Saving the Beast, page 18
The drive to class is uneventful, aside from Blair doing karaoke to some Taylor Swift songs. After we park, we find Lumi waiting underneath the gazebo decorated with green vines and flowers. I’ve never really noticed how much detail there is in this school, interior and exterior, until now. Is this the same place where we met Lumi before classes? It must be because that building right there is where we have English. I just don’t remember this area being so beautiful.
“You got me a coffee?” Blair squeals with happiness and reaches for Lumi’s outstretched hand. “You are a mind reader and a lifesaver. Seriously. I completely forgot.”
“Well, it’s not me you need to—”
“Should we head inside?” I cut him off and make a cut-it-out gesture, lifting my hand to my neck and shaking it side to side.
Blair looks over at me with big eyes; her face flushes, and I bite down on my lip to stop smiling at how goddamn cute she is when she does that.
“Yeah,” Lumi says, holding his elbow out for Blair, who takes it while still maintaining my gaze.
Slowly, she pulls her stare away from mine and strides forward with Lumi. I follow them inside, and we find our seats. A few minutes later, Malik joins us, sitting to my right.
“Hey, sweet cheeks. What’s up?” Malik bumps my shoulders, and he settles into his seat.
“Not much. You?” I ask him, chuckling.
Sometimes, he lives in his own world, I swear.
“Nothing to report,” he sighs heavily, and I feel like there’s more to that than he’s letting on.
Blair, checking her phone, grabs my attention, but right as I turn to look, she slams it down on the desk and huffs.
“What’s wrong?” I lean over and whisper into her ear.
She shakes her head. “Nothing. It’s fine.”
Reaching over, I place my hand on top of her thigh. “It’s not. It’s okay if you don’t want to tell me right now. But eventually, I would love to know what is pissing you off so much.”
She nods but stays quiet.
“Good morning, class,” Dr. Schrute addresses us, but I don’t look away from Blair.
Her eyes well up with tears, and my jaw and fists clench. I want to hurt whatever or whoever is doing that to her. I’ll kill them. I don’t care who it is.
I squeeze her hand, and her shoulders relax slightly.
The silence in the room is ruined when everyone’s laptops ding with notifications, including Blair’s, which is open on her desk.
She rips her hand from mine and opens the email frantically.
Our classmates start looking around, stopping when they lay eyes on Blair, and I’m starting to feel really fucking uneasy.
Blair clicks on the email, and it’s from the school’s distribution account. Usually, we receive inclement weather notifications, class cancellations, event information, et cetera, from that email address.
But as the screen loads, I find none of the above.
Instead, it’s a video taken of Blair onstage at The Fallen Petal, and the words the hockey team’s favorite slut are written in the middle of the clip. Blair is dancing onstage, and the guys and I are sitting in the front row.
“Oh my God …” Blair whimpers, slams her laptop shut, and shoves it into her bag before jumping to her feet.
Laughter echoes through the room, and my anger reaches a whole new level.
“Blair, wait,” I shout and take off after her, flying down the stairs.
I will ruin whoever did this. I won’t just beat them to a pulp. I will destroy their goddamn fucking lives.
I stop at the bottom of the stairs and focus on the class for one second.
I meet their eyes, some smiling, some laughing, some horrified, but the second I open my mouth, their faces fall. “If you share it, if you talk about it, look at it, for fuck’s sake, think about it, it will be the last thing that you do. I swear to God.”
They nod, practically in unison, as fear finds its way into every one of their faces. Without another second lost on them, I chase after Blair.
“I want to be alone, Griffin!” Blair yells at me as I burst into the hallway, where even more onlookers stare at her, glancing back and forth from their phones.
“Mind your fucking business before I do it for you!” I snap at them, and everyone’s heads whip the other way.
She slams to a halt and turns around, and the second I see her bloodshot, reddened eyes soaked with tears, I crumble to pieces. I want to fix this. I want to make it all go away for her. I want to take the pain and feel it for her. But I can’t, and I don’t know how to fix this. And the panic building in my chest is making me feel fucking helpless.
“Stop following me,” she orders me with a cold tone as tears continue to pour down her cheeks. “Seriously, Griffin. I want to be alone!”
Rubbing my hand down my face, I look away, and my eyes land on the door to a private study room.
Grabbing Blair’s hand, I pull her with me, and she willingly follows. Throwing the door open, I find it empty, and I couldn’t be happier. Pulling her inside, I shut the door behind us. There are no windows, nothing to let anyone see inside of here. Just us.
