26. Chapter 25
Chapter 25
Griffin
The unexpected night at my mother’s turned into a beautiful morning. I had several dreams I’m still debating on if they were real or not. One I know for certain is my mother didn’t sleep much. I woke up here and there, listening to her mumble to herself through the vents in a variety of languages.
When the three of us sat for breakfast, she was as calm as she was while she was knitting. Kaitlyn thought it was cute she was doing that to pass the time. I know what it really means. When she’s plotting something, good or not so much, she busies her hands with large needles in them. It’s like it quiets a space deep within her to get a plan in place. We were told that plan in tandem.
She told us to go about our business, whatever that is. Don’t speak of my father’s request to anyone, even those who already know. If I’d only come to her in the first place. I’ve been the one to protect her from the bullshit she intentionally left. I thought I still had to. She told me, in no uncertain terms, that it’s no longer my job and she’s not afraid to step in and take a snake off at the head. My mother asked me not to ask many questions and to trust that all will be revealed when the time is right.
As we were walking down the path to my car, she pulled Kaitlyn aside for a private moment. I leaned against the rear of the car watching them. Mum would brush a stray bit of hair away from Kaitlyn’s cheek then would rub her arms up and down in a moment of comfort. My beautiful blonde would nod here and there, speaking a few words to her before they embraced, as if they’d known each other forever. I could tell Kaitlyn needed that motherly love that mine was all too happy to give. It created a warmth inside me like I’ve never felt before.
My hand never left her thigh as we drove back to my place. If I have my way, I’ll never stop touching her for as long as I’m breathing.
Marilyn was one pissed-off cat when we arrived back at my apartment. Kaitlyn scooped her up immediately and showered her with kisses and snuggles, much to the feline’s protests. She’s one spoiled kitten. She had everything she needed while we were gone, except for Kaitlyn. I understand though. I’d miss her too.
I take a few minutes in my office to shoot off a couple of emails then venture back out to find both ladies curled on the sofa together, watching television.
“This is a sight I could get used to.” I lean against the wall with my arms crossed.
“She is acting extra needy and trying to make me feel bad for leaving her alone last night.”
“Well, then you should give her all the attention she deserves.” I push off the wall and cross the room to place a kiss on her lips. “What did you want to do today?”
“Honestly? Let’s just be bums and stay in? Is that okay?”
“What about the London Eye, Big Ben, Parliament, and all that?”
“We can still do that. I don’t know. I just feel like maybe we should be alone.”
I set my glasses on the large coffee table before I curl up beside her. “I think being alone is fine with me. We could stroll in the park. I know you haven’t seen it yet, but I am quite good in the kitchen. I could woo you with more food if you like. I have a craving for one of my mother’s comfort meals. Have you ever had authentic pastina before?”
The wheels of Kaitlyn’s mind start turning. “Wait, isn’t that Italian penicillin?”
“It can be, yes. I will swear by it, but it can also be very effective in rejuvenating the spirit. I think we might need a bit of that after yesterday.”Kaitlyn maneuvers her curled up body so she’s facing me. “Besides the initial confession to your mother, I enjoyed every second of being there. I really love her.”
Those words. They trigger something in my mind. Delicate nails stroking up and down my forearms, a cheek pressed firmly against my chest, the vibration of the words I love you tumble through the dark. She said it. I’m certain of it.
I rest my head on the back of the lounge, mirroring her position, staring into her steely blue eyes. “Is she the only one you love?”
Her face flushes red and she licks her lips. I catch her chin in my grasp before she turns to look away from me.
“Don’t hide from me,” I continue.
“Griffin, I…”
She’s nervous. I swear I can hear her heart racing from here. If I slide my hand down to the side of her throat, I’ll feel it pounding under my touch. I’ll make this easier for her.
“I really hope she isn’t, because I’ve fallen in love with you, Kaitlyn.”
