Page 85 of Unforgivable

“What? It's just the truth. But Rhysie boy here must have a golden ass or something because Hawk just forgave it all. Pfft! Like it was nothing,” Griffin spouted, his caramel eyes glazed over from the liquor that was fueling his words.

Rhys tried to dislodge himself from the circle of my arms, but I wasn't having it. “Don't fucking talk about him like that. Griff, seriously. What is your problem?”

He just laughed and shot us a dopey grin, taking another long pull from his cocktail. “S'not a problem! I'm just saying that his ass must be something hella special for you to get over everything, even other tail. I mean, we're not fucking anymore, so you must have all you need right here. Good for you on locking that down, Rhyser.”

Dread snaked down my spine at his comment. I had to stifle the panic that threatened to choke me as Rhys detached from me with a jerky movement. He wouldn't meet my eyes as he looked around like he was searching for an escape.

“Rhys, wait. It's not what it sounds like,” I rushed to explain, but his arms folded over his chest as though to block himself from me.

“Not fucking cool, Griff. The hell, man?” Kenji scolded our trashed friend, shoving him in the shoulder.

“It's not my fault Hawk hadn't told him,” he said indignantly.

“I'm a little overheated. I'm gonna go cool off downstairs,” Rhys muttered and made a break for it before I could stop him. I started after him, but a strong hand clamped down on my bicep, holding me in place.

“Hawk, wait,” Griffin pleaded with me. I whirled around on him, fire in my gaze as I shoved down the urge to plow my fist into his cheek.

“The fuck was that? Why would you say that shit to him? We've never fucked. It was a few blowjobs and it didn't even mean anything,” I snapped.

Hurt streaked his face. “The hell it didn't. I always felt something when we were together and you can't tell me you didn't either.”

Shock rooted me to the spot. It had never occurred to me that Griffin felt anything for me other than friendship. We'd fucked around with other people for two years, sometimes in front of each other, and he never gave any clue that he might have been jealous or wanted morefrom me. I always thought I was just a convenient option for him when he was horny and hard up.

“Griff, what the hell are you talking about?”

“You're the only guy I've ever done shit with, Hawk. You're the only one I've wanted…that stuff with and I thought you'd…I guess…fuck.” Griff struggled to finish, and my stomach sank. I never realized I'd been the only man Griffin had ever hooked up with, and I felt like shit that I hadn't noticed how it affected him before.

“G, I'm…really sorry, man. I didn't know. But it doesn't change anything. I'm with Rhys and I only want him,” I told him. The wounded look in his eyes had guilt flooding me.

“Why him?” he rasped out. “Why not me?”

How the fuck did I explain it in a way that got my point across and preserved our friendship? Griffin might have been a lot sometimes, but he was my friend and I didn't have many of those.

“Because there can't be anyone else for me when I was only meant for him. Every bit of me fits with every part of him. He's just…it for me.”

His auburn brows crumpled together, processing what I had said. I was jumping out of my skin to rush off after Rhys, praying that he'd let me explain, but needing to make sure Griffin understood.

“I get it,” he said finally, the breath leaving him in one big rush. “I'm—I hope I didn't screw things up for you. I really do care about you, Hawk. This thing with you and him just took me by surprise and…I don’t know how to handle it.”

I gave him a small nod, gripping his shoulder firmly. “I care about you too, man. I'm sorry if I hurt you. It wasn't my intention,” I apologized.

“It's all good. Guess you better go talk to him,” he replied, lips rolling inward in a contrite, awkward look. I gave him a quick smile before darting off, eager to find my man and fix whatever mess Griff had made.

After almost ten minutes of searching the second and lower levels, I was out of my mind. My calls went unanswered and I was frantic in my need to find him. Each minute that passed seemed like another chip off our relationship, decaying and breaking off without me there to repair it. As I pushed past the crowd occupying the lower deck, I spotted that familiar head of hair and slender frame leaning against the railing. Iapproached him gingerly, not knowing quite what I was walking into and preparing myself for the worst.

“Hey Sweetness,” I mumbled cautiously. Rhys turned his head toward me and the sweet smile I saw there had my lungs inflating with relief. I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, grateful that he didn't seem angry or on the verge of a meltdown.

“Hey you,” he said shyly, and I couldn't hold back from touching him anymore. I wrapped around him, clutching him to me as I buried my face in his neck. His incredible coconut summer scent invaded my senses and everything in me relaxed.

“Sweetheart, I am so sorry about that,” I said roughly. “I swear to you, nothing has happened between us since we started talking. It's not like it sounded.”

Rhys pushed on my chest, creating just enough space to look me in the eyes. “It's okay, Cal. I'm not upset. I mean, it wasn't super awesome to hear it spit out like that, but I know you had a life before I came along.”

“Then why did you run off? I thought you wanted to get away from me to plot my imminent demise or make good on that arsenic cocktail,” I awkwardly chuckled, still feeling nervous despite his assurance.

“I needed a minute to get some space and process. Honestly, I suspected something had happened between you two before, I just didn't know what exactly,” he replied sheepishly.

“Why did you suspect anything? You only met Griff today and I've barely talked about him to you.”

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