Page 48 of The Grump I Got Stuck With

“Making some arrangements,” he said.

“What kinds of arrangements?” I asked suspiciously.

“You’ll just have to wait and see.”

“Alistair.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure you enjoy yourself.” His words shot right through me, settling dangerously in my lower gut. “Trust me.”

I swallowed hard, watching his smile shift as he typed, reminded yet again how different he was from the men I was used to. It wasn’t just that he had money to spend. It was that he seemed to want to spend it on me. Like I was important to him.

I sat back in my seat as Kenna handed me a marker. “You can color the princess crown.”

“Thanks,” I said, thoughts spiraling. I was used to being the one who overinvested in relationships. Not that this was a relationship. This was…a single kiss.

A freaking amazing kiss that I desperately wanted to repeat, but there never seemed to be the right moment.

I didn’t even think that qualified us as a situationship. Though considering the way Alistair held the world at arm’s length, it felt like something special. And I wanted to explore that. Emily had warned me multiple times since I’d come to stay with Alistair not to overcommit like I had with my previous boyfriends. Not to give all of myself to people who gave as little as possible back. But that’s not what was happening here.

I thought of Ryan, the last guy I’d been head over heels for, and how hard I’d tried to force myself to be exactly what he’d wanted. Four months in, I’d found out the guy was messaging other women behind my back. When I confronted him, he said I was too clingy.

That wasn’t the first time I’d heard that word. Clingy. Growing up, my parents constantly scolded me for acting “like a baby,” which for them apparently meant openly seeking affection. And now I wondered if my desperation for love, for attention, for a real relationship, was rooted in all the times I’d reached out only to be gently but firmly pushed away. But now wasn’t the time to go picking apart my past because this thing with Alistair already felt different.

For once, I wasn’t the only one making an effort. It was nice having someone who wanted to invest in our time together. I took the cap off my marker. Kenna leaned against my arm, smiling up at me. It was especially nice thinking someone might want to cling to me for a change.

Which was, of course, exactly the sort of thinking that had got me in trouble every other time.

15

MADISON

When will you stop with this temper tantrum and return home?

Seriously, Madison, enough is enough.

It’s time for you to grow up and⁠—

I backed out of the slew of text messages my mother had sent while we were in the air. Each one was meant to tell me exactly how displeased she was with me for daring to make decisions that didn’t fit into her own little world.

“Enjoying the view?”

I startled, turning to find Alistair leaning against the doorway of my room. A smile tugged at his lips. I shoved my phone back in my pocket refusing to let my mother bring my mood down from three thousand miles away.

“It’s incredible. I didn’t know suites like this even existed.”

Our hotel was directly on the Thames, bordered by historic buildings and modern towers, with red double-deckers gliding across bridges. Streams of people flowed along the streets below, ducking in and out of shops, hopping in and out of cabs. Watching them, I didn’t think I’d ever get bored.

“Wait until you see the skyline all lit up at night,” he said. “I prefer the view from the royal suite, myself. But this one is a close second.”

Laughter bubbled up my throat. “Is this not the royal suite?” Geesh, how much fancier could this place get?

“No, unfortunately, it wasn’t available. This was the best they could do.”

My jaw dropped in disbelief. “I can’t believe this is only your second choice.” I gestured to the en suite. “Have you seen the marble in the bathroom? It’s so sleek, I’m worried about getting into the tub and not being able to get out.”

Alistair crossed his arms, amusement flicking across his face. “Did you see the grand piano in the entry?”

“Yes, Kenna serenaded me while you were out tipping the bellhop by our own private elevator,” I pointed out. The fact that there was a suite in the hotel that was better than this one blew my mind. I already felt beyond spoiled.