CHAPTER FIFTEEN
GRIFFIN
Sunlight breaking through my slatted blinds is the first thing I notice when I crack my eyes open. The next thing I notice is that Casey is still not in my bed each morning.
I sigh and turn onto my side, flinging my arm over the empty space where she’d be, if she ever spent the night in my bed. She insists on slipping out and taking a shower each night, winding up in her own bed after.
Which is fine. I respect that.
I just want it to change soon.
My phone begins vibrating on my nightstand, and I reach for it, yawning as I check the screen. It’s my mother.
“Morning, Mom,” I say after I swipe the call on.
“Griffin, it’s Wednesday.”
I sink back against my pillows, letting my eyes flutter shut as I enjoy just a few more minutes in the comfy bed. “I know.”
“Are you coming to family game night tonight?”
“Of course. Wouldn’t miss it during the summer.
” The question is odd; I come every week without fail in the off-season, since I’m gone so much during the rest of the year.
Family game night is the Keegan family mainstay.
We’ve been doing it since Piper was old enough to understand the rules of Candyland.
“Bring Casey.”
I blink a couple times, letting the demand sink in. “Uh…I’ll ask?”
“She needs to come,” Mom says. “She’s been staying with you for how long now?”
“A few weeks.”
“And you haven’t brought her once.” Mom’s displeasure leaks through the phone.
“Mom, it’s a family thing,” I remind her. “That’s the rules. You attend if you’re a Keegan, or if you’re—”
“With a Keegan,” she finishes for me.
“Yeah, and she’s not…” My voice falters. Based on how often I’ve brought her to orgasm over the past week, she could be considered with a Keegan. But she’s not my girlfriend. She can’t be. No matter how perfect she is for me.
If I push for more, life will take something away.
I need to avoid the risk.
“She’s your old friend, I know,” Mom chides. “But she’s practically family, especially since she’s been living with you this summer. Just bring her, will you?”
“I want to,” I blurt, “but everyone’s gonna make a big thing about it. I don’t want her to feel uncomfortable.”
“Who will make a big thing about it?”
I scoff. “How about Jett, Dane, Asher…even Piper.”
“My Piperton would never.”
“Fine. Your other three heathen sons will be more than happy to give me shit about bringing a girlfriend to game night, and Casey doesn’t need to go through that.”
“I’ll talk to them.”
“Is this one of your psychic things or…?”
“Just bring her.” Her voice has a finality to it, and I can tell I’ve reached the end of the road here.
“I’ll ask her,” I promise. We chat for a little bit longer about nothing much, then we hang up.
I sigh deeply, rubbing my hands over my face.
If Mama Keegan wills it, then so be it. I roll out of bed, get ready for the day—no morning jerk-off sessions anymore since Casey became more than just my friend—and step out into the living room.
And I absolutely love what I find.
Casey is curled up on the couch, gripping the edges of a book like it might float away. The look of concern on her face is so intense I’m afraid to utter a word.
“Good…morning?” I say softly.
She jolts, looking up at me like she doesn’t know where she is. Then clarity returns to her eyes.
“Oh my god. I’m sorry. This book is too good.” She presses a palm to her forehead, drawing a deep breath. “Good morning.”
“How you doing?” I sink onto the couch next to her, pulling her onto my lap. My plan had been coffee, but now? My plan is Casey.
“Honestly, not the greatest,” she admits with a small laugh, resting her head against my shoulder. “I stayed up too late reading. Then when I went to bed, I couldn’t sleep because the book was too good. So I got up early to keep reading. Now here I am.”
“Wow. That book sounds good.”
“A little too good.” She snuggles against me. “So now I have a raging book hangover. Which will get even worse when I actually finish it.”
I chuckle, slipping my hand beneath the back of her tank top as I rub lazy patterns against her bare skin. “Sounds like a lose-lose situation.”
She hums softly against me, her eyes fluttering shut. “You’re right. And beyond that, I’ve been spending a lot of time researching something…new.”
“New? Like…a different career? A new business?”
“Like…a potential diagnosis.” She rubs at her face. “I haven’t said this out loud yet, but I have been wanting to run it by someone. I think I have ADHD.”
The words trickle in slowly. “That’s okay, right?”
“I guess,” she says with a small laugh. “I don’t know. The more I learn, the more my entire life starts making sense. Things I thought were just frustrating quirks or obstacles might be because of ADHD. I don’t know.”
“Do you want to see someone about it?” I ask.
She nibbles at her lip for a moment, her gaze drifting off. “I don’t know why it’s so hard for me to say yes. But I think I do. Even though the thought of that whole process makes me want to wither and disappear.”
