4. McKenna
Acurl of heat erupts in my stomach as Griffin grips my waist and pulls me down so I’m straddling his lap.
His fingers curl into the hem of my shirt as he kisses across my cheek, leaving trails of kisses along my jawline.
Is this really happening? If this is a dream, I think I’ll die of disappointment upon waking. Griffin’s lips are back on mine. A gasp leaves my lips, opening them. In a second, Griff’s tongue tangles with mine again, and I moan.
I. Moan.
I’ve never moaned from being kissed. But, my god, he tastes delicious.
Griffin. Fricken. Turner.
I bring my hands to the back of his neck and run my fingers through his dark hair. We get lost in a clashing of tongues, teeth, and lips before Griff pulls away. I let out a whimper at the loss of his mouth on mine.
He traces his thumb over my bottom lip before he asks, “Can I take you out?”
Still somewhat dazed, it takes me a few seconds to register what he just asked me.
“Kenna?”
“Wh-What?” I ask as I open my eyes to stare into his chocolate-brown eyes, which are currently so dark they look black as coal.
“I asked if I could take you out. I know Katie won’t care, and I doubt Carse would either.”
I take a good look at Griffin to make sure he’s serious. A look of nervousness crosses his face.
“L-like a date?” How can one question have me stumbling over my words? A question I’ve wished most of my life to hear.
His lips turn up into a devastating smirk that makes his dimples pop.
“Yes, Kenna, a date. I’d say it’s about three years overdue at this point. Let me take you out. Are you free tomorrow?”
I take a deep breath and pull myself together. I tap my chin in a teasing way before I reply, “Depends. Where would we go?”
Griffin’s smirk grows into a panty-melting smile as he says, “There’s my girl. That mouth of yours.”
He grabs my chin again and pulls me in for a kiss. My mind is still trying to process the fact that Griffin Turner—the boy I’ve crushed on for as long as I can remember—referred to me as his girl. If I’m not dreaming, I have to be delirious, intoxicated, something.
I let myself get lost in the feel of his lips on mine, in the feel of his hands gripping my waist, and the feel of his growing bulge pressing against the perfect spot between my legs.
Griff grinds his hips up into mine, and we both moan together. This is what euphoria feels like. This feeling is what turns people into addicts.
I’m high just off the fact that I can make him react this way. That he’s turned on by me. I just hope the high I’m chasing can last. That it doesn’t leave me free-falling.
The noise of a throat clearing has us slowly pulling away from each other. I glance up over Griff’s head and see Katie and Carson standing there with their arms crossed, mouths in straight lines.
They lose their stern looks a moment later as smirks slowly spread over their faces.
“I’ll take that hundred bucks now, Carsy,” Katie sing-songs, holding her hand out to him.
“It was a bet I was willing to lose for the greater good,” Carson retorts.
“I’m just glad we came out here when we did. No way do I want to see where that was likely heading,” Katie says as she shivers dramatically.
Griffin rolls his eyes at them, then turns to me and winks.
Good god. I need to climb off his lap before my panties melt off, and Katie and Carse get exactly the show they weren’t looking for.
I go to stand, but Griff quickly grips the back of my thighs. From that one touch, heat pools to the base of my stomach.
“Don’t go. We can still stay out here. I’ll put a few more logs on the fire, and we can talk some more. I want to hear all your truths, Kenna.”
How has he always had the ability to say the right things? The smirk reappears on his face as I lower myself back down.
“Alright, but our lips will only be talking. Got it?”
He lifts his hands up in surrender, and I pout at the loss of heat from his hands.
“So what’s it going to be? Talking or pouting,” he teases as he lifts me off him and adds two more logs to the fire.
“Hey!” I smack his chest. “Just because we’re talking doesn’t mean you have to keep your hands to yourself.”
Griffin turns me around so my back is pressed to his chest and wraps his arms tightly around my waist. He breathes me in as he kisses my temple, then down my jawline, moving a trail until he’s at the base of my neck.
Every touch comes so naturally. To anyone else, it’d look as if we’d been together for a while when in reality, tonight is the first time we’ve crossed this line.
