Page 43 of Supernova

Suddenly a figure jumped over from behind me, landing in the space by my side. I flinched, dropping my book and losing my page. I had all of five minutes to myself before I was interrupted.

Griffin grinned at me before he lay back casually, throwing one arm behind his head and pulling out a book from seemingly nowhere with the other hand. He didn’t say a word as he focused his attention on the bookmarked page.

I stared at him dumbfounded. “Umm, hello?” I greeted him questionably, unwillingly paying attention to the way the sun from the loft windows danced across the planes of his face and brought out a warm glow in his greyish brown eyes.

He turned on his side to face me with a magnificent smile. “Hi,” he responded.

“What are you doing?”

He rolled back to his original position and continued his reading as he replied, “What does it look like I’m doing? I’m reading.”

I stared at him.

“Someone stole my reading spot,” he added.

I raised my brow. “You read?”

“Don’t sound so shocked.”

I never would have pegged him for a reader. He was full of surprises. “What do you read?” I pushed.

He shrugged. “I mostly like spy novels.”

I couldn’t help the snort that escaped me.

He scowled at me. “Don’t judge. What do you read then, Superstar?”

“Umm … mostly paranormal or fantasy romances.”

It was his turn to scoff and he did not miss taking up the opportunity to make fun of me. “You literally live in one.” It was a statement, not a question.

“I know … but it never feels real to me. It always felt like I was just looking on. So the books stuck.”

“Interesting.” He contemplated me for a minute and then went back to reading. “Since you stole my spot, the least you could do is stop distracting me.”

I rolled my eyes. “Oh I’m sorry, I didn’t realise it had your name on it,” I said sarcastically.

He looked me dead in the eye, as serious as ever, as he pulled up his pillow and lifted the side of the mattress. Sure enough, in a tiny, scratchy scrawl etched into the frame was “Griffin” followed by a little lightning bolt. I burst out into laughter, causing the few people around the loft to stare at me. Griff joined in on my chuckling.

“Alright then, Lightning. I cannot believe you actually put your name on the bed,” I said once I composed myself.

“I did it when I was like fourteen. When you live here as long as I have, you find ways to entertain yourself. I was bored and had a pocketknife.” His smile was so light and pure. It lasted a few moments before it faded and he resumed his normal ‘cool guy’ expression.

“So you weren’t joking? You do this often?” I questioned, still trying to wrap my head around the idea of a young Griffin coming and sitting here to read. What a sweetheart. He certainly was multifaceted. And still such a mystery. Why did this have to make him even more attractive to me?

“Yes,” he stated. “Now that we have established that I do in fact own this spot and am allowing you to use it, please continue to read in silence.” A small smirk graced his lips at his command. I matched it and then returned to my book.

About thirty seconds later I turned to him again.

“What?” He demanded, not even bothering to look up.

“Thank you for yesterday.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Mmm-hmm. You know exactly what I’m talking about.”

“Shhh, I’m reading.”

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