“Let me out of here, Griffin.” She crosses her arms and glares at me.
“No,” I tell her, my heart twisting from the pain etched in her face.
“Then, you leave!” she spits out, crossing her arms.
She can push me away all she wants right now, but I don’t care. I’m not leaving her. I, for one, know what it’s like to lash out when you’re angry.
Rushing over to her, I wrap my arms around her and pull her into my chest, blocking the world from reaching her. “I’m not leaving you, baby. You can try to push me away, but I’m not going anywhere. You want to cry? Cry. You want to hit something? Hit me. You want to scream? Let it out. But I will be here for all of it.”
She’s rigid, frozen solid, still as can be.
Tucking my head down onto hers, I pull her tighter against me, if that’s even possible.
“I’m here, Blair. I’m right here. I won’t let anything happen to you. Never again. I will find out who did it, and I will make them pay,” I promise her, meaning every word.
I turn slightly and kiss the side of her head, and something deep inside of her explodes.
Sobs heave from her, filling the room around us, and she cries unbearably into my chest. Her body softens, and she melts into me second by second until I’m the only one holding her up. She is falling apart in my hands, and I will carry her pieces until she’s ready to put herself back together.
“I hate him,” she cries out, and I rub her back.
Him?
No fucking way. Is it her ex? That Grant kid?
“It’s okay. It will be okay,” I assure her, cradling her head against my chest.
“Everyone saw it, Griffin. Everyone,” she whimpers.
Carefully, I pull her down to the ground with me. “Come here,” I tell her.
She wraps her legs around my hips, and her arms tuck into her chest as I encase my arms around her and pull her as close to me as she can physically get.
“I know, but I will fix it. I will find a way, okay?” My voice cracks, and my throat tightens.
If I have to bribe every person on this campus to delete it and pretend they never saw it, I will. If I have to threaten every person for them to listen, then so be it. Regardless, they’ll do it because if they don’t, I’ll break them into pieces.
She pulls away and looks up at me with a mix of fear and admiration. I brush away the wetness on her cheeks and push the hair out of her face.
“I’m so sorry he did that.” I cup her face with my hands and finish wiping her tears away.
She nods slowly. “I’m sorry I ever dated him.”
“Yeah, you have terrible taste in guys,” I tell her, and she smiles up at me, making my heart jump.
She takes a long inhale before sighing. She’s still uncontrollably gasping as her diaphragm spasms from crying, but at least she’s breathing and trying to calm herself down.
I drop my hands to her sides, and we sit in silence as our breathing matches up, and I feel her start to unwind in my lap.
“Would it make you feel better if I let you host that dinner with Lumi that you wanted at my house?” I offer the one thing that I think will lift her mood.
Even if I absolutely hate the idea of having guests over, I’ll make an exception if it makes her feel better.
Her lips tip up. “It wouldn’t hurt anything. But why? You hated that idea.”
Biting down my smile, I lean forward and kiss her forehead. “I know. But I’ll do it for you.”
“Really?” she asks, looking at me with hope.
I have no choice now. “Yes, the house is yours. I know Mrs. Potts will be excited to entertain.”
She sits up even taller. “Don’t worry; everyone will behave.”
I roll my eyes. “That’s impossible. You never behave.”
She scoffs and jabs a finger into my chest. “Hey! I do too!”
Licking my lips, I smile. “I know you do, my perfect little prisoner.”
She glares playfully at me.
“Let’s get out of here for the day, huh?” I ask her, holding her stare.
Her eyes widen for a split second as I watch the sadness creep back in for a moment before she nods. “One day of skipping classes will be okay, I suppose.”
“You’re such a rebel,” I tease her.
She pulls her arms out from between us and throws them around me.
Stunned, I freeze as she cradles her head into my neck and whispers, “Thank you.”
Kissing her cheek, I say, “Don’t thank me for that. There isn’t a single other place in the world I would rather be than right here with you.”
She presses her lips against the tender skin on my neck, and my heart jolts in response.
She giggles against me before pulling away, and she slowly gets to her feet with the brightest red color on her face, a redness that is not from crying.
Huffing, she lowers her shoulders with her chin raised before opening the door. “After you.” She gestures.
I follow her instruction, stepping through the threshold and finding Lumi typing frantically on his phone in the hallway. He looks up, seeing us, and instantly relaxes.
