Griff flashes me that panty-melting smile with his dimples on full display, and I suddenly have this desperate need to feel his lips on mine.
Pulling myself from the lust-filled thoughts, I watch as Griff places Cadence in her car seat with ease. He shuts the rear door of the truck before opening mine.
He runs his hand through his hair, and I’d be surprised if I weren’t literally drooling from how hot he looks doing that.
Get it together.
Clearing my throat, I thank him for opening my door. Once we’re buckled, he backs out of the driveway and heads to campus, where the bus is picking the team up.
“It’s weird seeing you drive something other than your Jeep. Do you still have it?”
He chuckles. “I do. I’m not sure I’ll ever give that beaut up. Maybe it can be Cadence’s first vehicle someday.”
“I’m not sure we want her to have a vehicle with that much . . . legroom in the backseat.” My cheeks flush a deep scarlet red as memories of what we used to do in his Jeep resurface.
Griff throws his head back and does a mix of a sigh and a groan. “Kenna, why? Why did you have to remind me that I’m going to go to jail someday for having a teenage daughter who will be dating little asshole punks?”
I laugh at the fact that he’s just realizing this. “Oh, I’m sorry. Are you just realizing this now?”
“Well, I haven’t really thought beyond the next few years yet.”
I can’t say I’m not curious to know what he’s thought the next few years will look like. Does he hope Cadence and I will move to Colorado after I finish school? We haven’t talked about the future at all, and the fear of the unknown has been weighing on me. I know now isn’t the ideal time to bring it up, but I can’t stop myself from asking, “What do you think the next few years will look like?”
Griff looks over at me before blowing out a deep breath. “I want to have this conversation more than anything, Sunshine, I do. But I don’t think it’s the best timing right before you’re off to play the biggest game of your volleyball career.”
I know he’s right. But I was hoping he would give me something.
He must sense my need for reassurance. “Look, we will be having this discussion soon. Hopefully, next time I’m in town to visit, because I don’t want to talk over the phone.”
I’m glad we didn’t start the conversation now, though, since we turn onto campus only a few moments later.
Once the truck is parked, Griff hustles to my side and opens my door. He wraps me in a tight hug and wishes me good luck. I reluctantly pull away and head into the athletic facility to meet the rest of my team.
It would be so easy to throw caution to the wind and to fall back into the safety of his arms. But I can’t do that. It’s not just about me and what I want for my future. It’s about Cadence and what she needs for her future. She needs two parents to love, support, and adore her. She needs two parents committed to putting her wants and needs before their own. There hasn’t been a day in the past two years that I haven’t desired Griffin. And I doubt I’ll ever go another day in my life not wanting this man. Does that mean I should just give in to my most basic desires and be with him?Yes.
No. Because I can’t afford for this to go wrong again and have Cadence heartbroken if he abandons us again.
During warmups, I look at where my family sits and see Griffin holding Cadence. I can literally feel myself ovulating whenever I see him with her. He’s so attentive and genuinely grateful to be her dad. The way he is with her is such a turn-on. But apparently, I’m not the only one turned on by his devotion to our daughter. I spot two girls a few rows back pointing and taking pictures of Griffin holding Cadence. I shake off the jealous thoughts that begin to cloud my vision.
I watch as Cadence tries to grab Griffin’s hat for the dozenth time. He takes it off and flips it backward. Griff sets Cades in Carson’s lap so he can take off her little jacket then he takes off his own.
Holy shit.
Griffin Turner is wearing matching maroon shirts with our daughter that say “MOMMY’S #1 FANS.”
He grabs Cadence from Carse and then takes her hand in his, and begins waving to me.
I wave back enthusiastically, my heart swelling in my chest. I guess we’re hard launching the fact that we have a daughter together.
Brooke nudges me. “Damn, girl. I feel like I might get pregnant just from witnessing the way he looks at you. He looks like a starved man, and you’re his next five-course meal.”
My face is bright red, and it’s not from sweat or the warmup. “Brooke, don’t,” I warn.
“What? I’m just stating facts. He looks like he wants to make up for lost time later tonight.”
“Well, then it’s a good thing he has a red eye back to Colorado. I told you he and I need to focus on finding a way to co-parent Cadence, not jump into a long-distance relationship.” It doesn’t matter that my body practically sings when he’s near. I know jumping right into bed, or a relationship, or whatever it is Griffin Turner wants from me isn’t a good idea right now.
Speaking of right now, I need to focus on the most important game I’ve ever played in. My team needs me, and I need to perform to the best of my ability to prove to myself that I’m deserving of all the risks my coach took by keeping me on the team.
