“Listen,” she continues before I can respond. “I love you more than anything and I just never want to see you hurt the way Theo-fuckface hurt you. It was the most painful thing to witness, knowing I couldn’t do anything to fix it for you. So just be careful with your heart.”
“I will. I love you, Kodi.”
“Love you too. Have fun at dinner, but not too much fun.” She giggles before hitting end on the call.
I mull over her words as I stare down at the open text conversation with Griffin that he didn’t respond to.
I know deep down I need to protect my heart.
But I can’t deny this.
I can’t deny him anymore.
I decide to add to the previous message.
Me
But I’ll admit, it was kind of hot.
Griffin
Blair…
Dinner tonight should be very interesting.
I look at the clock on the microwave and realize Griffin should be here any minute.
I make my way to the bathroom to give myself a once-over.
I settled on a flowy skirt with a tucked-in sweater. It’s been so long since I’ve done this. The whole “meet the parents” thing. I’m not even sure what to make of this whole thing, which puts me that much more on edge.
Hearing the sound of truck tires in the gravel driveway, I inhale slowly and release before making my way outside to meet him. I step onto the porch at the same time he closes the truck door.
He lifts his head to find me already standing there and stops dead in his tracks. An intense look bores into me as he trails his gaze up and down my body before he swallows. He catches himself and averts his stare to the ground, then continues walking until he’s on my porch.
Nervous energy flows through me.
He lifts his eyes to meet mine again. Heat dances along my skin, but at the same time, shivers rack my body, and I fight the urge to not visibly shake where I stand.
“You look beautiful,” he says. “You didn’t need to get dressed up for my parents.”
I smile. “This is actually one of my more casual outfits. But do you think I’m overdressed?”
He practically chokes on air. “Yes,” he says before swallowing. “I mean, no.”
The grin on my face only grows as I place both hands on my hips. “Are you flustered, Griffin Barlow?”
“Are you always this forward?”
I shrug. “New town, new me.”
But is it still considered a “new town” if I’ve been here a few months now? I don’t know, but I’m rolling with it.
Griffin doesn’t move. He opens his mouth to say something but closes it quickly as if to stop himself.
“Ready?” he settles on.
I nod before he guides me to his truck.