As Blair walks out and steps beside me, she does something that surprises me. She slides her hand around mine, interlocking our fingers together. I don’t know if she needs it for extra support right now or if she simply wants to hold my hand. Either way, I don’t care as long as she doesn’t let go.
Istill can’t believe Griffin is letting me do this. When we first discussed it, I thought he would have preferred to have his teeth pulled rather than let us host dinner at his house. I can’t imagine why he hates having people over because his house is a work of art and deserves to be seen.
We get to work once Griffin gives us the green light for the party. Mrs. Potts is over the moon about it. She told me that the Hawthornes used to host the utmost elaborate soirees with the most exclusive guest list. Maybe Griffin doesn’t like them because of how many he had to attend as a kid.
Our guest list might not consist of senators, royalty, and celebrities, but it is still rather exclusive—only a handful of people got invited. Said guests will be arriving within the hour, and I still need to finish my hair and get dressed. We decided to go all out with the dress code. Even if it’s just our close friends, getting dressed up will be fun, and I have the perfect gown. I got it right after I started working at The Fallen Petal as a little retail therapy. I spent way too much on it, but at least now, I have an excuse to wear it.
After loosely curling my hair, I run my fingers through it, opting to leave it all down, cascading down my shoulders. I get dressed and then head downstairs to meet Lumi, who just texted me to let me know he’s here. My heels click on the marble floor as I descend the stairs and make my way to the front door, feeling a bit like a queen wandering through her palace.
As I open the door, I find Lumi with his jaw on the floor.
“You look incredible, Blair.” He laughs in amazement. “Griffin is going to lose his mind.”
Pursing my lips, I smile. “Thank you. You guys look pretty amazing yourselves.”
Lumi invited Paul, whom he met at the baseball party. Apparently, they have been hitting it off, and I’m excited to finally meet him.
“Hi, I’m Blair,” I introduce myself to Paul, who smiles nervously.
He opens his arms for a hug, and I happily accept.
“I’m Paul. It’s great to meet you. I’ve heard so much from Lumi.”
Pulling away, I chuckle. “Oh, I’m sure you have.”
He laughs with me. “Good things. I promise.”
“Well, come inside and make yourself at home. Feel free to grab a drink in the kitchen. The other guys should be here soon,” I inform them while searching outside for any sign of Griffin, but no luck.
We find seats at the dining table, and I spend the next half hour telling Paul funny stories about Lumi while Lumi tries his best not to die of embarrassment. I only tell mildly humiliating ones, like the time he fell into one of the fountains at school because he was on his phone and not paying attention.
My phone vibrates on the table, and I check it to find a text from Griffin.
Griffin: Hey, I’m sorry we’re running a few minutes late. But we are on our way.
“The guys are on their way. Practice must have run late,” I fill Lumi and Paul in as I respond to Griffin.
No problem. Drive safe.
“I’m going to use the bathroom. I’ll be right back.” I excuse myself from the table.
I go to the bathroom and double-check that my makeup still looks good before doing one final look-over. My red satin gown glides over my body like water flowing over every curve. Thin straps hold up the plunging neckline.
Suddenly, I’m very aware of how much of myself is on display, and even though he’s seen me practically naked, I’m more nervous now than I was the night I danced. A shiver runs down my spine because I know Griffin will be here soon, and I wonder if I should change. This dress is probably too much. I should grab one of my usual school outfits—a cute sweater and a skirt.
Actually, maybe I’ll just throw on my HEAU hoodie and leggings. Wiping the little smudge of red lipstick off of my teeth, I leave the bathroom on a mission. I’ll say I had a wardrobe malfunction and had to change.
My chest is tightening more and more by the second. I think what I really need is a some fresh air and a deep breath.
Walking past the dining room, I head toward the front door and step outside into the cool evening air, immediately feeling more refreshed. Tilting my head up, I stare up at the darkening sky and inhale deeply.
I hold my breath for a second, then slowly exhale as the hair on the back of my neck stands up. A vicious wave of tingles drifts down my back, making me suddenly uneasy. The type of discomfort you feel when you’re being watched. But looking around, I don’t see anyone. I’m probably just imagining it.
Descending a few stairs to the first landing, I lean against the golden railing and search the grounds I can see, but I find nothing out of place. Turning my head, I have the same result.
Until I spot Griffin’s truck, which is parked far from his usual spot and tucked as far away from the house as possible. I didn’t hear them come inside or see them in the dining room when I walked by.
