Page 53 of Two Wrongs

“Well, that was too much information. I’ll, uh, lock the door behind me,” I say, not sure either of them are listening.

“Miller,” Griffin calls out Donovan’s last name. “If you want her to hear you out, tie her up first.”

“You’re a genius,” Donovan exclaims and runs after Bess.

Griffin hurries me out of the bar, and grabs my waist as I try to head to my car.

“What are you doing?” I wiggle to try and get free, but he dumps me in the passenger side of his truck. He’s got a mischievous grin on his face as he buckles me.

I shake my head. “No.”

It’s a half-hearted protest. I’ve enjoyed all of his kinky ideas so far, but that’s a level of control I’ve never handed over before. I’m intrigued, but nervous.

* * *

“What about my car?”I ask as he peels out of the parking lot.

His thumbs tap against the steering wheel and I can feel the anxious energy building in him. “You won’t need it for the next few days. Donovan said you can leave it there tonight. I’ll send Julio to get it tomorrow.”

“I can drive it back myself,” I argue.

With his head focused on the road, he turns just his eyes on me. He’s able to broadcast exasperation and a bit of annoyance in that one look.

I sink back into the seat. Fighting Griffin is pointless. He’s a force of nature, and no matter what I try to do, in the end he’s going to get his way.

Griffin’s house is close to the bar, which is a blessing since the tension in the truck is thick. He explained what happened back at the shop, but that doesn’t mean the problems are solved. Charlie was right. When people find out about Griffin and me, they’re going to judge us. Even though I’m leaving, I don’t know that I’m ready to hear everyone’s opinions on how I live my life. Worse, I don’t think I want to see what being with me will do to Griffin.

I’m leaving town as soon as I can arrange everything, but his entire life is here. Am I selfish enough to destroy everything he’s built just because he makes this horrible time less awful? He’s not planning to leave Harriston, but if people find out his business and his relationship with his son could be ruined.

This entire situation blows. When he came into the bar earlier I was ready to walk away from him. Then he said a few sweet words, and I softened. The doubt won’t leave though. As much as I’d like to hide out in this for a few weeks, I don’t know if I will survive when it ends.

He parks in his driveway and goes around to lift me out of his truck. I’m so much shorter than him that it’s hard for me to get in and out of it on my own. I savor the feeling of being in his arms. When he holds me I feel like I’m home. It’s something I haven’t felt in so long and forgot how much I craved it. Griffin makes me feel both safe and alive, and I don’t know if I can feel like this for a few weeks and walk away from him when it’s time.

“You’re thinking awfully hard,” he says as he lets me slide down his body.

I try and summon the words we both need me to say, but my throat is too thick.

Griffin shakes his head. “No. I know you’re trying to find the courage to end this, but I won’t let you.”

I can’t say this and look at him, so I let my head drop and stare at my shoes. “This can’t end well. Even if we get away with it, I don’t think I can handle walking away from this if we spend more time together. I’m not as strong as you are.”

His finger slides under my chin, and he tips my face up so he can look me in the eyes. “You’re stronger than me, baby bird. You can walk away now, but I can’t. It’s too late for me. Whether you walk away now, or a couple weeks from now this is going to hurt. But, if we’re going to live with the pain, shouldn’t we get the memories to hold on to?”

I feel the first trickle of tears rolling down my face. I can’t hold them back as the deep well inside of me spills over and every hurt comes pouring out. “I thought Liam was going to be the one to destroy me with his indifference, but I’m afraid loving you might be what wrecks me.”

* * *

Griffin turnsand heads into the house. Part of me wants to kick myself for taking away any of the time I get to spend with him, but I fear a person can only be so damaged before they’re unable to splice themselves back together.

I can’t leave though. Not only do I not have my car, but I remember I don’t have anywhere else to go. Damn Dolores and her fictional termites. I saw the wink she gave Griffin. I don’t know what he said to her to win her over, but I doubt there are many women who can resist the honeyed words he spouts so easily. She probably did have the house fumigated just to make sure I didn’t come back and check.

I also can’t shake the sense that Griffin is right. I know it will hurt when the time comes for this to be over. That’s true now or two weeks from now. What I don’t think I can live with is the regret of giving up the weeks we might have together. I have a sense that whatever life I scrape together for myself after Griffin will be a pale comparison to what I have with him. Isn’t it better to have this feeling for however long it lasts than to never experience it at all?

I go inside and find Griff sitting on the couch with his head in his hands. “I don’t want to break you,” he says when he hears me come in.

I join him on the couch. “And I don’t want to be the reason you lose Liam.”

His head lifts, and he looks at me. “Whatever happens between Liam and I will not be your fault. I don’t want you to think about him anymore.”

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