Page 27 of Midnight Hunt
Griff snickered, and I threw my best glare at him.
“You just need to slow down a bit,” my mom continued. “Here. Watch how Griff scrambles the eggs. He’s not trying to hurry the process byblastingthe heat. Cooking is a process, one that can’t be rushed.”
She gestured me over, and I reluctantly joined her and Griff by the stove. When I was apparently too far away to properly see the pan that Griff had just poured the whisked eggs into, my mom came around my other side and nudged me closer. My arm bumped into Griff’s, and heat flushed up my neck. Another memory assaulted me, and I vividly recalled how it felt to be wrapped in his arms.
Sable made a happy little purring noise, and I ground my teeth together. Standing this close to him was torture, but I couldn’t scoot away, not when my mother was practically pushing me against him while she explained the art of making light, fluffy eggs.
Too hyper-aware of my arm brushing against his, I completely tuned out her words. By the time the eggs were finished, I still had no idea how to properly make them and was desperate for some fresh air. When Griff reached around me to accept the bowl my mom handed him, I jumped, nearly making the bowl fall to the floor.
“Sorry,” I blurted, stepping back the second Griff moved his arm. “I’m going to, um, set the table.”
I hastily began to gather plates and utensils before my mom could torture me some more, putting much-needed distance between me and Griff.
You’re being ridiculous, Sable remarked.It’s not like you had sex with him. A little pelvic rub is no big deal, especially with clothes on. You didn’t even orgasm.
Wanting to scream, I booked it out of the kitchen, almost dropping the plates in the process. When we all sat down to breakfast minutes later, my restlessness only worsened. Every time I glanced across the table, I’d find Griff’s gaze already on me. He’d immediately look away, but I knew he was thinking about what happened between us just as much as I was.
We needed to talk, but I was already dreading the conversation, along with the one I needed to have with Reid. He was currently answering all of Melanie’s incessant questions, still utterly oblivious to the tension between me and Griff. Guilt was my constant companion, made all the worse when I’d catch one of the others watching me.
They knew. Theyallknew. Well, maybe only half of them, but it sure felt like the whole table was silently judging me for cheating on my boyfriend. Even baby Luca was scrunching up his nose at me.
It’s because his father is forcing him to eat squished-up bananas, Sable said with a disgusted snort.And you didn’t cheat. You were asleep, and so was Griff. You’re not responsible for what your horny subconscious does.
Thanks, Sabs. I feelsomuch better, I sarcastically replied, absently playing with the fluffy eggs on my plate.
You’re welcome.
I made the mistake of rolling my eyes and once again found Griff’s gaze on me. Unable to bear another second of this torture, I set down my fork and prepared to excuse myself from the table.
Before I could, Griff said to the room, “I think we should play some football.” When everyone stopped what they were doing to stare at him, he added, “We could use a little fun after the stressful few days we’ve just had. Besides, we have an MVP guest in the house. So, what do you say? Who’s in?”
“I’m in,” Reid readily replied.
“Yeah, man,” Griff said and stuck out his fist. When Reid reached across the table to bump his knuckles, I wanted to crawl under the table in mortification.
“I’m in too,” Brielle replied, staring at the pair like she was watching a soap opera. She noticed my scowl and shrugged apologetically.
Jagger and Kolton volunteered next.
“Me too!” Melanie chimed in excitedly, even though she barely knew what football was.
“You have school, Mellie,” Kolton firmly told her.
“Pleeease?” she begged, sticking out her bottom lip and adding a little quiver.
“Sucker,” I muttered under my breath when I saw Kolton start to cave.
Sure enough, he replied, “Fine, but school right after. And no trying to weasel your way out of homework this time.”
“Deal!” she sang, smiling like a cherub, even as her eyes twinkled devilishly.
“How about you, Mrs. R?” Griff asked my mom.
“Oh, not me, thank you. But Miss Gabby and I could watch the babies if Nora wants to play.”
“Sure, I’ll play,” Nora said and slid her husband a sly look. “So long as Kolton and I aren’t on the same team.”
Kolton’s mouth curved into a wicked smirk. “Sure you’re up for the challenge, wife?”
