Chapter 12 Paige
Chapter 12
Paige
My heart was fluttering in a strange and unfamiliar way as I stared at Grayson’s closed door. It wasn’t butterflies; definitely not. No, it was more a sense of surprise and anticipation. I’d never seen this side of Grayson before, and he had left me a little speechless. What girl wouldn’t need to catch their breath after being flirted with like that?
“How’s it coming along with your first kiss?”
I jolted and turned to find Parker in the corridor behind me, leaning against the wall.
“Where did you come from?” I gasped. More importantly, how long had he been there? He hadn’t heard Grayson and I talking about coaching, had he? I really needed to pay more attention. Or perhaps not accept when Bonnie offered me suspicious-looking shots. They were making it much harder to think straight.
“The stairs. Behind me.” Parker appeared to be holding back laughter. “This is the way to my room, you know.”
“Right.” I shook my head. “Sorry, I didn’t realize anyone else was home from Matt’s party yet.”
“Well, I am, and I hear you had to come back too after you spilled a drink all over yourself while chatting up the newest Ransom Devil.”
“You heard about that?” I groaned.
“It happened in the middle of a party. Are you really surprised I found out?”
“I was kind of hoping no one had noticed and I could take the secret to my grave. It’s so embarrassing.”
“It’s not too bad. If it makes you feel any better, a girl once got so nervous talking to me, she accidentally fell in a pool. She ended up far more wet than you. But I thought it was cute.”
I laughed. “Oddly enough, that does make me feel better. Thanks, Parker.”
I started for Cammie’s bedroom. I was happy to call it a night, but Parker skipped ahead of me and propped himself up against the doorway. “So, is Damien the guy you want to be your first kiss?”
“Uh, that’s none of your business, Parker.”
“Because if you spilled your drink on yourself while talking to him, I’m guessing that means you two are no closer to locking lips.”
I glared at him. “It was just an accident. I’ll do better next time.”
“And what do you plan to do differently?”
“I have it under control.”
“Uh-huh.”
“I do!” I insisted, though it was clear he didn’t believe me.
“Also, say tonight had gone according to plan,” Parker continued. “Is making out with a guy at a party really the way you want your first kiss to go?”
“I guess?”
“Because I always thought you were more romantic than that.”
“Did you?”
“Sure. I figured you’d want the full experience. You know, start with a bit of flirting, then maybe a cute first date. For the lucky guy to whisper sweet nothings to you on a quiet beach at sunset. For there to be sparks and chemistry and anticipation. Not some dance-floor hookup while everyone’s watching.”
I raised an eyebrow. “You’ve really thought about these things?”
“Of course. Even my first kiss was special.”
That caught me by surprise. “Special? Really?”
“Yep.”
“What happened?”
He smirked. “I was on the ice, taking penalty shots against a girl I liked. I scored an epic goal. She bet I couldn’t score against her. I wagered a kiss.”
“So, you scored the goal?”
“Nope, I missed on purpose and told her I didn’t want to win the kiss. I was going to wait for her to kiss me because she wanted to. And, soon enough, she did.”
It was an incredibly cute story. Too cute for Parker. “Did you just make that up, or are you secretly all mushy and gooey inside?”
“That’s not important,” he said with a wink. “What’s important is the fact I know you’re mushy and gooey all over. Which is why I’m shocked you don’t want more from your first time kissing a guy.”
“It’s just a kiss, Parker.” I was surprised by how unconvincing I sounded. It was just a kiss, right? No big deal. I didn’t need all that extra stuff. Although, Parker had made kissing someone in front of a crowded, rowdy high school party sound very unappealing. It was bad enough people saw my attempt at flirting. I didn’t need anyone witnessing my first kiss, because that would probably end in embarrassment too .
Parker shrugged. “I’m just saying, you only get your first kiss once. I figured you’d want it to be special.”
“Well, I don’t.” Again, I failed to convince even myself. Were Parker’s words really getting to me? “Was there something else you wanted?”
“Not really.” He darted into Cammie’s room and stole a charger off the wall. “I just came to grab this. Night, Paige.”
