Chapter 15
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
GRIFFIN
It turns out I’m shit at saying no.
And I’m especially shit at saying no to nice women who low-key remind me of my mothers.
When Vivian Axford greeted me at the grocery store while I was grabbing Milo’s pickles, embraced me like I was a lost child who’d been returned to her, and apologized for not bringing me over an apple cake, I’d gotten this weird, earthquakey sort of feeling in my gut.
Her perfume’s the same Ombre Rose scent my Mama Laine wears, and something about it made me feel like a kid again. At least, that’s my excuse for not immediately pulling back the way I usually do when confronted with a hugger. Instead, I’d taken a deep breath and hugged her back.
And after all that hugging and quaking, I wasn’t thinking straight.
So when she said she’d love to have me over for dinner—just “a casual thing, honey”—I’d instinctively agreed.
You know, the way you do when a colleague or classmate says, “We absolutely have to schedule dinner soon! I’m dying to catch up!
” but you both know “soon” won’t happen for another month or year or ever?
I keep forgetting Winsome’s not the city. Insincere platitudes aren’t the norm here. People mean what they say.
So when Vivian beamed at me and said, “Wonderful! We’ll see you tonight around six. Grant will be so pleased!” I hadn’t known how to backtrack. I mean, she’s the sweetest woman on the planet, so I didn’t want to hurt her feelings, obviously.
And… okay, yeah, maybe I’d been a bit curious to see where Beckett came from.
I also hadn’t been opposed to having something to distract me from thinking about all the things I’d been putting off thinking about while plastering on my most okay face all day.
Like job offers, and treehouses, and my moms, and Hello, Winsome, and my non-feelings about my biological father, and my too-many-feelings about a certain lumberjack.
Pardon me, forestry professional.
But now that I’m standing on the Axfords’ porch, clutching some flowers I hastily purchased at the Basket, I don’t know what the fuck I agreed to. Because judging by the number of cars parked in the drive, this is not a casual thing, honey. Not like any casual thing I’ve ever been to, anyway.
“Griffin!” Vivian beams as she opens the door. She’s wearing a pumpkin-colored sweater and cute plaid pants. “Come in, sweetheart!”
She leads me through the front hall and into the kitchen, introducing me to everyone.
In the kitchen, Holden waves from the stove, where he’s stirring something, and Ames pauses in his critique of Holden’s technique long enough to give me a quick hug.
Truett, the brother I haven’t met yet, waves briefly from the big wooden table, where he’s playing with an adorable golden Lab Vivian calls Greta.
In the living room, Eliza introduces me to her fiancé, Luis, and her cousin Wilder before they go back to discussing their wedding plans, while Wilder sneaks glances at the college football game on TV in the background.
When we get to Beckett’s father, he sets down a book of crosswords and gets up from his recliner to greet me with a handshake.
“So you’re Beck’s Griffin? Good to meet you, son. Call me Grant.”
Look, I know how to act around people, okay? I’ve handled high-profile client meetings. I’ve made cold calls a million times. I’m the opposite of a shrinking violet.
But shaking Grant’s hand after he called me “Beck’s Griffin”? Yeah, I have no frame of reference for this. I’m confident my face is a shade of red that coordinates nicely with the grocery store bouquet I’m still clutching in my hand.
“These… are for you,” I manage in a strangled voice, thrusting the chrysanthemums at Vivian.
She clutches them to her chest like I’ve given her a priceless treasure. “Oh, honey! How beautiful! Come help me arrange them. Ames!” she shouts. “Get down my blue vase, please?”
Being with the Axfords is like being in the path of a whirlwind. A very friendly and accepting tornado. I’m not sure where to put my attention.
And then Beckett arrives.
He pauses in the kitchen doorway, scanning the room, and when his eyes find mine, I lose control of my breathing.
He’s wearing his usual uniform—a henley, dark blue today, boots, and jeans that are nicely broken in, in all the right places.
His hair, as usual, looks like he’s been running both hands through it.
And somehow, the whirlwind just… stops. Just… calms. The winds die down, and everything feels normal again. I feel normal again.
“Sorry I’m late,” he says. He’s talking to his mother, but his blue eyes are fixed on me. “I was finishing up the invoicing.”
“You’re right on time,” Vivian assures him. “Dinner’s almost ready. Everyone, wash up. Griffin, honey, you and Beckett wash up in the bathroom. Beckett will show you.”
Beckett nods his head toward the hall, and the two of us crowd together, hip to hip, in front of the sink in the tiny half bath while he turns on the faucet and washes his hands quickly before grabbing the hand towel and giving me room to take a turn at the sink.
