Page 85 of Stargazer

Griff was at the stove, cooking something up that smelt annoyingly delicious. Almost as delicious as his muscled arms and back that were on display in his black tank top.

Mum and Celeste both gave me an uneasy look as they took in my demeanour. “Morning, darling.” My mother’s voice was tentative and cautious, yet still warm and loving.

The attractive male, whose presence seemed to eat up the air in our small kitchen, turned his head towards mine and gave me a wink. “Morning.”

Seeing him being so domestic seemed to trigger me further. Is this what it would be like? If I chose him. Would this be what Griffin as a boyfriend would look like? Like those days we spent in his apartment at the compound together.

“You don’t need to keep making breakfast. You know you’ve already won this lot over.” The words that came out of my mouth were blunt and gruff as I gestured towards my mum and sister.

“Yeah, I’m just going to make myself scarce,” Celeste remarked as she slipped off the breakfast stool, passing Griff to refill her mug of coffee.

Griffin chuckled. “You know I enjoy cooking. Besides, it seems like someone’s a tad hangry. You could probably use the breakfast.”

My sister’s face crumpled in concern for the Knight. She patted him on the arm and muttered “Goodluck” before she disappeared down the hall and back up the stairs.

“I don’t need you to feed me. I’m perfectly capable of handling that on my own.”

He plated up the food and handed one to my mother.

A vibration came from the counter, a call lighting up her phone.

“Thank you for the food, Griffin,” she acknowledged before turning to me. “Venus, be nice,” she scolded, and then excused herself to answer the call in her study.

Then there were two.

“I know exactly what you’re capable of, Supernova.” His eyes bore into me. “You’re more than capable of doing a lot of things. I just happen to like feeding you.” He leaned his back against the counter, arms crossed as he took me in. His lips tilted in a smile edged with anticipation, like he was excited to verbally spar with me as he said, “God knows why.”

I continued to glare at him but couldn’t find the words to reply. I didn’t know what to say.

He looked concerned at my lack of response.

“What’s going on?” His brows knitted together.

“Nothing.”

“Do you want to let it out? We can go out the back and hit the boxing bags. Hell, I’ll even let you hit me.”

I suppressed a smile, forcing the corners of my mouth down. “Hitting you sounds great.”

The thought of the control that came from sparring, sounded like exactly what I needed right now. Getting in a few punches against him was just a bonus that I was sure could only improve my mood.

He laughed and the sound flitted through me, easing my frustration ever so slightly—another thing I hated.

Then he grabbed two pieces of bacon and cleared the space between us. Holding them out to me, he offered me one with a raised brow. I reluctantly took it.

Biting a chunk out of his own, he nodded towards the door to the garden. “After you, Supernova.”

Within minutes I was throwing all my pent-up energy and frustration into the boxing bag under the porch, Griff holding it in place from behind so it didn’t swing uncontrollably at the force of my hits.

It felt good. To let out the rage that boiled inside me.

I was angry at the stupid, fucking rogues for putting us in this situation.

But more than that, I was angry at myself.

For not figuring anything out. For not making a decision. For not knowing who to choose and not wanting to make that decision in the first place because I was too scared to hurt someone I cared deeply about.

It had been a couple of months now. And yet, I wouldn’t let myself consider my options for long enough to actually make a choice. Because of that fear of hurting one of them.

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