Chapter 29
CHAPTER 29
ONE KISS AND YOU’RE PART OF THE FAMILY.
Blair
“I feel like it’s been longer than a week since we had our check-in calls,” Kodi says through the phone speaker. “I’m feeling like you’re forgetting me already.”
“Never.” I laugh. “I’ve just been so busy here.”
And distracted, if I’m being honest.
I have been bouncing around my house as if I live on an actual cloud since yesterday. Because Griffin Barlow kissed me.
I’m not ashamed to say I came home, threw myself on the couch, and kicked my feet in the air like a dead bug in excitement over it. I felt like a high school girl all over again whose crush just admitted feelings for her. I can’t remember a time I’ve ever felt like that before.
The kiss was electric.
It was fire.
It was hot.
All things it shouldn’t have been considering it was cold and raining out.
“ Hellooo ?” Kodi bellows through the phone. “Did you hear anything I just said?”
“In an effort to maintain honesty between us…no. ”
“I was telling you I saw Mom yesterday. She was asking about you,” Kodi says softly.
Just like that, my happiness bubble pops.
I scoff. “That’s funny. She has my number. She could, you know, pick up the phone and call me.”
“You know how she is.”
“Yeah, I do. I know she’s not happy about me leaving the spotlight and the political life she wants me to live. She doesn’t care at all about our happiness.”
“Why do you think I avoid her myself?” Kodi laughs. “She’s a lot. A lot . And that says something coming from me.”
“So, what did she want?” I ask reluctantly.
“She wanted to know when you were planning to come home. When you were done playing the victim. But don’t worry,” she says quickly. “I told her it’s justified because that twatwaffle cheated on you , not the other way around. In her eyes, everyone deserves a second chance. Blah blah.”
And she’s right.
That’s exactly how my mother is. She’s manipulative and will toy with your emotions so that it always looks like she wins at the end.
“She’s actually crazy,” I tell Kodi. “I don’t plan to come back.”
Kodi remains silent on the other end, and I know instantly that my words hurt her. She wants me to come back. I miss her just as much as she misses me, if not more. Not having my sister here is painful. She’s my rock, my sounding board.
“I don’t mean it like that, Kodi.”
“I know what you mean. I get it. Sometimes I just get sad because I really miss you so much. These phone calls aren’t enough. She might have…brought up Theodore too.”
I wince at his name being brought up.
“I know,” she continues as if she heard me. “He’s not doing good, Blair.”
“What do you mean? ”
“His life is quite literally crumbling since you left.”
“Me?” I gasp. “This has nothing to do with me. Our divorce was over long before I decided to move out here.”
“No, no, no. I’m not saying because of you. I’m just saying in general. He’s been plastered all over the news with scandal after scandal. His approval ratings are shit, and there’s no way he’s going to get reelected unless he gets his shit together.”
There’s a really small part of me that feels bad for him. A really small part. Because no one deserves to be going through shit. But in this situation, Theodore brought it on himself. He’s the reason behind the scandals she’s telling me about because he can’t keep his dick in his pants and remain faithful.
I wait for the hurt he put me through to hit my chest.
But it doesn’t come.
For once, it doesn’t come.
I knew prior to moving here that I'd moved on from him, and there was no chance of ever giving him a second chance. I knew the emotions would come to the surface, every once in a while, as it’s part of the healing process. The memories of my past will always be there as it was part of my life for so long.
At one point or another, they stop hurting.
They stop being painful memories and they turn into just…memories.
“In an effort to change the subject,” Kodi interrupts my thoughts. “I hope you know how happy and proud of you I am for getting out of here and starting a life you deserve.”
Now the emotions fight to come to the surface.
Just as I’m about to respond a text comes through my phone. Looking down, I see it’s Griffin.
Griffin
Hey.
Me
Hey .
“This man,” I whisper to myself out loud, shaking my head.
“Huh?”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I just got a text from Griffin,” I tell her, clicking out of my texts and back to the phone screen. “He’s the superior one-word texter.”
“Is he now?” she coos. “Is there something happening with this neighbor friend of yours?”
Guilt flashes through my head for not filling Kodi in on everything that’s happened here. I don’t know why because she’s in another state and there’s no chance of people in town finding out from her.
Another text comes through, and I switch screens.
Griffin
Dinner. Parents’ house. Tonight.
Me
Is this a question or demand?
“For starters, I think he just asked me to dinner at his parents’ house tonight,” I say.
“You think?”
“He’s not good at texting. He gives one word for things and said dinner . Period. Parents’ house . Period. Tonight . Period.” I laugh.
