Page 85

"She says it goes to her veins quicker." Grant shrugs, pressing the key to unlock the jeep from the other side. I get in, still able to hear and eavesdrop on their conversation, smiling.

"Dude, that's not how it works." Adam snorts, opening the back door.

"I know, but she gets all happy sipping on her iced lattes, so I let her think that." Grant chuckles before sliding in next to me, and I beam at him, making him smile back at me

"What's that smile for?" he asks me, and I just shake my head back. "No reason," I reply, looking out the window and internally swooning at him being sweet.

Chapter Thirty Nine

Grant

"How did we get here before you guys?" Cami asks from the booth that Gunnar and she have claimed.

"Brookie dragged us to two different thrift stores after we stopped for Starbucks!" Adam smiles. "I found another Troll,everyone meet Mixie." He then holds up the troll for everyone to see.

Cami's eyes widen at the topic of shopping ignoring Adams Troll. "Find anything good?"

"Yes! Someone donated a load of vintage stuff." She smiles at me as I let her slide in first, fighting my impulse to touch her as I settle in next to her.

Hiding this is becoming increasingly difficult. I've never been particularly interested in being touchy with girls whom I'm hooking up with, but something about Brooke just makes me want to be as close to her as possible.

"The December and January drop is almost full." She leans back, and I hold my hand up for her to high-five, which she does, smiling.

We place our orders before we discuss winter break plans.

"Back home for me." I take a long sip of my coffee. I've decided to ask Brooke to join me, but the time hasn't been right yet.

"Heading to my grandma's." Gunnar nods. "Adam is near to her, so we are sharing the drive."

"I could have been on a Caribbean cruise, but my parents didn't want to pay for all my siblings, so since I can't pay my way, I'm being welcomed in by the McDonald clan." Cami smiles at Bear.

"And Brooke." Bear nods at her. "You're coming with us."

Well, shit.

"What? No, Bear, I'm okay, just staying here." She's shaking her head at him, but she must know by now none of us would have let that happen.

"We agreed you'd get shared about on the holidays. I get Christmas this year." He smiles. He's beaten me to it, and I can't even be mad because, well, it's Bear.

"Is there any point in fighting this?" She looks at all of us, and we shake our heads, laughing.

"Okay then, I guess I'm also heading to the McDonald Clan." She announces, and I nudge her, smiling. She turns and smiles back. I'm happy if she's happy, that's all that matters.

The server brings our food over, and we dig in.

"I've been thinking," Gunnar announces mid-meal. "What if we come back early and throw a New Year's Eve party?"

"In," Adam says immediately.

"I'm game if you two are. I only need to hang around for the post-Christmas walks," Bear mumbles as he shovels pancakes in.

"Walks?" Brooke hisses at me. "As in multiple walks after Christmas."

I can't help but laugh; she must enjoy a Christmas like my family, where we don't move and watch movies, and she hits me on the shoulder.

"I can head back early," I confirm, rubbing my arm jokingly. "We haven't thrown a party in a while." Adam grabs Gunnar's shoulders and shakes them. "Look at you! Diving straight back into college life, I'm so proud." He jokingly wipes a tear from his eye, and Gunnar shoves him off, laughing.

"I know you guys not throwing many parties, is my fault." Gunnar looks down, getting serious. "I'm sorry. I know you were just trying to help."