Chapter 43
forty-three
. . .
Avery
The coffee shop is cozy, filled with the soft hum of conversation and the hiss of the espresso machine. Cassie and I step up to the counter, and I can feel my heart pounding as I glance at the menu, trying to pretend like I’m not internally spiraling.
“I’ve never seen you so nervous to talk about a guy,” Cassie teases, nudging me with her elbow.
I force a laugh, my palms damp as I clutch my phone. “I’m not nervous.”
“You’re fidgeting. You’re always nervous when you fidget.”
I roll my eyes, stepping up to place my order. “One lavender oat milk latte, please.”
Cassie orders her fancy caramel macchiato, and we grab a small table by the window. The light streams in, casting a warm glow over her face as she sits across from me, expectant and curious.
I take a deep breath, wrapping my hands around my cup like it’s some kind of anchor. “There’s no easy way to say this, so I’m just going to say it.”
Cassie leans forward, her brows knitting together. “Okay?”
“The guy I’m with…” I hesitate, gripping my mug like it’s the only thing tethering me to this moment. “…it’s Griffin.”
Her expression freezes.
She blinks once. Twice. Then, she lets out a sharp laugh. “You’re joking.”
“I’m not.”
Her face drops, her eyes narrowing. “Griffin…like my brother Griffin. Do we know another Griffin?”
“Your brother, Griffin. Yes.”
“Wait, wait, wait. Are you serious right now?”
“I’m serious.”
The words hang between us, heavy and inescapable.
Cassie’s jaw tightens, and she leans back in her chair, crossing her arms. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“I didn’t plan it,” I say quickly, my voice pleading. “It just sort of happened. We both thought we could put Mexico behind us and move on, but then we saw each other again, and…”
“So it started in Mexico?” Cassie cuts me off, her tone sharper now. “And what? You just decided to start something with my brother and not tell me? You, my best friend, and Griffin, of all people?”
The words sting, but I force myself to stay calm. “It’s not like that, Cass. I wanted to tell you, but I didn’t know how. And then it got serious, and I didn’t want to hurt you.”
Her eyes flash, and for a moment, I see the hurt buried under the surface. “You didn’t want to hurt me? So you lied instead? God, Avery, I thought we didn’t keep secrets from each other. That was like…over a year ago.”
I bite my lip, guilt washing over me. “I’m sorry. I really am. It killed me not to tell you. You know I hate having secrets from you.”
Cassie looks away, her jaw tight, her hands gripping the edge of the table. For a moment, I think she’s going to storm out, and my stomach twists painfully.
But then she lets out a long sigh, her shoulders slumping. “Do you love him?”
The words are quiet, almost hesitant.
I nod, my throat tightening. “I do. And he loves me. It’s real, Cassie.”
She looks at me for a long moment, her expression softening bit by bit. Finally, she shakes her head, letting out a dry laugh. “I should’ve seen this coming. You two were so weird in Mexico. I guess I just didn’t want to believe it.”
“I get it,” I whisper. “I’d be mad, too.”
Cassie sighs, her expression softening as she shakes her head. “I mean, yeah… I’m a little mad.” She glances away for a moment, then back at me, her eyes brimming with emotion. “But I’m also your best friend, Avery. And no matter what, I want you to be happy.”
Relief floods through me, and I can’t help the small, shaky laugh that escapes. “I am happy. Happier than I’ve ever been.”
Cassie stands abruptly, pulling me into a hug so tight it knocks the air out of me. “Well, for what it’s worth, I’m glad you’re happy.” She pulls back, fixing me with a mock glare. “But if he screws this up, I swear to God?—”
“You’ll take my side?” I finish for her, smiling through my tears.
“Damn straight.”
We both laugh, the tension finally breaking as we settle back into our seats. Cassie nudges her latte closer. “Alright. Spill the details. How did this happen? And don’t hold back this time.”
“Don’t hold back?”
“Well, you know, you don’t have to tell me everything.”
We’re eating dinner that night when the topic of me and Griffin finally gets spilled to the entire crew.