“Watch yourself, Kenna,” he whispers in my ear. “If you take a chance on me, I won’t stop until you’re mine,” he says as he pulls me down with him onto the chair again.
With his large hands wrapped around me, we sit and talk for hours until the fire is nothing but dulled embers.
I can’t think of anything in this world I’d want more than to be Griffin Turner’s girl.
The next morning I take one last glance in the mirror, put on my favorite chapstick, and walk out of my room.
Pausing at the top landing, I listen to Griff and Carson discussing their dry land practice for tomorrow.
“Are you cool if Mack and Katie join us? They said they don’t need to get on the court until ten.”
“Yeah, that’s cool. Though Katie’s a bear in the morning,” Griff replies. He sounds like he’s right at the bottom of the steps.
I start down the stairs and pause in the middle to grip the railing. Griff’s broad back is to me. He’s dressed in a light blue, button-down, short-sleeved shirt that molds to his arms, with white shorts and white sneakers.
He turns around, and our eyes lock. A slow smile takes over his handsome face. Those damn dimples pop, and heat rushes up my neck and warms my face. Butterflies take flight in my stomach as he rubs his hand over his jaw.
“McKenna, you’re stunning.”
My blush deepens as I make my way to the bottom of the stairs. I inhale sharply when Griffin wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me in for a kiss.
He tastes like mint and something entirely him. I don’t think I’ll ever get over the feeling of his lips on mine. I’m lost in the most delicious haze as he pulls away far too soon.
“Don’t get me wrong, I’m team McKiffin, or maybe it should be Grenna.” Carson shakes his head, then continues, “But it will take some getting used to seeing the two of you making out.”
Griffin chuckles. “That was hardly making out, Carse. Nothing but an innocent hello kiss. Though, I wouldn’t recommend sticking around for the goodnight kiss.”
“Gross, G. Have her home at a decent time, yeah?”
“You got it, man. I’ll see you tomorrow morning,” Griffin replies.
Griffin places his hand on the small of my back as he guides me out to his red Jeep Wrangler. I’ve always loved his Jeep, though I’ve never been in the front seat and alone with him.
He opens the door for me and I smile back at him. “Guess chivalry isn’t dead after all. There’s still hope for mankind.”
“I’m always a gentleman, though, admittedly, you make it hard on me looking as gorgeous as you do.”
He shuts my door and walks around to his side. Once we’re buckled, he pulls out of my driveway. His right hand makes its way to my thigh, and butterflies erupt in my stomach. I love his need to touch me.
“So, where are we headed?” I ask as I turn to look at him. His one hand is gripping the top of the steering wheel. God, he looks so good it hurts. His shirt melds to his upper body, with the top few buttons undone, giving just a peek of his chest. I can appreciate each and every ridge of his muscular body. My type is, and has always been, Griffin Turner. All the time he puts in at the gym and rink has done wonders for his body.
“I picked you up early because we’ve got a little bit of a road trip ahead of us. Don’t worry, I didn’t come empty-handed,” he says as he hands me an iced caramel macchiato.
“Oh my gosh, I could kiss you right now!” I say as I take a sip, and my eyes roll back with how good it tastes.
“I take it your coffee order is still the same?” He laughs and then points to the backseat. “I also got us some snacks, the typical road trip essentials.”
“And what would those be?”
“Oh, you know, sunflower seeds, jerky, chips, and Twizzlers.”
“Stop. Are they the pull-and-peel kind?”
“Is there any other kind?”
“Well, there are, but none that matter,” I reply and smile sheepishly at him. “So, where is this road trip leading us?”
“Have you ever been to Stillwater?”
“Yeah, when we were little, we went there a few times as a family. But I haven’t been there in years.” I smile as I think of all of the memories Carson and I had growing up. Katie even went with us once.
“It’s a cool spot for sure. We used to go there all the time as a family before Mom died,” he says as he stares out the dashboard at the road ahead.
“Yeah, that’s what Katie said when she went with us one time. Doesn’t your uncle live there?”
“Yeah, my mom’s brother, Adam, lives there. It’s actually where they grew up. He’s the only one who still lives there, though. He’s got a great house that overlooks the river. I’d never leave that place if I were him.”