“Thank you for spelling that out for me and including punctuation marks.”
“I wanted you to get the vibes.”
“Back to what’s really happening here. He asked you to his parents’ house for dinner? What the hell is happening out there in Bluewater Rivers?”
I nearly choke on my own words. “Bluestone Lakes is a very fun place. They have horses and hot neighbors. One of whom is an exceptional kisser.”
“ What? ”
My phone chimes again .
“Hold please,” I tell Kodi, switching to the text app.
“You can’t tell me to hold after dropping this information,” Kodi snaps while I read through the message.
Griffin
Question.
Me
You’re asking me to go to dinner at your parents’ house tonight? Just so I’m understanding correctly.
Griffin
Yes.
Me
Well, you should have just said that.
“I’m three seconds from screaming,” Kodi practically shouts.
“Yesterday,” I start, pausing to allow the smile to stretch across my face, thinking about the kiss again. “I went to the ranch where he usually rides after he left me treats Lily sent for me from the bakery. I don’t know why I went there, but when I arrived, I felt silly and off. Almost like I was making the wrong choice in being there.”
“Valid. Continue.”
“So I rambled and thanked him for making me soup when I was sick. He stopped me as I was going back to my car, and I can’t remember a single thing that happened seconds before his lips were on mine.”
“I feel like I’m listening to a movie.”
“It felt like I was in one. The rain was coming down so hard. My hair was soaked, and by the time we got back to my car, both our clothes were sopping wet. But it didn’t matter because that man can kiss, Kodi. I’ve never felt a kiss as intense as that.”
“This is…I…don’t know what to say,” Kodi says, clearly at a loss for words.
“I feel the same way right now. I don’t know how to process it,” I tell her honestly. “One minute I’m trying to get my life together for me, and the next I’m falling for my neighbor.”
“Rewind. Back up !” she stops me. “So, this is serious. You’re really falling for the guy. Are you sure you want to get into something so soon?”
“I’m not sure about anything anymore.” I scoff. “But what I do know is there’s something between us. I can’t seem to shake it either. And now, he’s inviting me to his family’s house for dinner.”
“One kiss, and you’re part of the family. Way to go, Blair,” she cheers.
My phone chimes with a text again.
Griffin
I did.
Me
No, you demanded.
“I wouldn’t go that far,” I continue with Kodi.
“I would. No man invites you to dinner with the family unless it’s serious.”
I roll my eyes, even though she can’t see. “You don’t know this town. It’s small and everyone here is close. But I won’t deny myself of something if the universe keeps pushing me in his direction. I totally get butterflies every time he’s around too.”
“How very high school of you.” She laughs.
“I’m being so serious.” I chuckle, even though I really am being honest. “I want to fight it off. But like I said, the universe, gravity, some outer space pull, keeps shoving me his way.”
“Did you pull that off the internet?”
“I can’t stand you.”
“You know I don’t do the sappy love bullshit,” she says with humor in her tone.
That’s the one area of life where she and I are opposites. I’m a hopeless romantic and she’s good at being alone and working on growing a successful business. If I could have half of her independence in life, I would make it anywhere. I know it.
“Listen,” she continues before I can respond. “I love you more than anything and I just never want to see you hurt the way Theo-fuckface hurt you. It was the most painful thing to witness, knowing I couldn’t do anything to fix it for you. So just be careful with your heart.”
“I will. I love you, Kodi.”
“Love you too. Have fun at dinner, but not too much fun.” She giggles before hitting end on the call.
I mull over her words as I stare down at the open text conversation with Griffin that he didn’t respond to.
I know deep down I need to protect my heart.
But I can’t deny this.
I can’t deny him anymore.
I decide to add to the previous message.
Me
But I’ll admit, it was kind of hot.
Griffin
Blair…
Dinner tonight should be very interesting.
I look at the clock on the microwave and realize Griffin should be here any minute.
I make my way to the bathroom to give myself a once-over.
I settled on a flowy skirt with a tucked-in sweater. It’s been so long since I’ve done this. The whole “meet the parents” thing. I’m not even sure what to make of this whole thing, which puts me that much more on edge .
Hearing the sound of truck tires in the gravel driveway, I inhale slowly and release before making my way outside to meet him. I step onto the porch at the same time he closes the truck door.
He lifts his head to find me already standing there and stops dead in his tracks. An intense look bores into me as he trails his gaze up and down my body before he swallows. He catches himself and averts his stare to the ground, then continues walking until he’s on my porch.
Nervous energy flows through me.