“All right. Then I’ll make it happen.” I lean down and kiss the top of her head. “I’ll find the best therapists out there.”
She smiles up at me, and I can tell some of that stress inside her has softened. “Thank you. Between that and my book hangover, I feel ready for a nap. It’s a good thing I don’t have to work today.”
The comment reminds me of what my mom requested. “If you’re free tonight…I have an idea.”
“Oh yeah?”
“My mom invited you to family game night at her house.”
She sits up, her eyes wide. “Really?”
“Yeah. She hates that you’ve been living with me this long and still haven’t come to game night. So she wants to change that.”
Casey grins, but it falls slightly. “Does she think we’re…you know…”
“No, I explained the situation.”
“You told her?” Casey nearly shrieks.
“No, not that situation.” I squeeze her thighs, which just makes me hungry again for more of her. “I explained that you and I are friends only, and you coming to game night could be construed as more, and that I didn’t want my asshole brothers harassing us about being an item.”
Casey runs her finger along the hem of my shirt. “Okay.”
“So she’s going to talk to them. I just don’t want you to feel uncomfortable. Otherwise, the second we show up, they’re going to start asking when the wedding is and all that shit.”
Casey smiles but tries to hide it. I can’t think about any of that, even though somehow, deep inside, I can imagine a wedding with Casey.
In an alternate universe, where I’m not terrified that love can only lead to loss.
“Well, I guess I’ll go. If she wants me there.”
“Great. She’ll be so happy. Then we can demolish my brothers in euchre.”
Casey’s eyes light up. “I haven’t played euchre in years but I’m ready to win.”
“That’s my girl.” I give her another squeeze, liking the way she snuggles up against me. “Just promise me you won’t do this in front of my brothers. Or we’ll have a lot of explaining to do.”
She giggles, and I catch her lips in a kiss. I gently move her so I can stand up again. “You want coffee?”
“I needed some three hours ago,” she says on a sigh. “Thank you, you heavenly man.”
Her words settle into me like warm sun on chilly skin. She thinks I’m a heavenly man? She’s the heaven-sent one.
And she doesn’t even realize it.
The day melts by from youth league workshop and errands. By the time Casey and I are readying to go to my mom’s house, I feel like I could eat her alive from how much I missed her during the day.
And that doesn’t feel exactly healthy.
My mind is a swirl of conflicting emotions as we head to my mom’s. As we’re walking up to the porch, the front door swings open. And there’s my mom, with the warmest smile on her face.
“Casey! I’m so glad you could make it.” My mom hugs Casey first, and then she pulls me into a long hug.
“There’s my baby boy,” Mom says, squeezing my cheek before she lets go. Casey laughs and follows us inside.
“I’m six foot three,” I remind her, “and weigh two hundred and fifty pounds. You can’t call me a baby anymore.”
“You’ll be my baby boy forever,” Mom says.
“Even I know that,” Casey says with a serious look.
“Let’s say hi first, shall we?” Mom asks as we enter the kitchen, where everyone has already gathered.
There’s a ruckus as we join the crew. Piper immediately pulls Casey in for a hug, and I make the rounds, hugging my brothers.
Kru isn’t here tonight because there’s a private event at his restaurant.
“It’s good to have you back in Bayshore,” I catch Asher saying to Casey.
Of course he’s saying that—he’s always been the fatherly one.
Dane has Lia in his arms, who is showing Casey something on her necklace.
Jett is looking at me with a shit-eating grin from across the room.
And then Mom is ushering us all toward the table, intent on serving tonight’s dinner, meatloaf with scalloped potatoes.
There’s a clamor as we all pick seats and settle in.
“Thanks for having me over tonight,” Casey says as she slides her chair in. “This is so sweet of you all to accept me for family game night.”
“Of course, honey,” Mom oozes, patting Casey’s shoulder as she walks past. “We love having guests for family game night. I’ll bring out the plates so we can eat.”
“We never have guests for game night unless they’re—” Jett starts.
“That’s enough, honey,” Mom sweetly interrupts.
“Smells great,” Dane calls. “Been too long since we had Mama Keegan’s meatloaf.”
I catch Piper’s gaze across the table. Her brows are slightly furrowed, and she jerks her chin toward me. I don’t know what she’s trying to tell me though. I don’t get much of a chance to deduce it because my brothers don’t let anyone rest.
From across the table, Jett says, “So you two are just friends.”
“Jett,” Mom says from the kitchen.
“I’m just asking a simple question,” Jett retorts.
“You have a tone,” I inform him, sending him my most pointed glare.
“Casey,” Jett says, ignoring me completely, “are you and my brother just friends?”