It starts when Cassie narrows her eyes, looking between Griffin and me. “I can’t believe you two. I honestly thought you hated one another.”
“Wait…” Asher’s fork freezes mid-air. “What’s going on here?”
Jackson, seated at the head of the table, arches an eyebrow. “Yeah, what’s this big revelation?”
All eyes are suddenly on us, and my heart starts to race. Griffin leans back in his chair, casual as ever, but the tension radiating off him is palpable. He meets my gaze and shrugs. “We might as well tell them.”
“Well, tell us what?” Diana’s tone is a mix of curiosity and impatience.
Griffin takes a deep breath, then looks directly at me before speaking. “Avery and I are dating.”
Silence.
Then—
“You’re punching way above your weight, bro,” Asher blurts out, grinning ear to ear. “Seriously, Avery, how’d he manage to convince you?”
The table erupts in laughter, even Diana cracking a smile. Griffin rolls his eyes but doesn’t lose his composure. “Charm. Pure charm.”
“Oh, is that what we’re calling it?” Cassie quips, shaking her head.
“And just how long has this been going on?” Jackson asks, his tone teetering on serious. “You didn’t think to mention this before now?”
Before either of us can answer, a loud ding echoes from the kitchen.
Diana’s eyes widen. “The rolls!” She bolts up, nearly knocking over her wine glass in the process. “Someone grab the oven mitts! They’ll burn!”
The commotion breaks the tension as everyone scrambles to save dinner. Asher and Sloane start teasing each other about who’s worse at kitchen duties, and Jackson leans back, smirking. “Classic Knox chaos.”
I sit back, making eye contact with Griffin. It feels so good to finally not be holding onto secrets.
“So…okay,” Griffin says. “We’re all good with this then?”
“We just hope you’re happy. And don’t mess this up, Griff,” Diana says.
“Never,” Griffin responds.
Later that evening, the family gathers in the living room, the fire crackling in the stone fireplace, the remnants of pie scattered across plates. I sink into the armchair beside the couch, trying to blend into the cozy chaos. Diana claps her hands together, beaming. “Alright, let’s play charades!”
I freeze. No. Anything but this.
“Oh, no,” Griffin groans from his spot on the couch, his long legs stretched out like he owns the place. “We all know how this ends.”
“With me winning?” Asher grins, already grabbing the bowl of prompts and shaking it dramatically.
“You wish,” Cassie shoots back, narrowing her eyes at him. “Last time, you cheated.”
“You can’t cheat at charades!” Asher protests, tossing his hands in the air like she’s accused him of a felony.
“Oh, you can, and you did,” Cassie counters, crossing her arms. I try to hide my laugh behind a sip of hot cocoa, but Sloane catches my eye and smirks.
The first round is predictably chaotic. Jackson—stoic, unflappable Jackson—attempts to act out a horse and ends up looking like he’s having a seizure. Diana tries to act out Titanic, and while I think she’s aiming for the iconic “I’m flying!” pose, it ends up looking more like she’s flailing in quicksand.
Then it’s my turn.
Cassie passes me the bowl of prompts, and I pull out a slip of paper, my heart sinking as I read it. Dramatic plane crash.
Oh no.
“What is it?” Griffin asks, leaning forward with that infuriatingly smug grin that makes me want to both kiss him and shove him off the couch.
I narrow my eyes at him. “None of your business.”
“Let me help you,” he says, standing up before I can stop him.
“Griffin!” I hiss, clutching the prompt like it’s a state secret. “This is my turn!”
He doesn’t listen. Instead, he flops onto the floor like he’s a dying fish, flailing his arms and moaning dramatically. “I’m going down!” he cries. “Oh no, the engines are failing!”
The room explodes with laughter. Jackson doubles over, nearly spilling his beer, and even Diana has to sit down, tears streaming down her face. “What—what is happening right now?” she gasps between laughs.
I glare at Griffin, who’s now clutching his chest like he’s in a bad soap opera. “You’re not helping!”