I didn’t have a chance to respond before he disappeared down the hallway to his room. I was left staring after him, wondering how one quick conversation could make me question myself so much. Parker was the last person I would have expected that advice from. If even he thought having my first kiss at a party was a bad idea, then it must truly be terrible.
Bonnie had encouraged the idea, but she’d been kissing people for ages. And, now that I thought about it, her first kiss had been a super-cute moment in a tree house with the boy who lived next door. Maybe I had this all wrong. Maybe I did need the date and the chemistry and the excitement and everything that went along with a first kiss. And, maybe, my new coach would be able to help with that too.
“You’re not a fan of ice skating either?” Violet sat beside me on the bench overlooking the frozen lake. It was a perfect afternoon in Ransom, and Gray and his siblings had dragged us here for a skate before Sunday dinner. The sun was dipping low in the sky and the clouds had turned the color of cotton candy. The soft pink glow was reflected across the ice like something out of a dream.
Reed and Gray were already racing each other around the lake’s perimeter, while Cammie had made her way to the center of the lake and was carving perfect circles. We’d only just arrived, but Parker had found a group of girls and was already trying his best to get each of their numbers. They looked like they were old enough to be in college, but that didn’t seem to matter to Parker.
“I normally don’t mind it,” I said. “It’s just a little less enjoyable when the ground is refusing to stay still. I only had two shots last night, but clearly my body hates tequila.”
Violet gave me a sympathetic look. “I’m sorry I missed you at the party.”
“I wasn’t there long. I spilled a drink down my top and made Gray take me home.”
“He’s a good friend.”
“Yeah, the best.”
The race had finished and Reed was celebrating while Gray rolled his eyes. The moment he turned away from his brother though, his mouth twitched as though he were fighting a smile. The afternoon sun was hitting his hair at the perfect angle, almost creating a kind of halo. In moments like these it was easy to see why girls at school were so intrigued by him .
“How about you?” I nodded at the skates Violet was yet to put on.
“Uh... me and skating don’t get along. But it’s not so bad when Reed’s helping me.”
It was impossible not to notice the way her eyes warmed when she talked about Reed. A small twinge of jealousy panged inside me. I wish I had a guy to light up over. All hope wasn’t lost though. Things may not have gone as I’d hoped with Damien last night, but I had a new strategy.
“Was Reed your first kiss?” I asked.
“Uh, no.” Violet shuddered like a cold wind had rushed under her jacket. “I wish.”
I laughed at her reaction. “What do you mean?”
“My first kiss was bad. It was with a boy back home in California. He slobbered all over me and left me with a massive cold sore.”
“Oh no!” I raised both hands to my mouth to smother my laughter.
“Awful, right?”
“The worst!”
“It was right before school pictures too,” she said, shuddering again. “My cousin Mia found the photo and set it as my caller ID picture, so it pops up whenever I call her. She said she needs the daily reminder to never settle for a guy that would give her a cold sore.”
“That’s pretty solid advice,” I admitted with a grin.
“Stop laughing. It was horrific at the time.”
“Sorry.” I did my best to straighten my face, but Violet’s lips curved in a smile.
“Why do you ask? What was your first kiss like?”
“Uh, it’s a work in progress.”
Her eyes filled with disbelief. “You’ve never kissed anyone?”
“Not yet,” I replied with a shrug.
“How is that possible?”
“I’m not very good with boys.” As I’d proven last night. Grayson’s negative contribution to the situation was practically a blip next to my own disastrous actions. Now that I thought about it, I wondered if he’d actually been doing me a favor. How many more embarrassing moments would I have endured if I’d ended up close to kissing any of the boys he’d scared away?
“I find that hard to believe,” Violet replied. “They should be flocking to you; you’re one of the friendliest people I’ve met here.”
“That’s only because I don’t want to kiss you. If I did, I’d be acting like a total gremlin right now.”
She laughed. “A gremlin?”
“Yep. Glowing red eyes, pointy horns, sharp claws. You’d be running for the hills.”
“Well, maybe some guys are into that sort of thing.”
“Hopefully.” I playfully lifted my hands to show my fingers were crossed.
“Just, when you do find one, don’t make the same mistake as me. Check his lips for any blemishes first.”
I laughed again and nodded. “Oh, I will.”
