Chapter 22
The warm morning sun streams through the window, casting a golden hue on my body. Wanting to soak in the rays, I attempt to turn onto my side, but my body doesn’t budge. I glance down at my waist and spot a very muscular arm draped over me.
I snuggle deeper into his hoodie and pull the collar up to my nose, inhaling his eucalyptus scent. If he weren’t already a world-famous actor, he would still draw in all the ladies with his pheromones.
I tilt my head to take him in. His black shirt is deliciously taut across his chest, and he’s half-smiling, like he’s in the middle of a dream he doesn’t want to wake up from.
It’s not fair that he’s still just as handsome even when sleeping.
I don’t know how someone as incredible as Griffin is interested in me.
Worry makes my stomach sink like an anchor to the ocean floor.
How will I ever be his first choice when there will always be another movie taking him away from me?
I want to date Griffin for real. But I don’t know how to move forward with him when I can’t help but think about the distance that will be between us when he leaves for LA once his granny’s recovered.
What’s the point of opening my heart and letting him fully in if he’s going to break it by leaving?
I burrow deeper into Griffin’s hold, and he nuzzles me close. There’s no use thinking about him leaving when I have him beside me right now. I need to enjoy the moment while I have it, because I know how quickly it can slip away.
I’m supposed to be having a fun night with my friends, but I still can’t get Griffin out of my mind. Maybe I need to push all my worries aside and kiss him. But I don’t know how I’ll ever be able to move on if I kiss him and fall for him, only for him to leave again.
The constant knocking has me shaking my head.
“I’ll get the door,” I call to my roommates.
I open it to find Emmy and Connor, my cousin and my brother, standing on our porch.
Emmy has never been one to wait for anyone or anything.
She’s always a spitfire. Maybe it’s because of her red hair, but I don’t think something as simple as that could define Emmy.
She’s one hundred percent authentically herself, and I love her for it.
“Finally.” She steps past me with a teasing smile.
I open the door wider, waving my brother inside. “Thanks for coming.”
“Are you kidding?” Emmy turns on her heels with a smirk. “I’d give anything to spend more time with the Long Live Girlies.” Even though she’s only two years younger than us, she’s always looked up to me and my friends. She moves around us in search of the girls.
Connor’s steps falter in the doorway. “Are all your friends here?”
“That’s what typically happens when you live with people,” I deadpan. “Get inside. You’re letting all the warm air out.”
He sighs as if I’m the most exasperating person on the planet and moves past me so I can shut the door.
“What, are you nervous to be around girls?” I poke his stomach, and he flinches, trying to move away from me.
“It’s only my best friends. You’ve known them over half your life, just as long as I have.
They’re practically your bonus sisters. Well, there’s Tyler’s sister Tess, too, but she’s the best. You’ll love her. ”
Connor’s only response is a harrumph.
I follow him into the living room and nearly run into him when he stops abruptly at the sight of Shayna.
She stands in front of the fireplace, dancing to “Jingle Bell Rock” in a ribbed cream-colored long-sleeved tee tucked into a baby-blue skirt dotted with a dainty floral pattern.
Her outfit is topped off with her pearl-studded headband—I don’t think she ever takes that thing off unless she’s sleeping.
Her outfit screams spring even though we’re in the dead of winter, but it’s entirely Shayna.
And I wouldn’t expect anything less from our sunshine girl.
“What are you doing?” I shove Connor lightly on the back to keep moving, but he’s immovable, as solid as a tree trunk with deep roots.
Shayna must’ve heard my question, because she looks up and immediately stops dancing, her cheeks bright pink. “Connor,” she squeaks. “I didn’t know you were coming.”
Before my brother can say anything, my cousin walks into the room with Alyssa, Kelsey, Tyler, and Tess. The moment Emmy sees Shayna, she runs over and pulls her into a hug, jumping and giggling like two long-lost friends finally reunited.
“Restroom,” Connor grunts before heading toward our half bath.
I blink. That was weird, but I don’t have time to analyze it too much before there’s another knock at the door.
“I’ve got it.” Alyssa walks past me and returns a few minutes later with Austin at her heels.
He’s a giant, making Alyssa look short, even at five feet eight inches.
But he’s the definition of a gentle giant.
Austin is one of the kindest people I know, and I love that he’s stayed true to who he is, despite the fame he claimed overnight when he became the starting shortstop for the Mustangs a few years back.
