Page 88 of Holding Out

Alia’s gaze flew to her husband’s face.

“I saw them in the parking lot earlier this afternoon.Just talking,” he clarified, because Becca’s expression must have broadcast her horror.Nate’s eyes scraped over her face, concerned, and Becca felt the last of her reserves crumble.

“They weren’t just talking when I saw them.”It hurt to say the words out loud, and the tears she’d been trying to hold back flowed and streamed down her face, soundless.“They were coming downstairs from his room.”

Alia shot an alarmed look at Nate.

“Maybe it wasn’t—” she began, but Nate’s voice cut across hers.

“Thatasshole.I’m going tokillhim.”

“No,” Becca said.“Don’t do that.I was the one who didn’t listen.You guys warned me.”

Her tears slowed down, and she felt suddenly calmer.Almost numb, in fact.

Nate was right, she thought.

Alia was right.

They saw the writing on the wall.

And I was stupid.

But the good news was, she hadn’t done anything permanent.She hadn’t turned down the Seattle job or asked Jake for a job.She hadn’t even told Griff she’d stay.She’d gotten lucky this time.She’d seen the truth before she gave herself over so far that there was no going back.

New Becca could still keep this from turning into a disaster.

The doorbell rang, and they all turned toward the front of the house.

A big, familiar voice rang out.“I’m here, people!The party can start!”

And Griff appeared in the doorway, a little dusty, a little scruffy, and so painfully beautiful that Becca’s stupid, stupid heart crumbled into a pile of ash.

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They fell silent when he stepped into the kitchen, Jake right behind him.In that way that people do when they’ve been talking about you and then you show up.

Becca’s eyes met his.It struck him, seeing her, how very, very young she was.Young and vulnerable and confused.The opposite of Marina, with her makeup like war paint.

And thatdefinitelywasn’t happiness shining from under Becca’s skin.

He couldn’t keep from shooting Jake a look, like,What, dude?You promised me it would be okay when I saw her.And it didn’t help that the look Jake returned was one of alarm.

Alia turned away from him and began stirring something on the stove.Whatever it was, it smelled amazing.Moroccan, maybe—cinnamon and nutmeg and a bunch of darker spices.And he thought that was rice steaming in the cooker on the counter.

“Do you need me to make the salad?”Nate asked Alia, pointedly not looking at Griff.

“Salad fixings in the fridge,” Alia said, and Nate flung open the door and buried himself in the salad drawer.

Without asking, Jake grabbed the placemats and began setting the table.

Griff took a step toward Becca, wanting to—he didn’t know.Dosomething.Touch her, kiss her, ask her a question,answerthe question on her uncertain face.

“Why don’t you two take a walk before dinner?”Alia said, suddenly.

A cold fear gripped Griff in the pit of his stomach.He looked at Becca, but she didn’t look back at him.

“Becca?”he asked.

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