“I missed you.”
“Cool. You saw me, now you can leave. You might not miss the party. Wouldn’t wanna miss your chance with that blonde bimbo.” She picked up the empty popcorn bowl and went to the kitchen. Those tiny shorts I mentioned earlier hid absolutely nothing, maybe just the crack of her ass. I was greeted with a very nice sight as her hips swayed, and her cheeks bounced with each step. The way her cheeks had a slight crease at the bottom of her rounded ass was making my blood boil, and the longer I had to sit here on this stupid couch and pretend to not look at the one thing making me hungry was killing me.
Tatum made me weak. She had this ability to suck all the energy out of me without even talking. Looking at her made all my problems go away. Being close to her was like having one foot in ice and the other in lava. She made all the other voicesdisappear, all other desires fade, and time didn’t slow down when I was with her.
Time wasn’t even relevant. She was time, she was the owner of my heart, and the programmer of my brain. Every thought I had belonged to Tatum Grace.
“Would rather be with you,” I told her honestly.
“I told you I had plans.”
“I didn’t believe you,” I admitted, finally kicking off my sneakers and handing her the flowers when I met her in the kitchen.
“I can’t believe you remembered this. I mean shit, Fin. I told you they were my favorite when I was eleven. What if I had a new favorite?”
“I was hoping it hadn’t changed.” I grinned down at her, my eyes locking with hers.
A second later, there was a knock at the door, and we both jumped, lost in the moment.
“I’ll get it,” she said, brushing past me, and I grabbed her forearm. I couldn’t let her answer the door looking so sexy. Fuck no. Not to mention I was still worried about someone coming after her.
“I got it. Don’t worry.”
She opened her mouth to argue, probably something along the lines of, “It’s my house. I can answer the door.” Or, “I’m not incapable of answering the door.” I didn’t give her the chance to answer as I quickly stepped around her and opened the door.
Some young kid was there holding a brown bag. “That will be $25.52.” He didn’t look up from his phone, and I reached into my wallet, grabbing two twenties, and shoving them in his outstretched palm. He finally looked up when I took the bag of food, and his jaw dropped.
“Keep the change. Have a good night.” I closed the door before he could answer and checked inside the bag.
“Teriyaki bowls?” I asked, turning to Tate, who was glaring at me from the kitchen.
“If you have a problem with it, then leave. I don’t recall inviting you.”
“Claws, kitten. They’re gonna hurt someone one of these days.”
“Good.”
“So what were you planning to do with the rest of the night?” I asked once I was sitting down in front of the television. She was fiddling with the DVD player, and I was not sure what she planned to watch that wasn’t available streaming.
She grinned evilly at me over her shoulder and then pressed a few buttons on the remote, switching the source, and then the DVD was rolling.
“Oh, just a Barbie movie.” The opening credits forBarbie as the Princess and the Pauperplayed. “Millie and I have been rewatching our childhood favorites.”
I remembered this particular one being Tate’s favorite growing up. I’d come over to her watching it on repeat many times, and she used to sing the songs on the way to school in the mornings.
“Can’t wait,” I said, even though this was not my idea of celebrating. Seeing the surprise on her face and then the joy that flickered in her eyes was enough. I was slowly winning her over,brick by fucking brick.
The ending credits were rolling onto the screen, and Tate was softly singing along to the lyrics when my phone buzzed in my back pocket. I pulled it out. It was a news headline.
Rookie Griffin Silver Just Scored the First Biggest Win of His Career—But the Past Just Caught Up.
Just as I was about to open my phone, another popped up.
From Triumph to Terror—Griffin Silver’s Celebration Ends in a Nightmare.
And another.Dread filled my stomach.
Griffin Silver Won the Game—But Lost His Peace When the Suspects Made Bail.