Reed collapsed onto the bench at Violet’s side. “Are you two planning on joining us anytime soon? ”
“I can’t,” I replied. “The ice won’t stay still.”
Reed frowned with confusion. “Uh, Paige, it’s frozen solid.”
“The ice is not the problem . . .”
“Okay.” He laughed uncertainly, before he turned his attention to Violet. “What about you, Sunshine?”
“I think I might be allergic to ice and snow,” she replied.
“Allergic, huh?”
“Deathly,” she added. “Such a shame. But at least the view from the bench is pretty great.”
“I guess we’ll have to enjoy it together then.”
Violet had turned Reed into such a softy. I’d never seen him act that way around anyone. He definitely would not have given up an afternoon skating to sit on a bench with a girl before.
Gray cleared his throat. He’d skated to the edge of the lake and was standing in front of me with his hand held out.
“I’m allergic to ice and snow too,” I told him.
“Then try not to touch it if you fall.”
My eyes narrowed on him. Where was the sympathy?
“Come on, Pidge.” His eyes were practically sparkling, and I found them incredibly inviting.
“I haven’t skated in ages, and the world is still spinning after the shots Bonnie gave me last night.”
“All I’m hearing are excuses.”
“Valid ones. I really don’t feel like falling on my ass today.”
“Do you think I’d let anything bad happen to you?”
“I think I have a better chance of keeping my butt ice-free if I’m not skating.”
“Just get on the ice, Paige.”
“Okay. Okay,” I grumbled. “I’m coming.” He could be so stubborn when he knew what he wanted.
I took his offered hand, knowing I was far more likely to stay upright if I kept close to him. It’s not that I was a bad skater, but I didn’t get out on the ice as much as I used to, and I really was feeling slightly dizzy after last night.
“Let’s just avoid going near Cammie,” I said as we set out. “Watching her spin is making me feel ill.”
“Are you really that bad?”
“Only when I breathe.”
Gray let out a low chuckle. “How about I distract you?”
“Okay, how?”
He answered my question by spinning around in front of me so he was skating backward while holding both my hands. It was definitely distracting, especially when he gave me a cautious smile. Gray’s smiles were hard-earned, so whenever he looked at me that way it sent a cozy warmth spreading to every point of my body.
“Is your pretty face the distraction?” I asked. If it was, then I had to admit, it was seriously working.
His smile lifted a little more. “You think I’m pretty?”
“I think I was promised a distraction and you’re not holding up your end of the bargain.”
Amusement danced in his eyes. “Okay, why don’t you tell me more about what this whole coaching thing involves? That should take your mind off things.”
“Oh, that...” I scrunched up my nose. It had seemed like a brilliant idea last night. Now, in the all-too-bright light of day, I wasn’t so sure. Especially not when I was rethinking my whole stance on first kisses. Was it too much to get Grayson to help me with more than just a little harmless flirting ?
“Bonnie’s first kiss was in a tree house,” I blurted out.
Gray tilted his head and his brow furrowed with confusion.
“Violet chose the wrong guy and got a cold sore.”
“Okay . . .”
“Even Parker’s first kiss was sweet.”
He stopped skating, pulling me to a halt with him. “You’ve been talking about kissing with Parker?”
“For like half a second.” I shrugged the question off. “But I’ve been thinking, perhaps I don’t want my first time to be some meaningless kiss at a party. I want it to be more special than that. I want to feel sparks with a guy. I want there to be fireworks. I want to be asked out, to get dressed up and taken on a date. I don’t want a cold sore. I want that...” I gestured across the ice.
Grayson followed my gaze to where Violet and Reed were still sitting on the bench. Even from here you could see the natural chemistry between them as they laughed together. The two of them were magnetic.
When Grayson glanced back at me, he looked even more confused. “You want my brother?”
“What? No!”
“You want Violet?”
“I don’t want them .” Clearly I was going to have to spell it out. “I want what they have. I want that chemistry. And I want a kiss that stems from more than a couple of shots followed by some awkward giggling.”
“And how exactly do I help with all that?”