He lifts his eyes to meet mine again. Heat dances along my skin, but at the same time, shivers rack my body, and I fight the urge to not visibly shake where I stand.
“You look beautiful,” he says. “You didn’t need to get dressed up for my parents.”
I smile. “This is actually one of my more casual outfits. But do you think I’m overdressed?”
He practically chokes on air. “Yes,” he says before swallowing. “I mean, no.”
The grin on my face only grows as I place both hands on my hips. “Are you flustered, Griffin Barlow?”
“Are you always this forward?”
I shrug. “New town, new me.”
But is it still considered a “new town” if I’ve been here a few months now? I don’t know, but I’m rolling with it.
Griffin doesn’t move. He opens his mouth to say something but closes it quickly as if to stop himself.
“Ready?” he settles on.
I nod before he guides me to his truck.
Like a true gentleman, he opens the truck door for me, letting me get in before he closes it and rounds the hood with a little pep in his step. I watch every move as if I can’t take my eyes off of him. He hops in the truck so easily, twisting the key in the ignition. With one hand on the wheel, and the other resting on the back of my seat, he maneuvers out of the driveway and onto the road.
There’s something about the way a man does that.
Specifically, him.
“I just want to warn you before we get there,” he starts, pausing to take a deep breath. “My parents can be overbearing. They want what’s best for me, but sometimes I don’t think they really know me that well and what I actually want in life.”
I turn to look at him while he stares out the front window, keeping his eyes on the road.
“I understand that. I used to feel that way about mine too. Except, mine had a sprinkle of manipulation in there.” I laugh lightly to ease the tension. “No matter what I was feeling, they would make it about themselves and how they felt. They never failed to make me feel like my feelings were invalid. I cut them off years ago because of this. Now I just talk to them on my own terms,” I say, but realize I haven’t stopped talking. “And now I’m trauma dumping on you and I’m surprised you haven’t dropped me on the curb.”
“Are you done?” he asks.
“Yes.”
“Good, because I have no plans of dropping you off on the curb,” he says, bringing the car to a stop at the stop sign and turning his gaze on me. “I want you there tonight.”
I nod in understanding before he accelerates the truck, turning on a new road.
I want you there tonight .
His words ring in my ear like a song I can’t stop singing.
He wants me there.
He wants me to meet his parents.
Fear pricks the back of my head that this is too good to be true. There was a time when I first met Theodore’s parents, and he wanted me there. It all changed so fast and quickly, though. We settled into a “normal” that I don’t think was very normal now that I look back. We got comfortable and forgot about wanting each other. Needing each other.
The only long-term relationship I know is my broken marriage.
So, is that what it’s supposed to be like?
Okay, not that I’m marrying Griffin or anything, but will he get bored with me and find someone new?
I hate that my brain is doing this to me right now.
“We’re here,” Griffin says, breaking the silence as he throws the truck in park.
“That was fast.”
“Small town.” He winks before exiting and hustling to my side to open the door for me.
I can’t hold back the smile on my face even if I tried.
Touché .
I face the house, and my jaw falls to the ground. The house resembles a log cabin-style home nestled between trees as if we’re in the middle of the woods. The surrounding view is nothing like the ones on our street, but it’s beautiful. Cozy and secluded.
“Will your sisters be here?” I ask him.
He shakes his head. “Just us tonight.”
I nod, following Griffin up the wooden porch. The door opens before we even reach it and Nan greets us.
“What are you doing here?” Griffin asks her, confused.
“Your mom said she made that chicken recipe I love so much.” She giggles. “You know how much I love that shit, so I invited myself.”
Griffin simply shakes his head, and sidesteps her to enter the home.
“Hope you’re hungry, Blair.” Nan winks.
I offer her a soft smile and follow her inside.
Here goes nothing .
A beautiful woman enters the hallway, holding a dishrag, drying her hands, and stops when she notices me .
“You didn’t tell me you were bringing a guest?” She beams at Griffin.
I feel my cheeks heat up with embarrassment because the last thing I want to be is a burden and overstep my welcome.
I open my mouth to respond, but Griffin beats me to it.
“She’s my neighbor.”
My head snaps in his direction, and I force a smile.
That hurt way more than it should.
I know my brain has been so back and forth for a little while now, wondering if this is what I want. Do I want more? Kind of. No. I do want more.
“I’m Mary,” his mom says.
“I’m Blair,” I say, taking a few steps to greet her with my hand extended. She takes my hand in hers. “I’ve heard nothing but good things.”
Nan chokes on her drink somewhere beside me.
