Page 24 of Griffin

“Adorable, she’s so cute.”

“You’re back late,” Dad says with a frown, reaching out to check the time on his phone.

“Yeah, I made dinner for us all, then Melody wanted me to put her to bed.” I grin with pride as Dad chuckles.

“You made dinner for them?”

I nod. “It was nice. Next time maybe you should come. I made steak.”

Dad watches me, shaking his head.

“You’ll make a great wife one day, you know?”

I snort with laughter, rolling my eyes as I reach the doorway.

“Who am I marrying, a corpse? Because you know what you’re like, they’ll be dead before we make it down the aisle.”

Dad rises from the sofa, following me to the stairs. He hits the lights before answering.

“The man that’s good enough for you won’t fear your old Daddy.”

I sneak a look at him over my shoulder.

“You’re not old.”

“Don’t you forget it. Night, honey.”

We reach the top of the stairs, and he kisses my head before making his way to his room.

“Night, Daddy.”

My room is bathed in silver moonlight, and I strip out of my clothes and slip into my bed gratefully. I set the alarm on my phone before my eyes close, and I sleep heavily, dreaming about a certain pair of brown eyes.

9

GRIFFIN

Ivy is like a breath of fresh air in the morning, sweeping into my house with a beaming smile.

“Morning, Griffin.”

Her hair is pulled into a messy bun at the nape of her neck, and she’s wearing tight jeans and a loose shirt.

Goddamn.

“Morning,” I mumble, hovering by the door. “Uh, Melody is still asleep, but I made some coffee if you want some?”

Ivy begins to unload ingredients onto the kitchen counter; flour, eggs, and milk.

“Okay, thanks. Are you going now?” Ivy glances at me, her sky-blue eyes bright and alert.

I’m not a morning person, and my eyes are still heavy from sleep.

“Yeah, if that’s okay?” I hesitate as Ivy hunts through my cupboards for bowls and a pan, leaning over and exposing her delicious curves as she does. “What are you making?”

Damn, I’ll be late at this rate, but I can’t stop staring at her.

“Pancakes,” Ivy says with a smile. “I think Melody will love mine. Daddy does.”