Time slows down. I’ve laid my cards on the table, hoping that I wasn’t hallucinating when I heard her say the words last night. Her eyes begin to water, and I can’t tell if it’s sadness or happiness… until she smiles.
“I love you too, Griffin. I think I have for much longer than I realized.”
I can’t have the space between us anymore. I grasp her hips and pull her over so she’s straddling my waist. I want her as close as possible.
“Christ, Kaitlyn, how did this happen?” I say between kisses I’m laying on her neck, jaw, and cheek.
Her fingers weave gently through the hair at the base of my neck. “Does it really matter?”
I stop to press my forehead to hers, then softly chuckle. “No, it doesn’t.” I gently hold her face in my hands. “I want to know everything about you. Not the things we were expecting people to know. I want to know how you got the scar behind your ear I noticed when you put your hair in a towel after you showered. I want to hear about your high school crushes and how you decided to become a lawyer. I want to hear your take on politics, if you want to have children…”
“Whoa,” she laughs. “That’s a lot of information at once. Let’s just make some food and let the conversation flow. I will tell you anything you want to know as long as we’re not more than five feet apart all day and night.”
“Sweet girl, that’s a promise.”
Kaitlyn
I feel like I’m floating on a cloud.
Is this what real love is supposed to feel like? I would have sworn on my life that I’d truly been in love before, but this is unlike anything I’ve experienced until now.
He’s working away on the pastina, and I’m perched on his counter simply drinking him in. His hands move smoothly as he chops the onions and carrots. He’ll look my way every once in a while and say something to me and I think I fall deeper each time.
How is it possible this man loves me? I have to be the luckiest woman on the planet.
“Right, baby?” he asks and it snaps me out of my thoughts.
“Hmm? What?”
He laughs and pours the pasta into the boiling chicken stock. “Where were you just then?”
“If you want the truth, I was volleying back and forth between checking you out and wanting to pinch myself because I must be dreaming.”
“Watching me cook is a dream for you?” He carefully stirs the cooking pasta and the steam twists and coils into the air.
“Griffin, all of this is a dream.” I kick my legs and hop down from the perch. “I do want to discuss something though, and I’m not sure how to broach the subject.”
He places the spoon on the counter and turns to face me. “You can talk to me about anything.”
I sigh and cross my arms over my chest and lean my hip against the counter. “We’ve obviously transitioned into a different lane where our relationship is concerned. This jumped from contractual to not so much in just a couple of months, and I want to make it clear, I don’t expect you to hold up your end of the deal anymore.”
He tips his head to the side and smiles. “What do you mean?”
He’s going to make me say it.
“I don’t want your money. I don’t want you to pay off my student loans. I won’t accept it.”
“Kaitlyn….”
“No. I mean it. I get why we talked about it before, but it would feel gross.”
“What if I wanted to as a gift? It’s impolite to return a gift.” He gives me his best smile before sliding over with his hands finding my hips. “You’re nothing if not polite. Well, unless you’re putting someone rightfully in their place.”
“Stop it.” I giggle. “Don’t tease me. I’m serious.”
“I’m not teasing you. Kaitlyn, I love you. I have the means to be able to get you out of debt and set you on a path to do whatever you’d like, not what you have to just so you can pay your bills. I’d never take your decision-making away. I just want to be able to do this. I won’t beg, but I might argue a fair bit. Please, just think about it.”
I lay my head on his chest. “I’ll think about it, but only if you do something for me in return.”
“Anything.” I feel him kiss the top of my head.
“Find a way to incorporate architecture into your work at Orion.”
“That’s a pipe dream—”
I look up at him. “It doesn’t have to be. You want me to do whatever I’d like and I want the same for you. Do we have a deal?”
He shakes his head with a smile, but before he can respond, the stove behind us starts to sizzle as the pasta boils over.
“Shit! Shit, shit, shit.” He rushes over to kill the heat and pulls the pot over to the counter. “You’re not allowed to tell my mother I almost ruined this. She’ll never let me live this down.”
“Looks like I have more leverage then.” I smirk.