I can’t help but think that it reminds me of someone else I know.
Someone with brown hair and blue eyes who makes women around the world swoon.
Especially me.
“Hey, Austin.” Kelsey gives him a side hug. “I didn’t think you could make it.”
“I was supposed to have a team dinner, but it was postponed due to the weather.”
“We Southerners hate driving in ice,” Shayna teases before stepping forward and hugging him. “We’re happy to have you.”
Austin opens his arms to me next, and I give him a quick squeeze before stepping back beside Shay.
She turns to me with a smile. “Lyss was supposed to be your partner, so we need to find someone else”—Shayna shimmies her shoulders—“to fill in.”
“Sorry, I messed up the trivia team plans.” Austin slings his arm around Alyssa’s shoulder.
I really wish they’d just date already. They would make the most beautiful children.
Aside from how great their genetics would look when combined, they’re perfect for each other in every way…
if only they’d see it. “I don’t have to participate,” he says.
“Don’t be silly.” I pull my phone out of the back pocket of my jeans. “I’ll call Griffin.”
We planned this before Christmas—before we’d had the talk—so I hadn’t invited Griffin to our trivia night for obvious reasons, but now I’m buzzing in anticipation at the thought of spending more time with him.
I step into the kitchen and hit the call button next to his name. He answers on the second ring.
“To what do I owe the pleasure of the Mallory Porter calling me?” I can hear the smile in his voice.
“Can’t I call you for no apparent reason?” I hum.
“You can call me anytime you want.”
His words send a chorus of butterflies in my stomach into flight. “What are you doing?”
“Tonight?”
“Right now, actually.”
“I just got back from dinner at Granny’s facility. She said to tell you hi, by the way.”
“That’s sweet.” My palms get clammy. I didn’t think I’d be nervous to invite him over, but this will be our first time being around my friends as a true couple. Er, people dating. I don’t know exactly what to call us right now.
Griffin laughs. “Is there something you want to ask me, beautiful?”
“Do you want to come over?”
“Isn’t it girls’ night?”
I fiddle with the hem of my sweater. “Yeah, we’re doing a winter trivia night at home and just realized we have an odd number of people. I need a partner.”
“Oh, so I’m the replacement?” His voice is teasing, but I still feel bad.
“We planned it before our talk—”
“I’m just kidding. I’d be happy to partner with you, although I’m not sure how much help I’ll be.”
I sigh in relief. “Great. How soon can you be over here?”
“Give me ten minutes.”
“Sounds perfect.”
“See you soon, beautiful,” he says, and then the line clicks.
I head back into the living room and rejoin my friends and family.
“Well?” Alyssa raises a perfectly manicured eyebrow.
Shayna rocks on her heels, making her skirt swish around her calves. “Is he coming?”
I nod. “He’ll be here soon.”
I sit down on the couch, when I hear Tyler say to Kelsey, “It’s only a matter of time.”
I lean forward and shoot him a look. “A matter of time until what?”
Tyler doesn’t even flinch. I don’t think he’s ever been scared of me, even when I told him that I didn’t like him right to his face. It just makes him even more right for Kelsey. “You two realize how in love you are,” he says.
“Aren’t you already in love?” Emmy plops down next to me. Connor joins as well, taking a seat in an empty chair. Though he doesn’t say anything or look our way, I can tell he’s listening to the conversation, simply observing rather than participating.
Shoot. I forgot people were here that aren’t privy to the details of our “dating contract.” I’m not sure if the contract is even a thing anymore now that we’re actually dating, but I can’t risk that information getting out or breaking my NDA.
I laugh dryly. “You know me. I’m quick to second-guess things when it comes to men. But there’s something different about Griffin.”
Emmy purses her lips. “You’re right. I don’t think you’ve ever introduced a boyfriend to the whole family before him. You must be serious about him.”
“That’s what they were saying.” I gesture to Kelsey and Tyler. “They think I’m in even deeper than I realize.”
“Do you agree with them?”
“Let’s just say I didn’t believe in fate. Not until I met him.”
Emmy sighs. “That’s the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard.”
When I look over at my brother, his gaze is already on me. For the briefest hint of a second, I think he might smile, but then his features morph back into their perpetually neutral state.
There’s a knock at the door. Emmy smiles suggestively at me and says in a singsong voice, “Your boyfriend’s here.”
I pop up, shaking my head. “I’ll let him in, then we can get started if you want to round up the troops.”