Chapter 6
SIX
Grant
Grant woke up way earlier than he needed to, staring at the ceiling of his bedroom and replaying the night before.
Riley's hand in his. Her body pressed against his side. The way she'd leaned into him when Hannah hugged her, like it was the most natural thing in the world.
The way he'd almost kissed her in the truck.
He groaned and threw an arm over his face.
Get it together, Lawson.
His phone buzzed on the nightstand.
Mark: Dude. DUDE.
Mark: You and Riley??? Since when???
Mark: Why didn't you tell me?
Mark: Hannah won't stop talking about it. Send help.
Grant smiled despite himself and typed back.
Grant: It's new. We wanted to keep it quiet.
Mark: Well it's not quiet anymore. The whole town knows.
Grant's stomach dropped.
Grant: What?
Mark: Mrs. Henderson saw you two leaving together. Posted about it on Facebook. You're officially Pine Valley's hottest gossip.
Grant: Great.
Mark: Hey, at least you're not "everyone's plus-one" anymore. Now you’re just Riley’s plus-one.
Grant stared at the message, then tossed his phone on the bed.
He should have expected this. Should have known that in a town this small, nothing stayed secret for more than five minutes.
He got dressed and headed downstairs, the smell of coffee pulling him toward the kitchen.
His dad sat at the table, reading the newspaper like it was still 1995.
"Morning," Grant said.
"Morning." Thomas didn't look up. "Saw you came home late last night."
"The reunion ran long."
"Mm-hmm." Thomas turned a page. "How's Riley?"
Grant poured himself coffee, keeping his face neutral. "She's good."
"Good enough to hold hands with at the reunion?"
Grant nearly dropped his mug. "How did you—"
"Mrs. Henderson." Thomas finally looked up, grinning. "She posted seven photos. You two look very cozy."
Grant's face went hot. "It's not—we're just—"
"Just what?"
"Taking it slow."
Thomas studied him for a long moment, then nodded. "Your mom would be thrilled."
Grant's chest tightened. "Yeah. She would."
"Just don't screw it up. She’s a nice girl."
"I won't."
"Good." Thomas went back to his newspaper, and Grant escaped to the barn before his dad could ask any more questions.
He threw himself into work—feeding animals, checking fences, fixing things that didn't need fixing. Anything to keep his mind off Riley and the way her hand had felt in his and the fact that this was all pretend.
Except it hadn't felt pretend last night.
It had felt real.
Too real.
By midday, he'd nearly convinced himself he was fine.
And then Hannah showed up.
She appeared in the barn doorway, arms crossed, wearing a smile that promised trouble. "Grant Lawson."
Grant set down the wrench he was holding. "Hannah."
"We need to talk."
"About?"
"About the fact you're dating my best friend and didn't tell me."
"It's new."
"So everyone keeps saying." Hannah stepped closer, studying him like he was a puzzle she was trying to solve. "You really like her."
It wasn't a question.
Grant's throat went tight. "Yeah. I do."
The lie came easier than it should have. Or maybe it wasn't a lie at all.
"Good. Because if you hurt her, I will personally feed you to your own goats."
"Noted."
"I'm serious, Grant. Riley's been through enough. She doesn't need another heartbreak."
Grant wanted to tell her that he wasn't going to break Riley's heart. That this was all fake. That in two weeks they'd go back to normal and no one would get hurt. Except maybe him.
But he couldn't say any of that without blowing the whole thing.
So he just nodded. "I'm not going to hurt her."
"You better not." Hannah's expression softened. "But for what it's worth—I think you're good for her. She's been different since she came home. Lighter. And I think that's because of you."
Grant's chest ached. "Thanks."
"Don't thank me. Just don't screw it up." She paused at the door. "Oh, and Grant? You should probably check Facebook. Mrs. Henderson has made you two her personal project."
She left, and Grant stood there, staring at the empty doorway.
Don't screw it up.
Too late. He was already screwed.
Because somewhere between agreeing to this insane plan and holding Riley's hand at the reunion, he was forgetting how to pretend.
And now he was lying to everyone—including himself.
After Hannah left, Grant pulled out his phone and, against his better judgment, opened Facebook.
Mrs. Henderson's post was at the top of his feed.
Well, well, well! Looks like Pine Valley's favorite couple is BACK TOGETHER!
Spotted Grant Lawson and Riley Monroe leaving their little holiday reunion last night looking absolutely ADORABLE.
I always knew those two would find their way back to each other!
#PineValleyLove #SecondChances #ChristmasMiracle
Below it was seven photos. Grant and Riley walking to his truck, hand in hand. Riley laughing at something he said. Him opening her door. The two of them inside the truck, faces close, talking.
