A cold, heartless laugh escapes his lips as he sneers at me. “Yeah? Well, I bet you were screwing my dad the whole time, weren’t you? God, you’re nothing but a whore.”
The accusation stings more than I care to admit, and for a moment, I’m at a loss for words. But before I can muster a defense, Griffin steps forward, his commanding presence filling the room. His voice is firm but laced with anger as he speaks.
“Don’t you dare call her that, Elliot,” he warns, his eyes locked on his son.
Elliot glares at his father, clearly taken aback by Griffin’s intervention. But Griffin doesn’t back down, his gaze never wavering. “She’s my girlfriend,” he states firmly, “and I won’t tolerate you disrespecting her.”
My heart skips a beat as the word hangs in the air, echoing in my ears. Girlfriend? A tumultuous mix of shock, warmth, and guilt courses through me. I hadn’t realized how much I longed to hear Griffin acknowledge our relationship until now.
“Girlfriend?” Elliot repeats, his voice dripping with disgust. “You’re disgusting, both of you.”
“Elliot,” Griffin says, his voice steady despite the anger in his eyes. “Faye and I didn’t plan this. It just...happened. We tried to fight it, but?—“
“Save it!” Elliot interrupts, pointing an accusatory finger at his father. “You’re trash, you know that? I can’t believe you’d do this. You’re supposed to be my father, but you’re nothing but a pathetic old man chasing after my leftovers.”
Griffin’s jaw tightens, but he doesn’t rise to the insult. Instead, he meets his son’s glare with calm determination. “You’re angry, and I get it. But this isn’t about you.”
I watch as emotions war on Elliot’s face, the pain evident even beneath his fury. The thought of causing him such anguish twists my insides like a vice. My voice wavers as I speak up, desperate to make him understand. “We never meant to hurt you, Elliot. Please believe that.”
“Believe that?” he spits out, his eyes blazing with contempt. His laughter is bitter and broken as he glares at Griffin and me. “You’re both dead to me. I want nothing to do with eitherof you.” With that, he spins around and storms out, the door slamming shut behind him like a gunshot.
I stand there, frozen, my breath uneven and my heart pounding in my chest. Blinking back tears, I turn to look at Griffin, who watches me with a softened expression. “I never wanted this,” I whisper, my voice trembling. “I never meant to ruin things between you and Elliot.”
Griffin steps closer, the warmth radiating from him providing a small comfort amidst the turmoil. “This isn’t your fault, Faye. Elliot and I have had problems long before this. He hardly liked me before.” He offers me a sad smile, his eyes filled with understanding. “Maybe he’ll get over himself someday. Maybe he won’t. Either way, I’m not letting you blame yourself for this.”
His words bring a sense of relief, but the tension still lingers in the air, thick and suffocating. As I take a shaky breath, I try to steady myself, searching within for the strength to face the aftermath of our actions.
The ticking of the clock on the wall echoes through the room, drawing my attention as it measures the seconds slipping away. Griffin’s gaze follows mine and he checks the time.
“Do you still want to work tonight?” he asks, his salt-and-pepper hair catching the light as he turns back to me. “I can drive you if you want.”
I shake my head, forcing a small smile despite the lingering pain in my chest. “I’ll be fine. I’ll drive myself. It’s Christmas Eve, so I’ll be off early.” My fingers fumble with the straps of my purse as I gather my things, trying to regain a sense of normalcy after the emotional storm that just swept through us.
Griffin steps closer, the heat of his body radiating towards me like a comforting balm. His lips brush softly against my cheek, leaving a trail of tingles in their wake. “I’ll be waiting for you when you get home,” he murmurs, his breath warm against my skin.
I’d enjoy nothing more.
EPILOGUE
FAYE
The last thing I expected to come home from work too is Griffin sitting in a large armchair near the tree, dressed head-to-toe in a Santa Claus outfit. The plush red suit, hat, and faux white beard suit him far better than I ever could have imagined. He grins at me, his hazel eyes sparkling with mischief. “Merry Christmas, Faye.”
“You’re still a few hours off.” I burst into laughter, covering my mouth as I take in the sight. “Griffin, what on earth are you doing?”
“Santa’s here to make sure you’ve been good this year.” Griffin pats his lap, his grin widening. “Come on, take a seat and tell me what you want for Christmas.”
A blush creeps up my cheeks as I hesitate, my gaze fixed on Griffin’s twinkling hazel eyes. Something in the way he looks at me stirs a sense of playful adventure within me, urging me to let go of my inhibitions and join him in this festive charade.
“Alright, Santa,” I say, walking over and carefully settling onto his lap with a giggle. “You’re ridiculous, you know that?”
Griffin chuckles, adjusting my position slightly so we’re both comfortable. “Santa takes his duties very seriously, young lady.”
As I look into his eyes, I can see past the humor and mischief – there’s a genuine warmth and affection there, which makes my heart race even faster than before. Griffin tilts his head, his voice playful yet sincere. “So, Faye, have you been naughty or nice? And what can Santa bring you this Christmas?”
I smile softly, feeling a wave of contentment wash over me. My gaze sweeps across the beautifully decorated room, then back to him. “Honestly?” I murmur, finding it difficult to put my emotions into words. “I think I already have everything I need this year.” I gesture to our surroundings and to him, feeling a surge of gratitude for all that has led me to this moment. “This... all of this is more than enough.”
Gently, he brushes a stray strand of hair from my face, tucking it behind my ear with a care that sends a shiver down my spine. “And what about what I want for Christmas?”