Looking closer, I can tell the vehicle’s empty, so they must already be in the house. But why would they go out of their way not to use the front door? Regardless, that means he’s here.
Maybe I should head back inside.
I spin around, my dress flowing in the breeze, along with my hair. As I place my hand on the railing and take a step up, the front door opens, and I freeze, my mouth drying and pulse racing.
Griffin steps through the door in a white button-up and dress pants that takes my breath away. His brown hair is perfectly styled in that hot, messy, but somehow still kempt way. His white button-up is undone at the top and tucked into his slim-fitted navy slacks, secured with a belt. I genuinely didn’t think he could get more alluring, but I was so very wrong.
As I scan over every inch of him, I can’t help but notice him doing the same to me, and I feel myself warm from his burning stare.
“If I knew hosting a dinner meant I got to see you in that dress, I would have agreed to do this long ago,” Griffin utters, his voice low and rugged.
Looking up at him, I take another step, trying to find the right thing to say.
“Speechless, my little prisoner? I’ve never seen you at a loss for words.” He smirks and holds his hand out to help me up the last few stairs.
Gulping, I smile and slide my hand into his. “Thank you.”
He helps guide me up the last few steps, and when I finally hit the main landing, he lifts my arm into the air and twirls me around.
My chest flutters, and I giggle as I come face-to-face with him. “Thank you again for letting us do this.”
His fingers graze my waist, and I inhale sharply. “I doubt there is anything you couldn’t convince me of, Blair.”
“Who knew the little hockey player could clean up so well?” I compliment him in the only way I think I know how—teasing him.
He bites down on his bottom lip, smiling, and opens the front door. He guides me past him with his hand, but not before leaning down to my ear and whispering, “There is nothing little about this hockey player.”
I am so out of my league when it comes to flirting with Griffin. I think I’m doing good, and then he sweeps me off of my feet with something like that, knocking me off-kilter.
As I walk inside, I spin, glancing down at our hands, and my face falls. “Oh my God. What happened to your hand?”
I didn’t notice his knuckles when he stretched his hand out to me on the stairs, but they are red, split, and bruising in a deep array of colors.
Griffin is quiet this time, and when I look back up at him, I find him studying me cautiously, unsure of what to say.
“What happened?” I ask him again, lifting his hand closer to my face for further inspection. “Oh God, Griffin. That has to hurt.”
“You got me a coffee?” Blair squeals with happiness and reaches for Lumi’s outstretched hand. “You are a mind reader and a lifesaver. Seriously. I completely forgot.”
“Well, it’s not me you need to—”
“Should we head inside?” I cut him off and make a cut-it-out gesture, lifting my hand to my neck and shaking it side to side.
Blair looks over at me with big eyes; her face flushes, and I bite down on my lip to stop smiling at how goddamn cute she is when she does that.
“Yeah,” Lumi says, holding his elbow out for Blair, who takes it while still maintaining my gaze.
Slowly, she pulls her stare away from mine and strides forward with Lumi. I follow them inside, and we find our seats. A few minutes later, Malik joins us, sitting to my right.
“Hey, sweet cheeks. What’s up?” Malik bumps my shoulders, and he settles into his seat.
“Not much. You?” I ask him, chuckling.
Sometimes, he lives in his own world, I swear.
“Nothing to report,” he sighs heavily, and I feel like there’s more to that than he’s letting on.
Blair, checking her phone, grabs my attention, but right as I turn to look, she slams it down on the desk and huffs.
“What’s wrong?” I lean over and whisper into her ear.
She shakes her head. “Nothing. It’s fine.”
Reaching over, I place my hand on top of her thigh. “It’s not. It’s okay if you don’t want to tell me right now. But eventually, I would love to know what is pissing you off so much.”
She nods but stays quiet.
“Good morning, class,” Dr. Schrute addresses us, but I don’t look away from Blair.
Her eyes well up with tears, and my jaw and fists clench. I want to hurt whatever or whoever is doing that to her. I’ll kill them. I don’t care who it is.
I squeeze her hand, and her shoulders relax slightly.
The silence in the room is ruined when everyone’s laptops ding with notifications, including Blair’s, which is open on her desk.
She rips her hand from mine and opens the email frantically.
Our classmates start looking around, stopping when they lay eyes on Blair, and I’m starting to feel really fucking uneasy.