The comments were already out of control.
Carol Monroe: I'm not crying, you're crying!
Diane Peters: FINALLY! We've all been waiting for this!
Bob Tucker: Took them long enough. Congrats, kids!
Sarah Mitchell: They're so cute together! True love always finds a way!
Mike Lawson: (Thomas's brother, apparently on Facebook now) About damn time, Grant!
Grant scrolled through dozens more comments—neighbors, old teachers, people he barely remembered from high school, all weighing in on his fake relationship.
His phone buzzed with a text.
Riley: Have you seen Facebook?
Grant: Unfortunately.
Riley: Mrs. Henderson has seven photos of us.
Grant: I counted.
Riley: My mom commented.
Grant: So did my uncle. Didn't even know he had Facebook.
Riley: This is a nightmare.
Grant: This is what we signed up for.
Riley: I know but I didn't think it would be THIS immediate.
Riley: I also didn’t think anyone else in town would care.
Grant: Small town. Nothing stays quiet.
Riley: Clearly.
A pause.
Riley: Are you okay?
Grant stared at the question. Was he okay? He was lying to his entire town, pretending to date his ex-girlfriend, and actively falling for her all over again while she had no idea.
Grant: I'm fine. You?
Riley: A little shellshocked but fine.
Grant: Same.
Riley: We can do this though. Right? We can’t go back now…can we?
Grant thought about it for a moment. They could put an end to the farce, but if he were being honest with himself, he didn’t want to.
Outside of the town crier, Mrs. Henderson, and everyone giving their two cents the night before, he enjoyed being with Riley.
He didn’t have a particularly active social life; he went out with the guys and the friend group but he didn’t date much. Hadn’t really wanted to.
Even if he was quite certain he’d have a huge hole in his chest at the end of the holidays, he was already invested, and looking forward to the time spent with her.
Grant: Yeah. We can do this. Don’t worry about everyone else. Just have fun with it.
Riley: You’re right. Have fun with it.
Grant: I’ll text you later.
He pocketed his phone and got back to work, trying to ignore the weight settling in his chest.
By late afternoon, Grant had to run into town for supplies. He tried to be quick—in and out of the hardware store, no conversations, no delays.
That lasted approximately thirty seconds.
"Grant!" Mrs. Dawson waved from the paint aisle. She was eighty-something, four feet tall, and terrifying. "I heard the news! You and Riley!"
"Hi, Mrs. Dawson."
"We always knew you'd find your way back to that girl." She patted his arm with surprising force. "Your mother would be so proud."
Grant's throat tightened. "Thank you."
"You bring her by for tea sometime. I want to hear all about it."
"I will."
"Don't wait too long. I'm not getting any younger."
She shuffled away, and Grant grabbed what he needed and headed for the checkout.
Which is where he ran into Coach Patterson, his old high school baseball coach.
"Lawson! Heard you're back with the Monroe girl."
"Yes, sir."
"Good for you. She was always too good for you, but maybe you've smartened up."
"Maybe."
"Don't mess it up."
"I'll try not to."
At the register, Jenny Miller—who'd graduated two years behind him—rang him up with a knowing smile. "So. You and Riley, huh?"
"Yep."
"That's really sweet. You guys were so cute together in high school."
"Thanks."
"My sister's in the city. She said Riley's job sounds awful. Her boss is known for trying to make everyone under her workaholics. Maybe she'll move back."
Grant's pulse kicked up. "Maybe."
"You should convince her. We need more people our age staying in town."
"I'll work on it."
He paid and escaped to his truck, but even driving back to the farm, he passed three people who waved and gave him thumbs up.
By the time he pulled into the driveway, his phone was buzzing nonstop.
Ryan: Bro, congrats! Why didn't you tell us sooner?
Emily: You and Riley are ADORABLE together!
Chris: Good luck, man. You're gonna need it.
Jenna: I'm so happy for you two! Let's do a double date soon!
And then, from his cousin in Denver:
Jake: Saw the Facebook post. You're famous, dude. Also, didn't know you had a girlfriend. Way to keep secrets.
Grant dropped his phone on the passenger seat and sat in the driveway, engine idling.
This was what they wanted. Everyone believing the lie. No more questions about why they were single. No more commentary.
Mission accomplished.
So why did it feel so wrong?
And why did so many people care whether or not he was in a relationship.
That evening, Grant was in the workshop when his phone rang. Riley.
"Hey," he answered.
"Are you okay?" Her voice was tight. "Because I'm not okay."
"What happened?"
"I went to the grocery store. The grocery store, Grant. Mrs. Ames cornered me in produce and asked when we're getting married."
Grant winced. "What did you say?"