“This is perfect,” he says, still lying on the floor. “Come on, Sinclair. Crash the plane!”
I groan, trying to salvage the game. I flap my arms like wings, mimicking an aircraft, while Griffin thrashes beneath me, making exaggerated explosion noises. The family is practically in hysterics at this point, and I’m too far gone to care.
“You’re supposed to guess!” I shout over the noise.
“Dramatic plane crash!” Asher yells, still cackling.
“Finally!” I throw my hands in the air, glaring down at Griffin, who just smirks up at me from the carpet.
“You’re welcome,” he murmurs, low enough that only I can hear.
As everyone settles down, I catch Griffin’s gaze from across the room. He looks so at ease, his grin warm and easy, like he belongs in this chaos. My chest tightens, and I take another sip of cocoa to calm the flutter in my stomach.
I never thought I’d see him like this—so carefree, so natural with his family. And I definitely never thought I’d be part of it. But here I am, laughing with the Knox family, feeling more at home than I have in a long time.
When Griffin catches me staring, he raises an eyebrow, his smirk deepening.
I roll my eyes and look away, but the warmth spreading through me lingers. I’m in trouble, and I know it. But for now? I’ll let myself enjoy it.
Griffin saunters over, a cocky grin playing on his lips as he holds up a six-pack of Mexican beer in one hand and a bottle of tequila in the other. “Surprise. I brought us some Mexican beer and tequila. I think it’s about time we did a toast.”
I laugh, shaking my head. “You’re ridiculous.”
“What?” he asks, leaning closer, his voice dropping just for me. “You’re not up for it?”
I smirk, biting my lip as I whisper back, “Better be careful. Tequila makes my clothes fall off.”
Before I can gauge his reaction, Jackson, lounging on the couch with his feet up, bursts into laughter. “Oh, man. You two lovebirds are adorable.”
Griffin shoots him a sharp look, his jaw ticking. “Keep it up, Jackson.”
“What?” Jackson shrugs, clearly enjoying himself. “I’m just saying. The way you two look at each other? Makes me sick. In a good way.”
Cassie grins, chiming in, “What about you, Jackson? When are you finally going to get a girl?”
Jackson leans back, folding his arms behind his head. “Love isn’t a box to be checked. Ever heard of God’s timing?”
Griffin snorts. “Dick.”
“Maybe I’ll just stay single forever,” Jackson says, flashing his easy, confident smile. “Who needs all the drama when I’ve got a great career, freedom, and all this?” He gestures to himself.
“Good idea,” Griffin says. “Me and Avery will be winning the competition of having the most kids.”
“Honey, let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” I say, putting my hand on his knee.
“God-willing,” Griffin winks and adds.
“Jackson Knox. The ultimate bachelor,” Sloane says, grinning from her seat next to Asher. “Bet you’ll end up falling the hardest, though.”
Jackson winks at her. “Not a chance. I’m done with dating. Never gonna happen for me. I’ve come to terms with that.”
I can’t help but notice the way Jackson’s easygoing charm lights up the room. He’s every bit as captivating as Griffin but in a quieter, more thoughtful way. It’s easy to see why he’s so successful—and why he’s the family member everyone turns to when they need advice. But there’s something under his carefree facade, a depth that’s hard to miss.
I feel lucky to be a part of their family now.
Griffin pulls my attention back by nudging my arm. “You ready for that toast?”
I nod, grabbing one of the beers as everyone gathers around. Jackson leans over to Cassie, grinning. “You know what? Maybe I’ll write a book. How to Be the Perfect Single Guy. ”
Cassie rolls her eyes. “Please. You haven’t read a full book in years. Let alone write one.”
As the laughter dies down and the tequila starts pouring, I catch Griffin’s eye, and my stomach flips. This family? They’re wild, chaotic, and utterly perfect.
And as Jackson lifts his glass, smirking at Griffin, I can’t help but wonder what the hell I’ve gotten myself into.
Griffin puts his arm around me, and kisses my cheek.
“I love you, baby.”
“I love you, too.”
I am so fucking happy, it’s ridiculous.