Blair clicks on the email, and it’s from the school’s distribution account. Usually, we receive inclement weather notifications, class cancellations, event information, et cetera, from that email address.
But as the screen loads, I find none of the above.
Instead, it’s a video taken of Blair onstage at The Fallen Petal, and the words the hockey team’s favorite slut are written in the middle of the clip. Blair is dancing onstage, and the guys and I are sitting in the front row.
“Oh my God …” Blair whimpers, slams her laptop shut, and shoves it into her bag before jumping to her feet.
Laughter echoes through the room, and my anger reaches a whole new level.
“Blair, wait,” I shout and take off after her, flying down the stairs.
I will ruin whoever did this. I won’t just beat them to a pulp. I will destroy their goddamn fucking lives.
I stop at the bottom of the stairs and focus on the class for one second.
I meet their eyes, some smiling, some laughing, some horrified, but the second I open my mouth, their faces fall. “If you share it, if you talk about it, look at it, for fuck’s sake, think about it, it will be the last thing that you do. I swear to God.”
They nod, practically in unison, as fear finds its way into every one of their faces. Without another second lost on them, I chase after Blair.
“I want to be alone, Griffin!” Blair yells at me as I burst into the hallway, where even more onlookers stare at her, glancing back and forth from their phones.
“Mind your fucking business before I do it for you!” I snap at them, and everyone’s heads whip the other way.
She slams to a halt and turns around, and the second I see her bloodshot, reddened eyes soaked with tears, I crumble to pieces. I want to fix this. I want to make it all go away for her. I want to take the pain and feel it for her. But I can’t, and I don’t know how to fix this. And the panic building in my chest is making me feel fucking helpless.
“Stop following me,” she orders me with a cold tone as tears continue to pour down her cheeks. “Seriously, Griffin. I want to be alone!”
Rubbing my hand down my face, I look away, and my eyes land on the door to a private study room.
Grabbing Blair’s hand, I pull her with me, and she willingly follows. Throwing the door open, I find it empty, and I couldn’t be happier. Pulling her inside, I shut the door behind us. There are no windows, nothing to let anyone see inside of here. Just us.
“Let me out of here, Griffin.” She crosses her arms and glares at me.
“No,” I tell her, my heart twisting from the pain etched in her face.
“Then, you leave!” she spits out, crossing her arms.
She can push me away all she wants right now, but I don’t care. I’m not leaving her. I, for one, know what it’s like to lash out when you’re angry.
Rushing over to her, I wrap my arms around her and pull her into my chest, blocking the world from reaching her. “I’m not leaving you, baby. You can try to push me away, but I’m not going anywhere. You want to cry? Cry. You want to hit something? Hit me. You want to scream? Let it out. But I will be here for all of it.”
She’s rigid, frozen solid, still as can be.
Tucking my head down onto hers, I pull her tighter against me, if that’s even possible.
“I’m here, Blair. I’m right here. I won’t let anything happen to you. Never again. I will find out who did it, and I will make them pay,” I promise her, meaning every word.
I turn slightly and kiss the side of her head, and something deep inside of her explodes.
Sobs heave from her, filling the room around us, and she cries unbearably into my chest. Her body softens, and she melts into me second by second until I’m the only one holding her up. She is falling apart in my hands, and I will carry her pieces until she’s ready to put herself back together.
“I hate him,” she cries out, and I rub her back.
Him?
No fucking way. Is it her ex? That Grant kid?
“It’s okay. It will be okay,” I assure her, cradling her head against my chest.
“Everyone saw it, Griffin. Everyone,” she whimpers.
Carefully, I pull her down to the ground with me. “Come here,” I tell her.
She wraps her legs around my hips, and her arms tuck into her chest as I encase my arms around her and pull her as close to me as she can physically get.
“I know, but I will fix it. I will find a way, okay?” My voice cracks, and my throat tightens.
If I have to bribe every person on this campus to delete it and pretend they never saw it, I will. If I have to threaten every person for them to listen, then so be it. Regardless, they’ll do it because if they don’t, I’ll break them into pieces.
She pulls away and looks up at me with a mix of fear and admiration. I brush away the wetness on her cheeks and push the hair out of her face.
“I’m so sorry he did that.” I cup her face with my hands and finish wiping her tears away.
She nods slowly. “I’m sorry I ever dated him.”
“Yeah, you have terrible taste in guys,” I tell her, and she smiles up at me, making my heart jump.