“Your mom asked me,” I say quietly, running my hands under the water. “At the grocery store. She was so sweet. And I didn’t think— I’m so sorry if I’m intruding. I know this is probably the last thing you wanted—mmph.”
Beckett stops my spill of words with a quick, hard kiss.
“No, it’s not,” he whispers, rubbing a thumb over my cheek. “I’m glad you’re here, city boy.”
He heads back to the kitchen, leaving me dripping over the sink, thinking about how fucking good he makes me feel… and why that scares me so hard.
When I get to the table, there’s one spot left, right between Beckett and True. Eliza hands me a glass of red wine, and Vivian passes me a platter of golden roast chicken and root vegetables, while Ames continues the story he’s telling.
“So then this morning, Perky comes in, asking if I’ll cater his book club,” Ames says, grinning wildly. “Since he heard I was catering Eliza’s wedding.”
“Oh my god, no!” Eliza says. “Not the romance book club! They’re so extra.”
“Eliza!” Vivian chides. “I think the Winsome Ardor Society is lovely! I wish I could make it to more meetings. They’re so much fun.”
“They do themes,” True tells me with a shrug when I look confused. “Romance themes.”
Beckett leans close and whispers in my ear, “The members call themselves the Ar-dorables.”
I can’t hold back a laugh. “Please don’t tell me this is the same club Mrs. Pratt’s part of?”
“The very same. And since it’s Halloween this month, the theme is vampires,” Ames continues.
“They’re reading a novel about a vampire chef, and they’d like ‘thematically appropriate’ food.
So there I am telling Perky I don’t know how to make food that’s both elegant and blood-themed.
But he told me if I could figure it out and serve it in costume, he’d pay me double.
So apparently, next Tuesday, I’ll be serving a garlic-free menu while wearing a cape.
” While everyone laughs, he adds, “If anyone has any ideas about the food…?”
“Red velvet cake,” Eliza says immediately.
“Chocolate-dipped strawberries,” Wilder volunteers.
“Blood orange sangria,” I suggest. “And something with roast beef.”
Ames’s eyes widen, and a slow grin spreads across his face. “Yes. I have the best family.”
“Obviously,” Holden says, reaching for more vegetables.
I reach for my wine so I’m not tempted to imagine what it would feel like to actually be part of this family. Thank god the wine’s delicious and mild, with just a hint of spice.
“Griffin,” Vivian says, looking at me with the kind of maternal attention I bet she gives everyone. “How are you settling in? I can only imagine how different Winsome is from New York.”
I feel the heat of Beckett’s gaze on my face as I answer.
“Really well, thank you. Everyone’s been friendly.
Mostly.” I kick my shoe against Beckett’s under the table, and from the corner of my eye, I see him shake his head slowly.
“It’s very different from New York, but not in a bad way.
It’s like a space out of time. A unicorn of a town.
And it did seem a little quiet to me, at first. But since I started doing all the Big Dill events, I can’t believe how quickly time has passed. ”
I can’t believe how quickly my time here will be up.
Grant sets down his wineglass. “That’s an interesting perspective. Remind me again what kind of work you do back in the city.”
“Marketing,” I say, summoning a smile. “Corporate campaigns, mostly.”
“Griffin’s the Rise Athletics guy,” Holden volunteers as he eats. “You know, the billboard that went viral?”
“Oh.” Eliza looks at me in surprise. “That was you?”
I think I’ve been low-key dreading this moment since I arrived in Winsome. I mean, it was only a matter of time, really.
“Holden,” Beckett nearly growls. “Seriously?”
“What?” Holden glances from Beckett to me mid-chew, and when he sees my face, he swallows, and his eyes go wide. “Oh, shi—shoot,” he corrects with a glance at Vivian. “I’m sorry. Was that a secret or something?”
“No,” I say quickly. “Don’t apologize. Hardly a secret. I think the whole world’s seen the video by now.”
“I haven’t,” Beckett says, still growling.
I turn to him in surprise. “You didn’t look it up after I told you about it?”
“Why would I?” he demands. “I didn’t think it was funny.” He gives Holden another heated glare.
I probably shouldn’t be ready to cry about the fact that Beckett’s willing to go to war with his own brother on my behalf, should I?
It’s fucking ridiculous of me, I know, but having Beckett in my corner, ready to shut down a family conversation just to spare me discomfort…
it’s like the last emotional straw this very overloaded camel can handle.