Chapter 22
When my eyes flutter open, it takes me a minute to fully focus. My lids are heavy as images of last night play above my head in the tent.
I can still feel his arms around me as if we’re on the jetty laughing and eating birthday cake. The cake he packed and brought all the way out here in the middle of the freaking woods to light like it was no big deal.
Who the hell does that?
That boyish grin and the way those words—happy birthday, Bookworm—rolled off his lips made my birthday feel worthy of celebrating despite the awful thing that happened on it.
I throw my sleeping bag off me, tug on my jeans, pull a sweater over my head, and tie my hair into a messy bun before unzipping my tent.
The cold morning air brushes my cheeks as I step outside. Laughter drifts from the fire pit as pine and smoke wrap around me.
Griff comes over and pulls me in a tight hug.
“I’m so glad you’re here,” he says.
“Me too, thanks for having me. I know this place is special to everyone. It means a lot I was invited,” I say when he steps back.
“We’re gonna be in each other’s lives for a long time, Goose. We’ve got a lot of catching up to do and a hell of a lot more memories to make.”
“I’ve missed you, Griff. So much.”
“Same. And when we get back, we’re gonna have a little talk about you and Pretty Boy,” he says, wagging his eyebrows.
Of course Griff would pick up on it. My pulse hammers against my skin. “We’re just friends,” I manage, hoping my expression isn’t betraying every damn thing I’m thinking.
“Yeah… try telling your face that.” He laughs.
I groan, patting my cheek.
Thanks a lot, face. No face-masks for you for a week… traitor!
“He’s a good man, Erin. And I think the two of you will make each other really happy. He deserves that happiness, and so do you,” Griff says, his eyes welling. He pulls me into him again and holds me close. “Let yourself be happy, Goose,” he whispers, and I let out a sigh because I want that—I do.
Griff steps away, and we walk over to the others. The guys hold on to me a little longer than usual when they offer hugs, and I wonder if they know what today is but are under strict instructions not to say a word.
When I look around for Chase, I don’t see him. My gaze stretches farther down the campsite, but all I notice are rocks, trees, and the lake.
“On your left, sweetheart.”
My head whirls around to where the cars are parked, and I find him with Bella and Brodie. My sister squeals and runs the short distance from Brodie’s car to me. She launches into me, her vanilla-scent nearly knocking the air from my lungs.
“What are you doing here?” I say, pulling back. “Why aren’t you in California?” I ask, my face lighting up with excitement.
“My actual boss and my boss boyfriend let me take the day off. I know we’ve never really celebrated today, but I’ve never not been with you since you moved in,” she says quietly.
“Did you tell Chase it was my birthday?”
“Nope. He brought it up to me. I thought maybe it was you who told him. I only told him your birthday was like any other day to you and you’d rather no one mention it,” she says, shrugging.
A breath I didn’t realize I was holding loosens in my lungs.
I scan the area and find Griff trying to subtly sneak out of my tent with a nothing-to-see-here look all over his face.
I catch his eye, and he shoots me a lopsided grin.
He knows he’s just been caught stuffing a load of Jelly Tots under my pillow.
The way he did when I was a kid on my birthdays.
He told Chase.
“I didn’t stop Chase from planning the little setup when he reached out to me a week ago about it. It sounded super sweet, and I thought… maybe you might consider telling him why you avoid today.”
A heavy weight settles beneath my ribs.
Bella squeezes my hand the way she always does when she’s trying to let me know she’s here and not pushing for answers. Not once has she ever gotten mad or frustrated at how long it’s taken me to open up to her with my struggles.
But this isn’t the same as the other things I’ve kept buried. This one’s raw, tender, and above all else, dangerous. The thought that keeps swirling in my mind is what it means that I told Chase before my sister.
The truth rises to the tip of my tongue. My fingers fiddle with my sleeves, but before I can get a breath out, she drops news on me.
“Brodie asked me to move in,” she squeals, jumping on the balls of her feet.
“Bella, that’s amazing,” I say, matching her energy.
“Isn’t it?” Joy radiates through her, and I can’t help but hug her again, hoping that she catches my excitement, too.
“And he said that we could redecorate so that the place is ours, even though I’m moving into his place.”
I laugh. “I can’t wait for you to argue over paint.”
Bella grins and loops her arm with mine as we move to join the others, filling the empty chairs dotted around.
The fire crackles low, embers drifting into the pale morning light. Shoes scuff against dirt, coffee being poured into chipped mugs and only one word comes to mind—family.
My gaze snags on Chase. He’s already watching me, that charming, confident grin, tugging at his mouth. As if he can tell exactly what’s running through my head, his chin dips. And when he winks at me, I know I’m home.