She takes a long inhale before sighing. She’s still uncontrollably gasping as her diaphragm spasms from crying, but at least she’s breathing and trying to calm herself down.
I drop my hands to her sides, and we sit in silence as our breathing matches up, and I feel her start to unwind in my lap.
“Would it make you feel better if I let you host that dinner with Lumi that you wanted at my house?” I offer the one thing that I think will lift her mood.
Even if I absolutely hate the idea of having guests over, I’ll make an exception if it makes her feel better.
Her lips tip up. “It wouldn’t hurt anything. But why? You hated that idea.”
Biting down my smile, I lean forward and kiss her forehead. “I know. But I’ll do it for you.”
“Really?” she asks, looking at me with hope.
I have no choice now. “Yes, the house is yours. I know Mrs. Potts will be excited to entertain.”
She sits up even taller. “Don’t worry; everyone will behave.”
I roll my eyes. “That’s impossible. You never behave.”
She scoffs and jabs a finger into my chest. “Hey! I do too!”
Licking my lips, I smile. “I know you do, my perfect little prisoner.”
She glares playfully at me.
“Let’s get out of here for the day, huh?” I ask her, holding her stare.
Her eyes widen for a split second as I watch the sadness creep back in for a moment before she nods. “One day of skipping classes will be okay, I suppose.”
“You’re such a rebel,” I tease her.
She pulls her arms out from between us and throws them around me.
Stunned, I freeze as she cradles her head into my neck and whispers, “Thank you.”
Kissing her cheek, I say, “Don’t thank me for that. There isn’t a single other place in the world I would rather be than right here with you.”
She presses her lips against the tender skin on my neck, and my heart jolts in response.
She giggles against me before pulling away, and she slowly gets to her feet with the brightest red color on her face, a redness that is not from crying.
Huffing, she lowers her shoulders with her chin raised before opening the door. “After you.” She gestures.
I follow her instruction, stepping through the threshold and finding Lumi typing frantically on his phone in the hallway. He looks up, seeing us, and instantly relaxes.
As Blair walks out and steps beside me, she does something that surprises me. She slides her hand around mine, interlocking our fingers together. I don’t know if she needs it for extra support right now or if she simply wants to hold my hand. Either way, I don’t care as long as she doesn’t let go.
Istill can’t believe Griffin is letting me do this. When we first discussed it, I thought he would have preferred to have his teeth pulled rather than let us host dinner at his house. I can’t imagine why he hates having people over because his house is a work of art and deserves to be seen.
We get to work once Griffin gives us the green light for the party. Mrs. Potts is over the moon about it. She told me that the Hawthornes used to host the utmost elaborate soirees with the most exclusive guest list. Maybe Griffin doesn’t like them because of how many he had to attend as a kid.
Our guest list might not consist of senators, royalty, and celebrities, but it is still rather exclusive—only a handful of people got invited. Said guests will be arriving within the hour, and I still need to finish my hair and get dressed. We decided to go all out with the dress code. Even if it’s just our close friends, getting dressed up will be fun, and I have the perfect gown. I got it right after I started working at The Fallen Petal as a little retail therapy. I spent way too much on it, but at least now, I have an excuse to wear it.
After loosely curling my hair, I run my fingers through it, opting to leave it all down, cascading down my shoulders. I get dressed and then head downstairs to meet Lumi, who just texted me to let me know he’s here. My heels click on the marble floor as I descend the stairs and make my way to the front door, feeling a bit like a queen wandering through her palace.
As I open the door, I find Lumi with his jaw on the floor.
“You look incredible, Blair.” He laughs in amazement. “Griffin is going to lose his mind.”
Pursing my lips, I smile. “Thank you. You guys look pretty amazing yourselves.”
Lumi invited Paul, whom he met at the baseball party. Apparently, they have been hitting it off, and I’m excited to finally meet him.
“Hi, I’m Blair,” I introduce myself to Paul, who smiles nervously.
He opens his arms for a hug, and I happily accept.
“I’m Paul. It’s great to meet you. I’ve heard so much from Lumi.”
Pulling away, I chuckle. “Oh, I’m sure you have.”
He laughs with me. “Good things. I promise.”
“Well, come inside and make yourself at home. Feel free to grab a drink in the kitchen. The other guys should be here soon,” I inform them while searching outside for any sign of Griffin, but no luck.