“Maybe we could stop and see him if he’s there,” I blurt without thinking about it. “I mean, if you don’t mind seeing him when I’m with you.”
Griffin turns his head to look me in the eyes and smiles at me. “We can see if he’s around. I’m sure he’d love that.” His hand squeezes my thigh, and I think it’s meant to reassure me that I shouldn’t be embarrassed.
The drive to Stillwater isn’t really much of a road trip. It takes us about forty-five minutes with traffic, but not a minute goes by in silence. Griffin made a playlist for the drive. I can tell he made it with me in mind whenever a Paramore or Taylor Swift song comes on. His dimples were on full display when I sang “I’m Only Me When I’m With You” and I may have fallen just a little when he started scream-singing along with me.
Little did he know her albums were played on repeat many times throughout high school. It was like Taylor made a soundtrack to my life. And yes, it killed me any time I looked out my window and saw Griffin taking off with some girl.
Once the song ends, Griff turns down the volume and looks over at me.
“Do you ever wonder what it would’ve been like if we had dated in high school?”
I look over at him with wide eyes. It’s like he was reading my thoughts. “I mean, you never would’ve gone for me when we were both in high school.” I laugh, trying to brush off his question.
“You can’t possibly say that after what I told you last night. I’ve had my eyes on you for years, Kenna.”
“Oh, yeah? Since when? When was the first time you looked at me as anything other than your little sister’s awkward best friend?”
“First day of school my junior year. I was about to walk out to drive Katie and me to school when she let me know you and Carse were going to ride with us. I remember being annoyed that we’d probably have to wait, and I wanted to make sure Katie had plenty of time on her first day of high school to find her classes.” He pauses and takes a deep breath, grabbing my hand in his.
“You were outside waiting by my Jeep, and I stood still and stared when I caught sight of you.” He smiles over at me again quickly before looking back to the road. “You had your hair down, and you were wearing a jean skirt and a blue shirt that made your eyes pop. Suddenly, you weren’t just Katie’s best friend anymore, but the girl next door that starred in all of my dreams.”
I’m stunned silent for a moment by his recollection of that day. Of course, I remember it. I was filled with anxious nerves when Katie said Griffin would drive us all to school. I spent hours looking through my closet the night before, trying to find the perfect outfit to make him finally see me.
I look over at him. “But you completely ignored me the whole ride there. Actually, you ignored me for most of that year, if I’m being honest.”
“I had to. I didn’t think I was good for you then. I wanted you to have all the experiences high school had to offer without my influence or interference. That’s why I asked if you ever wondered what it would’ve been like. Because the what-ifs have taken over my mind since I saw you on your graduation day.”
“I mean, you were my first crush, Griff. I’ve thought about what it would’ve been like a million times. But then I tell myself how much harder it would’ve been when you went off to college.” I squeeze his hand as I continue, “There’s no telling what would’ve happened, but I have a pretty good feeling we wouldn’t have made the long-distance thing work. I was only a junior in high school, and you were the hot, freshman standout for all of D1 hockey.”
“Are you saying you thought I was hot, Wilder?”
“Ugh, don’t call me that. It makes me feel like you’re talking to my brother!”
He throws his head back, laughing, and pulls me into him as we sit at the red light. The light press of his lips to mine is too quick, leaving me anxious for the chance to kiss him properly.
“Is babe better? Darling? Honey? Angel face? I’m guessing ‘baby’ is off the table since you didn’t like me referring to you as Carson’s baby sister.” He fires off the nicknames at me at rapid speed.
I roll my eyes at his nonsense.
“I’ve got it! Sunshine. It’s perfect.” He beams over at me, his smile is brilliance personified.
“What made you land on that one?”
“We’ve been through a lot together, even when I tried to keep you at a distance. When my mom was going through chemo, some days were really rough. You’d come over to help distract Katie, but just your presence brought positivity and rays of light into the darkest corners of my mind.”
Butterflies erupt throughout my entire body. I love it. Griffin gives me a quick peck and then winks at me as he turns his attention back to the road.
“We’re almost there, Sunshine,” Griff says, squeezing my thigh as he exits the highway.
Well, shit. This man is giving me all the feels, and far too quickly.