Chapter 26 #2
Pearl and I prepare a spur-of-the-moment lunch and eat it on the covered patio, while the siblings trade tales of their childhood.
Then they whip out the photo albums.
They both speak fondly of their mom, who passed away four years ago, but the air shifts whenever their father comes up. Griffin’s jaw sets hard at the sight of him in a photo, while Pearl only sighs and smooths the page with her palm.
“He has his good points too, Griffin,” she murmurs, as if trying to ease the sting.
Seems Griffin doesn’t agree with that sentiment.
He excuses himself to take a phone call, while I admire pictures of Griffin as a toddler. He was as adorable then as he is painfully handsome now.
He’ll have beautiful children one day, although I’m not sure if that’s a possibility with him and Lauren.
Not my business, regardless.
Pearl leans over, her hand warm as it closes around mine. “I am so happy to meet you. My brother won’t stop talking about you.”
I trace a fingertip over one of the photographs, stalling for time. “Pretty sure you’ve got me confused with someone else.”
“Nope.” She takes a sip of coffee, then sets the mug down with a sly grin. “Tiny New York nurse named Reese. I know exactly who you are.”
Heat creeps up my neck. “Do I want to know what he’s saying about me?”
“All good things. He’s crazy about you.”
I swallow, the words another blow to my bruised heart. If only she knew the whole truth, she might not be as enamored of me.
Hey, my sister paid your brother to fuck me. Still think I’m the cat’s meow?
Ugh.
“Griffin said you got out of a rough situation,” Pearl adds gently.
I nod, surprised by how easy it feels to admit. “He was a horse’s ass, and that’s putting it mildly. I’m glad to be away from him.”
“My brother isn’t like that. He’s got the biggest heart.”
“He does.” It’s true. He’s a decent man, despite our situation. I set the album aside and finish my coffee. “Are you seeing anyone?”
Pearl laughs, tossing her dark hair back. “Here and there. Still waiting for the right guy to come along and treat me like the queen I am.”
“Never settle.”
“Are you kidding? They have to make it past Griffin first.” She rests her elbows on the table, fixing me with her bright gaze. “He looks tired.”
“He’s been working a lot,” I admit. “The stables, construction. He’s stretched thin.”
“He left the other business, right?”
I pause, unsure how much Pearl knows about Griffin’s life as an escort. Look, I know they’re siblings and best friends, but even they must have some limits.
So, I opt for a safe answer.
“Yeah. He did.”
“Thank God. I was furious when I learned how he was earning money. He claimed it wasn’t physical, but come on, I wasn’t born yesterday.
Still, he wouldn’t give it up. He has this crazy idea that he has to take care of me.
” She rolls her eyes and chuckles. “I keep telling him I’m not going to break.
Plus, I’ve got options. I’ve been talking to some banks, seeing about a loan. Maybe starting a bakery up here.”
“As talented as you are in the kitchen, that is a fabulous idea, but Griffin is always going to worry.” Without thinking, I cover her hand with mine. “There isn’t anyone on this planet your brother loves more than you. You’re everything to him.”
Her smile blooms again, soft and knowing. She squeezes my fingers. “I think I’ve got some competition for that number one spot now.”
My throat goes tight. Competition? If only she knew. With every little reminder— you’re special, he’s crazy about you —the ground shifts under me.
I’ve had food, water, rest. I’m sober now. And sober me knows better. This isn’t a fairytale. Whatever glow I feel from Pearl’s words, it’s smoke and mirrors, a trick I’m too old to keep falling for.
Because I do know what this is. Friends? Maybe. Pity? Probably. Griffin fucked me because my sister paid him to, and he’s kind enough not to say it outright. God, how do you come back from that?
It’s time to build distance, to stop letting myself ache for something that was never mine to begin with.
“Okay, we need to go. Now ,” Griffin states, striding onto the patio. “Pearl, I love you, and I promise we’ll visit soon.” His energy’s different—amped up, wired, like he downed three cups of black coffee in the time he was gone.
“Everything okay?” I ask, not sure I want to know.
Especially when he chuckles and runs a hand over his beard. “Oh, it will be, Reese. Trust me on that.”
What the hell does that mean?
I hug Pearl and grab my purse. “Can I really come back to bake cookies?”
“Please,” Pearl replies. “We’ll make it a girl’s weekend. You’re always welcome here, Reese.”
But as Griffin steers me out of the condo, his hand clamped around my elbow, I doubt that sentiment entirely.
We’re barely off Pearl’s front walkway when my phone buzzes.
“Mom.” I groan, thumb hovering over decline. “Oh my God, give it a rest.”
Just like that, my headache roars back to life.
Before I can tuck the phone away, Griffin snatches it from my hand.
“Hey—!” I reach for it, but he holds it out of reach with maddening calm.
“Hello, Mrs. Callahan? This is Griffin. We haven’t met.” His tone is warm, smooth, the kind that makes people trust him instantly.
“Give it back,” I hiss, trying to grab it, but he simply plants his big palm against my forehead, holding me at bay. When I twist sideways, he snakes an arm around my waist and hauls me flush against him like I weigh nothing.
“Reese is okay,” he goes on, ignoring my struggle. “I promise. I’ve been looking out for her.”
I glare up at him, mouthing I hate you .
He glances down and hands me the phone with a smirk. “No, you don’t.”
I snatch it, shooting him a death glare, but he only chuckles and presses a quick kiss against my temple before sauntering off toward the truck.
“Stop glaring at me,” he calls over his shoulder. “Talk to your mom.”
I swear, he is my least favorite person right now.
Rolling my eyes, I bring the phone to my ear. “Hi, Mom.”
There’s a beat of silence. “Honey, who was that? Griffin, was it?”
“Yes,” I mutter, heat creeping up my neck. “He’s… a friend.”
“Well, he sounds just lovely. I’m glad you have someone like that looking out for you.”
“Yeah, he’s really helpful.” I glance toward the truck where Griffin now sits, his gaze steady on me through the windshield.
“Reese, why didn’t you tell me how bad it was with Vander?”
My steps falter. The sidewalk, the sounds of town, everything falls away. I expected her to say a ton of things about my situation, but I never thought she’d see anything from my side.
I throw up a hand, helpless. “I don’t know, because I thought that life was what you wanted. The house, the country club, the?—”
“I don’t give a damn about the country club.” Her voice breaks, trembling but fierce. “They’re pretentious pricks. I wanted my daughter safe. Happy. And you were neither.”
Tears slip down my cheeks. “I wasn’t, Mom. I just didn’t want to disappoint you.”
“Sweetheart, you’ve never disappointed me a day in your life.” Her voice softens. “We love you.”
I close my eyes, swallowing hard. “I love you too.”
“Now stop avoiding my phone calls,” she teases, the warmth slipping back into her voice.
“Promise,” I sniffle.
“Tell Griffin he’s doing a great job.”
Yet another woman he’s charmed in under thirty seconds.
The man really is the stuff of legends.
“I will.”
We hang up, and I drag in a shaky breath, swiping at my eyes as I slide into the passenger seat.
Griffin doesn’t say anything right away—he just reaches over, thumb brushing the wetness from under my lashes with the gentlest touch. “You feel better?”
I nod, voice hoarse. “I needed that.”
For a second, it looks like he might say more—his jaw working, his gaze steady—but he swallows it down.
He studies me for a long moment, then starts the engine. The low rumble fills the silence he refuses to break. “I know.”