“Well, I’m certain you can help me with the flirting after your performance last night,” I said. “But I need to practice more than just flirting if I want to pull this off. I’ve never been asked out, so I clearly don’t know how to catch a guy’s attention. And I have no idea how to act on a date. Not to mention I’ve totally lost all confidence after my string of embarrassing rejections.”
“Uh, anything else?”
“Yeah, Bonnie says I need a makeover.”
“A makeover?” He spat out the word as though it was something dirty in his mouth and he took personal offense to it. “Why on earth would you need a makeover?”
“She says I dress like a librarian.”
“Librarians can be sexy.”
“ What librarians?”
“I don’t know. The ones in movies?”
“Grayson, what kind of movies have you been watching?”
“Uh, no, I didn’t mean . . .”
He looked so embarrassed I couldn’t help but laugh. “I’m only messing with you, Gray.”
An amused flicker flashed in his eyes, but he went right on back to looking unimpressed. “So, you want me to teach you how to flirt, get Damien to ask you out, practice what to do on a date, and give you a makeover?”
“Yeah. Pretty much.”
“You know, you don’t really need help, right? And you don’t need to change anything. You’re perfect just as you are.”
When he said things like that, I had to wonder how some girl hadn’t already fallen madly in love with him. He was so sweet, but he was totally wrong .
“If I was perfect, I wouldn’t be in this mess in the first place. And I wouldn’t have failed quite so miserably with Damien last night,” I replied. “Please, Gray. I’m clueless, and I don’t want to mess this up again. If I’m going to get another shot with him, I need to wow his socks off.”
Grayson lifted one eyebrow at me. “Wow his socks off?”
“Yep. I need to be cool and flirty and confident and so gorgeous his socks go flying right off him.”
He scoffed, but it felt like his frustration was shifting closer to acceptance.
“I know this isn’t what you signed up for, but will you help me? Will you be my DRC?”
“DRC?”
“Dating and Relationships Coach,” I explained. “It’s a pretty big promotion from Flirting Coach. Congratulations.”
He released a heavy breath. I was tempted to remind him that he was part of the reason I was so desperate for help. But I knew I was just as much to blame. I was asking a lot, so I didn’t want to force him into it.
His eyes were wary as he returned my gaze. “Fine, I’ll help. But not with the makeover.”
That was close enough for me. “Thanks, Gray.” I smiled and he grumbled his response.
“Come on, let’s keep skating before I change my mind.”
I nodded but quietly groaned as we started off again. It had been nice to stop for a minute. It was far too hard to talk and skate at the same time.
“So, are you going to practice your flirting on me?” he asked.
“Now?”
“I don’t see why not. According to your new plan, we’ve got a lot of stuff to get through, haven’t we?”
“I guess, but do you really expect me to flirt and skate at the same time? It’s like you want me to fall over and die.”
“I’m holding your hands, Pidge. You’re not going to die.”
“Debatable.”
But he ignored my complaint. “Come on, wow my socks off.”
“Fine.” My mind scrambled for something flirty to say. Unfortunately, all I could think of were the pickup lines Bonnie had texted me last night. They were terrible, but something was better than nothing, so I rattled off the first one that came to mind. “You know, I forgot to pack my teddy bear. Will you sleep with me tonight instead?”
“What?” I couldn’t tell if he was shocked, disappointed, or embarrassed by my pickup line.
“I forgot to pack my—”
“No, I heard you.” I could have sworn his cheeks were turning pink.
“And are your socks still on?”
“Firmly,” he replied without hesitation. “Is that really the best you can do? A cheesy line that probably came from Parker?”
“Uh, it was Bonnie, actually.”
The look on his face suggested he thought that made it even worse. “Look, here’s flirting lesson one: don’t use pickup lines. Lesson two: don’t glare at the guy when you say them. If this is what we’re working with, maybe you do need my help after all. ”
“You put me on the spot!” I huffed. He was really taking this coaching job seriously all of a sudden. Next he’d be making me skate laps of the lake as punishment.
“I was still expecting better.”
I dropped his hands and jerked to a halt. He wanted better flirting? Fine. But I most definitely wasn’t trying it while moving. He’d stopped a few yards away, probably thinking I had every intention of yelling at him. Little did he know, I planned on proving him wrong. Only problem was, I had no idea how I was supposed to do that.
