Page 27 of Good Girls Don't Kiss and Tell (Rock Canyon, Idaho 7)

He was about to call out to them when Mike leaned over.

And kissed Gracie in a very un-friend-like way.

Eric stopped in his tracks, completely floored and unable to comprehend what he was seeing. Gracie and Mike. Mike and Gracie.

With his stomach churning, he ground his teeth, fighting the jealousy that was burning up his esophagus.

They pulled apart, and he wished he could hear what they were saying. Gracie hit Mike playfully and appeared to be teasing him.

Before he knew it, Eric had stepped off the curb and was crossing to road, headed over to them.

Only he’d forgotten to wear his snow boots, and when his sneakers hit the patch of ice between the crunchy snow, his feet flew out from under him. As he landed flat on his back with the wind knocked out of him, he heard the honk of a horn.

When he turned to find headlights barreling right for him, he tried to move but couldn’t.

Please, I don’t want to die with the vision of Gracie and Mike sucking face as my last moment on earth.

* * *

The chorus of shouts and the blare of a horn made Gracie jump a foot in the air. She looked over Mike’s shoulder, and her mouth went dry at the sight of Eric sprawled in the middle of the road, his mother and father hovering over him.

“Oh my God!” Gracie cried.

Mike turned around and rushed out to help. Gracie lowered the stroller off the curb and followed behind, reaching them as Buck and Mike managed to pull Eric to his feet.

Connie stood on the curb, barking orders. Her long dark hair was pulled through her cap in a ponytail that trailed over her red wool scarf and white down coat.

“Check to see if he’s concussed! We might need to take him to the hospital.”

“I’m fine, Mom,” Eric snapped.

“You sure, son? You took quite a spill,” Buck said.

Gracie lifted the stroller up onto the sidewalk, and when she pulled up alongside the group, she found herself mentally checking Eric over for visible bloody wounds. He was rubbing the back of his head through his knit cap and giving her a one-eyed squint.

Finally, he looked away from her and focused on his family. “I’m all good. Just didn’t see the ice is all.”

“Lived in Idaho his whole life and doesn’t know to wear snow boots or at least spikes?” Mike slapped Eric on his shoulder. “What’s happened to you?”

Eric shrugged him off with a scowl so dark, Mike took a step back and Gracie frowned. “I was in a hurry.”

“Yeah, sure, pal.” Mike looked as confused as Gracie felt and nodded at her. “I’m supposed to meet Travis and Charlie down there. You coming, Gracie?”

“Yeah, I’ll catch up. I think I’ll walk with the Hendersons, if that’s all right with you?”

Mike shrugged. “Sure. See you all down there.”

As Mike walked away, Connie smiled brightly at Gracie. “I’m so glad you came. I’ve been waiting to meet this little sweetheart.” Connie bent over and held out her hand. “I’m Connie. Can you tell me your name?”

Pip looked at Connie’s hand but said nothing.

“I’m the one who sent you all the fun toys. Do you like them?”

This seemed to win Pip over, and she pulled her thumb out of her mouth, smiling and nodding enthusiastically.

Buck came up alongside his wife but stayed quiet, as though he sensed Pip’s apprehension of men.

“Do you want to come see Nana Connie?”