“You don’t have to lie to us,” an older man says, entering the hallway to greet us. He extends his hand in front of me. “I’m Eugene. Everyone calls me Gene.”
“It’s nice to meet you too.”
“You two are just in time,” Mary says, guiding us to the table set up for dinner already. “Dinner is ready.”
I follow Griffin, wrapping a hand around his thick bicep and stopping him before we enter the kitchen. “You didn’t tell them I was coming?”
“I’m a man full of surprises, sweetheart.” He winks. “If I told them I was bringing someone she would have broken out the fine China. This is casual.”
“Okay.”
It’s all I can think to even say. I mean, when it comes to his family, he knows better than me, that’s for sure.
Mary sets up an extra table setting. “I’m sorry I didn’t have time to bring out the fancy dinnerware for you, Blair. This one”—she tilts her head toward Griffin—“didn’t think to tell us you were coming. ”
I find Griffin smirking in the corner of the room.
“Don’t be sorry, ma’am. I appreciate you making a spot for me,” I tell her honestly.
“None of that ‘ma’am’ stuff,” she says, waving me off.
Mary and Eugene bring dishes to the table while Griffin pulls out a chair, extending his arm to show me my seat.
“Can I get you something to drink?” he asks.
“Whatever you’re having is fine.”
He nods, retreating to the kitchen with his mom and dad right behind him.
Nan takes a seat next to me, resting her elbow on the table and turning her body to face me. I look at her, confused, while she keeps an evil smile written all over her face.
“Are you okay?” I laugh at her.
“I’m so happy you’re here, Blair.”
Griffin enters before she can say more with two glasses in hand. One with an amber liquid and the other a white wine, that he places in front of me.
“So, Nan,” Gene says, taking a seat while everyone fills their plates with food. “Tell us about this new guy coming to town.”
She runs her fingers across her lips, signaling that they are sealed.
“Apparently, he’s a celebrity,” Mary says, cutting into her chicken. “Nan knows who it is but refuses to tell us how and why he’s a celebrity.”
“Maybe he’s into politics, and that’s why he’s considered a celebrity,” Gene says. “How fun would that be?”
My stomach flips at the thought of a male politician coming to town.
Did Theodore find out where I live?
He’s most definitely considered a celebrity back in San Francisco.
“All I can tell you is he’s moving to Poplar Street next door to Poppy.” Nan laughs with a mouthful of food before pointing her fork in Eugene’s direction. “And don’t bother looking up the record, because it's off the book.”
“Is that legal?” I ask, curious.
“The marijuana I smoke ain’t legal either,” she barks out. “But no one’s going to get me in trouble. I have a shank.”
“A shank?” Griffin asks, choking on his chicken.
“Yep. A weapon of mass destruction.” Nan nods.
Griffin rolls his eyes. “You can’t call a steak knife a weapon of mass destruction.”
“You. Shush,” she cuts him off. “Don’t give away all my secrets. I like people to fear me.”
My hand comes up to cover my mouth as I laugh into my palm.
“Well, that’s enough violence for one dinner,” Mary says. “Let’s talk about Blair. Where are you from?”
My stomach does another somersault. Griffin knows where I’m from, but being his father is the mayor of this town, I wonder if he’s in contact with others. Like there’s some special hub online of mayors connecting with each other.
I’m definitely thinking too much into this.
I just don’t want my past to be brought into my future when I’m in such a good place right now. I feel good, and things are going really well for me.
“I’m from San Francisco,” I say.
“Wow,” Gene says. “That’s a long way away. It’s a whole new world here compared to there, huh?”
“You could say that again,” I scoff.
Nan clears her throat. “It’s a whole new world?—”
“Nan,” Griffin cuts her off.
“Oh, right.” Nan nods, before cutting into her meal again.
“What made you move out here?” Mary asks. “Do you have a job that allows you to work anywhere?”
“Well…” Inhale. Exhale . “I didn’t have a job. I was married to the mayor.”
I answer Mary’s question, looking in Griffin’s direction, when something flashes in his eyes. I can’t find it in me to look away from him as he stares at me blankly.
A look full of questions.
But also full of desire.
It’s as if something shifted in that one sentence.
I replay my own words in my head while Nan continues a conversation about lord knows what. It’s drowned out the longer I keep my gaze locked with Griffin.
I was married to the mayor.
Confirmation for both of us that I’m no longer that person.
I’m not married.
I don’t have a husband.
I’m free.
That’s when I finally realize I don’t want to be free anymore.
I want to be claimed in every way possible by Griffin Barlow.