But as I watched him, I was struck by inspiration. I remembered a trick I’d seen girls pull out here on the lake plenty of times before. I wasn’t sure if I was capable of repeating it myself, but I was so annoyed at Grayson I was willing to try just about anything. Perhaps I really would kill myself trying to flirt while skating.
Before I could rethink it or chicken out, I closed the distance between us, and pretended to slip on the ice, falling gracefully into his arms.
He swore but caught me easily. “Are you okay?”
“Whoops.” I gave a soft laugh. “Told you I was clumsy today.”
My hands were pressed against his chest, and my stomach dipped at the feel of him. His arms were wrapped tightly around my waist as he held me up. I’d always known Grayson was athletic, but it was something else to actually run my fingers over his muscles.
“You’re so strong,” I murmured. The words were out of me before I realized what I’d said. I wasn’t sure if I meant for them to escape my lips, but I quickly added a cautious smile as I glanced up at him from under my eyelashes. I was supposed to be flirting; might as well commit to it now. “Have you been working out? ”
His throat bobbed as he swallowed. “Uh, you know I exercise every day.”
“Mm. But you must be benching a lot these days.”
“I guess.”
“Do you think you could bench-press me?”
“Ah . . .” He swallowed again. “Probably.”
I slowly crept my hands up his chest until my arms were around his neck and my fingers were toying with his hair. My stomach quivered with an unexpected rush as I stared up at him. I thought I knew everything about Gray, but I’d never noticed how his blue eyes had a subtle ring of green around the center.
I was getting distracted. I needed to focus on the task at hand. His socks still needed blowing off. I pulled myself up a little higher so I could whisper in his ear. “Maybe we should go back to your house, and get a workout in together?”
He spluttered and coughed to clear his throat. “We should what ?”
His eyes were so wide they looked like they were about to burst out of his skull. Was this how guys were supposed to react? Either way, I was enjoying this far more than last night when I’d been giggling like an idiot and spilling drinks on myself. Flirting was so much more fun when you weren’t actually trying to get the boy to like you. I stared deeply into Gray’s eyes a moment longer, before I grinned and pulled away.
“How’d I do?”
“What?”
“My flirting? How was it? You said you expected better—that had to be an improvement. Right?”
The shock in his eyes eased as he rubbed a hand on the back of his neck, where my hands had just been resting. “Right. Flirting.” He took another few breaths before he continued. “Sure, it was an improvement. Were those some of Bonnie’s lines too?”
“No.” I was still grinning. “But they were a little cheesy. I’m surprised you played along for as long as you did.”
“Yeah.” He gave an awkward laugh. “Your delivery was much better this time. But you weren’t exactly under pressure, so I wouldn’t get too cocky just yet. We’ll see how you do next time...”
“I guess,” I muttered. It wasn’t the glowing review I’d hoped for, but at least he’d admitted I was making progress.
Laughter drew my attention across the ice to where Parker was still talking with the group of girls. They all seemed far more skilled at flirting than me. Even their giggles sounded cute and enticing. Not at all embarrassing like mine had been last night.
“Do you think Parker is actually going to get all those girls’ numbers?” I asked.
Gray glanced in the direction of his brother. “I hope not. He’ll be bragging the whole week if he does.”
“He certainly looks like he knows what he’s doing. They can’t get enough of him.”
“If Parker’s such a pro, why didn’t you ask him for help?”
I turned back to look at Grayson, surprised by his question. “Because I trust you,” I said. “I feel comfortable with you. There’s no one else I could do this with.”
He nodded slowly, as though he was considering my response carefully.
“Plus, I keep telling you how impressive you were last night. I bet Parker could learn a few things from you too.” I paused for a moment, as something I’d never really considered before crossed my mind. “How come I never see you trying to get girls’ numbers?”
“I’m not Parker.”
“Obviously.” I laughed, before turning serious again. “But you clearly know what you’re doing, so you must have a bit of experience. Why don’t I ever see you with other girls?”
“I’m too busy with hockey.”
I wasn’t exactly sure what he meant. Was he saying he was too busy to commit to a girlfriend or that he had no time for girls, period?