We find seats at the dining table, and I spend the next half hour telling Paul funny stories about Lumi while Lumi tries his best not to die of embarrassment. I only tell mildly humiliating ones, like the time he fell into one of the fountains at school because he was on his phone and not paying attention.
My phone vibrates on the table, and I check it to find a text from Griffin.
Griffin: Hey, I’m sorry we’re running a few minutes late. But we are on our way.
“The guys are on their way. Practice must have run late,” I fill Lumi and Paul in as I respond to Griffin.
No problem. Drive safe.
“I’m going to use the bathroom. I’ll be right back.” I excuse myself from the table.
I go to the bathroom and double-check that my makeup still looks good before doing one final look-over. My red satin gown glides over my body like water flowing over every curve. Thin straps hold up the plunging neckline.
Suddenly, I’m very aware of how much of myself is on display, and even though he’s seen me practically naked, I’m more nervous now than I was the night I danced. A shiver runs down my spine because I know Griffin will be here soon, and I wonder if I should change. This dress is probably too much. I should grab one of my usual school outfits—a cute sweater and a skirt.
Actually, maybe I’ll just throw on my HEAU hoodie and leggings. Wiping the little smudge of red lipstick off of my teeth, I leave the bathroom on a mission. I’ll say I had a wardrobe malfunction and had to change.
My chest is tightening more and more by the second. I think what I really need is a some fresh air and a deep breath.
Walking past the dining room, I head toward the front door and step outside into the cool evening air, immediately feeling more refreshed. Tilting my head up, I stare up at the darkening sky and inhale deeply.
I hold my breath for a second, then slowly exhale as the hair on the back of my neck stands up. A vicious wave of tingles drifts down my back, making me suddenly uneasy. The type of discomfort you feel when you’re being watched. But looking around, I don’t see anyone. I’m probably just imagining it.
Descending a few stairs to the first landing, I lean against the golden railing and search the grounds I can see, but I find nothing out of place. Turning my head, I have the same result.
Until I spot Griffin’s truck, which is parked far from his usual spot and tucked as far away from the house as possible. I didn’t hear them come inside or see them in the dining room when I walked by.
Looking closer, I can tell the vehicle’s empty, so they must already be in the house. But why would they go out of their way not to use the front door? Regardless, that means he’s here.
Maybe I should head back inside.
I spin around, my dress flowing in the breeze, along with my hair. As I place my hand on the railing and take a step up, the front door opens, and I freeze, my mouth drying and pulse racing.
Griffin steps through the door in a white button-up and dress pants that takes my breath away. His brown hair is perfectly styled in that hot, messy, but somehow still kempt way. His white button-up is undone at the top and tucked into his slim-fitted navy slacks, secured with a belt. I genuinely didn’t think he could get more alluring, but I was so very wrong.
As I scan over every inch of him, I can’t help but notice him doing the same to me, and I feel myself warm from his burning stare.
“If I knew hosting a dinner meant I got to see you in that dress, I would have agreed to do this long ago,” Griffin utters, his voice low and rugged.
Looking up at him, I take another step, trying to find the right thing to say.
“Speechless, my little prisoner? I’ve never seen you at a loss for words.” He smirks and holds his hand out to help me up the last few stairs.
Gulping, I smile and slide my hand into his. “Thank you.”
He helps guide me up the last few steps, and when I finally hit the main landing, he lifts my arm into the air and twirls me around.
My chest flutters, and I giggle as I come face-to-face with him. “Thank you again for letting us do this.”
His fingers graze my waist, and I inhale sharply. “I doubt there is anything you couldn’t convince me of, Blair.”
“Who knew the little hockey player could clean up so well?” I compliment him in the only way I think I know how—teasing him.
He bites down on his bottom lip, smiling, and opens the front door. He guides me past him with his hand, but not before leaning down to my ear and whispering, “There is nothing little about this hockey player.”
I am so out of my league when it comes to flirting with Griffin. I think I’m doing good, and then he sweeps me off of my feet with something like that, knocking me off-kilter.
As I walk inside, I spin, glancing down at our hands, and my face falls. “Oh my God. What happened to your hand?”
I didn’t notice his knuckles when he stretched his hand out to me on the stairs, but they are red, split, and bruising in a deep array of colors.
Griffin is quiet this time, and when I look back up at him, I find him studying me cautiously, unsure of what to say.
“What happened?” I ask him again, lifting his hand closer to my face for further inspection. “Oh God, Griffin. That has to hurt.”
