Griffin
Istand in shock as I stare into the icy-blue eyes that have haunted me for the past two years. Her face has paled into a ghostly shade of white, and she looks like she’s about to faint at the sight of me.
“Mama! Look! Mama!”
The fact that I can hear anything over the ringing in my ears is a miracle. This has to be a sick joke, because the scene playing out in front of me isn’t real life—it can’t be.
I try to gather myself, but I can’t. I’m stunned, frozen at the sight of Kenna,my Kenna, shrugging away from the guy with his arm draped over her shoulders.
And Kenna’s twin brother, Carson, is holding the blonde baby girl who just called her “Mama.”
Kenna goes to grab the baby girl from Carson and wraps the little girl into her arms, nuzzling her neck—breathing her in.
“Hi, baby,” she coos to the girl.
I watch as the little girl pulls back and grabs Kenna’s cheeks, placing a big, sloppy kiss on her face before giggling.
How is this happening? I knew it was over. We hadn’t spoken since that night in Boston, the night that changed everything.
But now it’sreallyover . . . for good. Kenna has moved on. She created a life with someone else. They started a family.
A family you’ll never be a part of.
My stomach sinks at the thought, my throat clogging with the realization.
Kenna turns her back to me, leaning in to whisper something to her brother.
The next moment happens as if in slow motion. The little girl peeks up at me over Kenna’s shoulder and the moment her dark, coffee-colored eyes meet mine,I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that’s my daughter.
Part 1
Two Years Prior . . .
1
May
The packed bleachers are a sight I’m familiar with, seeing as I’m the captain of our three-time, championship-winning volleyball team. However, tonight, the gym has a stage with a podium, a large projector screen, and seats currently occupied by our principal, teachers, and other faculty members.
My leg shakes, exposing my nerves, as I await my turn to stand and make my way toward the makeshift stage. I must not have realized how much I was shaking because I jump as my twin brother Carson’s hand smacks down on my right knee.
“Chill out, Mack. You’re going to freak out Wilson even more than he already is,” Carson says as he reaches his left arm behind me to smack Jackson Wilson in the back of the head.
“Why did I think today would be a good day to wear heels for the first time?”
Carson doesn’t try to hide his chuckles. “I’ve got no clue, seeing as you’re the clumsiest girl I’ve ever met whenever you’re off the court.”
“I’m seriously freaking out right now, Carse. Where’s the reassurance I’ll do fine?”
Carson rolls his eyes and attempts to appease me. “Mack, I’m going to strut across that stage, grab my diploma, and scream for you on theother side, just like I did while waiting for you to hurry up and come into the world.”
“You’re only older by two minutes; it’s not like you had to wait long.” I sigh. “I wish Principal Lennon would’ve let us walk across together like we asked.”
“Mack Attack and Carse Man—the dynamic duo—it would’ve been epic,” he announces, waving his hand through the air.
“Katie Turner,” the speaker announces my best friend’s name. Carse and I go crazy, screaming and cheering as she crosses the stage to get her diploma. The only people to out-shout us are her dad and older brother, Griffin.
My eyes move away from Katie and glance up in the top left section where Katie’s dad and Griffin sit beside my parents. How has Griffin gotten even more irresistible since I saw him two summers ago?