“Parker’s busy with hockey.”
“Please stop comparing me to my younger brother.”
“Well, Reed’s busy with hockey too, and he’s with Violet.”
I nodded across the lake to where the two of them were still huddled together on the bench.
“Reed found the right girl,” Gray said.
“So, that’s it? You haven’t found the right girl?”
He took a moment before replying. “I wouldn’t make a good boyfriend.”
“Why on earth would you think that? You’d be an amazing boyfriend.”
“Almost every year my report card reads that I’m quiet, withdrawn, and don’t play well with others,” he said. “That doesn’t sound like boyfriend material.”
“For the right girl it is,” I argued. “Maybe we can find her once we’ve sorted out my own dating situation?”
Before he could reply, someone shouted across the ice. “Look out!”
I lifted my gaze just in time to see a puck hurtling through the air toward me. I didn’t have a chance to react, but Grayson’s reflexes were like lightning. One moment he was standing opposite me, the next he’d grabbed my arm and yanked me out of the way. The force pulled me off my feet and sent me sprawling,
My heart raced, the breath stolen from my lungs. I squeezed my eyes shut as I waited for pain to erupt through my body. But, by some miracle, the puck seemed to have missed me. And I hadn’t hit the ice. Grayson had caught me and was holding me in his arms just above the lake’s hard surface.
Apart from Parker yelling at the guys who’d sent the puck flying our way, the only sound I could hear was my heart beating fast as I slowly looked up at Gray. He was staring down at me and holding me so securely, yet so gently, I imagined we might have looked like a couple dipping low at the end of a romantic dance.
Gray pulled me upright and grasped my face in his hands. “Are you okay?”
Nothing was hurt, but I was shivering from the adrenaline pulsing through me. “Just a little shaken. You?”
“I’m fine.”
“The puck didn’t hit you?”
“No. It missed us both.”
“You reacted so fast.”
“I told you I wouldn’t let anything bad happen to you.”
My heart was still racing, but when he stared at me like that and said those words, I wasn’t a hundred percent certain it was just because of the puck.
But the moment shattered as his expression darkened and he glanced over my shoulder. “What were they thinking? You can’t mess around with a puck like that when there are people skating so close by.”
I grabbed his hand to calm him. There was a slightly murderous look forming in his eyes.
“Parker’s dealing with it,” I said, since I could still hear him shouting.
Gray looked primed to race off and confront the other boys, but I kept a firm grasp on his hand. “I think I’m done with skating for today. Want to go get ice cream?”
He hesitated but slowly returned his attention to me. “What I want is to kill those guys.”
“It was just an accident, Gray. And no one was hurt.”
“You both okay?” Reed shouted as he skated over to us. Violet was standing on the edge of the lake with a worried look on her face.
“We’re fine, Reed,” I called back to him. “But we’re calling it for the day. We’ll catch you guys later.”
I tugged Grayson’s hand, pulling him from the ice. The last thing I needed was for Reed to come and offer Grayson some backup. The kids playing hockey were already terrified as Parker went off at them. They didn’t need all three Darling boys defending me .
Gray was quiet as we changed back into our shoes and made our way to his truck. It was only once we were both inside that he spoke again.
“That’s the first time I’ve ever been scared on the ice,” he said.
“Really? I guess having a puck flying at you is a little different when you’ve got a helmet on.”
“No, it’s a little different when it’s flying at you .” The look in his eyes when they met mine was so intense I felt a lump form in my throat. “I can’t handle the thought of something bad happening to you, Paige.”
“Well, nothing bad did happen, thanks to you.”
He nodded and looked away from me, before taking a deep breath. “I saw this afternoon going a little differently.”
“How so?”
“Less pucks to the face,” he said, shaking his head. “More skating, I guess.”
He kept his eyes facing forward, and I wondered if there was something he wasn’t telling me. The truck roared to life before I could question him any further.
“So, ice cream?” he asked.
“Yes, please,” I replied.
He was clearly shaken by our near miss, and his expression remained troubled as he pulled away from the curb. He wasn’t the only one. There was nothing like a rogue puck flying past your head to get your heart rate going. But I still couldn’t be sure if that was the only thing to blame .