Page 96 of Griffin

I take a deep breath to steady myself, reminding myself that I’m old enough to make my own decisions, and I cringe when I realize what my dad will think of me now, knowing his best friend and I havethatkind of relationship.

Fuck it.

I push open the door to find my dad sprawled on the sofa, empty beer bottles on the floor beside him. His mouth hangs open as he snores, totally unaware of my presence.

Dad doesn’t drink like this, not ever. He must be struggling, I think guiltily.

Tidy up.

I go into daughter mode, gathering the empty beer bottles and clearing them into the recycling box outside the back door. Next, I wash the dirty dishes, cringing at the state of the kitchen.

“Ivy.”

My dad’s croaky voice makes me jump, and I whirl around from wiping the counters down to see watery gray-blue eyes watching me.

He looks older than he is as he runs a hand down his cheeks, exhaling heavily.

“Are you okay?” I ask, drying my hands on a towel.

“Yeah, I’m sorry about the house.” Dad stares at the floor rather than at me, and I feel a surge of sympathy and love for him.

“It’s okay, I get it. You’re pissed.”

Dad scoffs, shaking his head.

“No, I’m not. I just reacted, that’s all. I knew something was going on with you two. I didn’t think it would belovehe felt for you.”

I snort. “You punched your best friend twice with his five-year-old daughter outside.”

Dad grimaces. “Yeah. Not my finest moment.”

It’s probably the closest I’m going to get to an apology.

“Is Melody okay?”

“Of course, but Griffin still looks like a punchbag,” I say, shaking my head at him. “He’s your best friend, Dad.”

Dad looks at me, his red-rimmed eyes boring into me.

“Yeah, hence my reaction.”

I bite my lip, twisting my fingers around each other as I cross the room, perching on the sofa arm.

“I, uh, I love him.”

Dad’s head snaps up, his eyes bulging out of their sockets.

“What?”

I nod firmly.

“I’ve probably loved him for a while, but it took a while for me to realize. He has been nothing but respectful of me, Dad.”

Dad smiles wryly.

“You won’t get a better man, Ivy. That’s not my issue.”

My heart thuds in my chest as I wait for his next words. He thinks Griffin is right for me?

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