah, sure. Soundsgreat.”

Thankfully, the girls took the hint. They all stood, saying goodbye to Grant while they shuffled around, trading places so he could slide into thebooth.

“See you around, Jenny,” Iris said,waving.

“Call me later, okay?” Riley asked in an undertone and I made a noncommittal noise. The group sauntered off, presumably to their previous table, but Libby hovered by our booth for a few more moments. When everyone else had gone, she leaned over, eyes glinting withmischief.

“Grant, do you have a booth at the Harvest Fest tomorrow?” she asked, tone way tooinnocent.

“Yeah, Ido.”

Her eyes flashed. “Half the town will be there,” she said conspiratorially. “If you come together, people will definitelynotice.”

Grant raised his eyebrows at me. “I’m game if youare.”

Before I could even nod, Libby leaned in closer, lowering her voice. “And if I could offer a piece of advice—you guys should definitely be touching each other more. You look more like buddies thanlovers.”

My cheeks flushed hot at that word because, apparently, I was a pre-teen girl. But Libby wasn’t doneyet.

“You might want to hold hands or something,” she said, fighting a grin. “Maybe even kiss eachother.”

And then, like she hadn’t just dropped a mortification bomb on our table, she sauntered off across thebar.

I kept my eyes glued to the menu in front of me, unable to meet Grant’s gaze. Would he be able to see in my expression just how appealing I found hersuggestion?

There was a rustle of movement and then, suddenly, I felt a thick, warm leg pressing against mine under the table. I snapped my head up to see Grant sliding into the booth—intomyside of the booth. He grinned at me sheepishly. “She kind of has apoint.”

I felt faint—either at his nearness or an aftershock of Libby’s words, I wasn’t sure which. “You think?” I managed towhisper.