Page 23 of Mocha Kisses

Once again, silence falls between us. It’s comfortable and neither one of us finds the need to talk, enjoying each other’s company. My mind is racing a mile a minute, though, running through every possible scenario of how this could go wrong but Griffin isn’t fazed. “I can hear you thinking.”

“I’m always thinking. You know that.”

“I do. Always had a plan for everything, even before a plan was needed. How about I give you something else to think about?”

“I’m sore.”

Griffin barks out a laugh, the sound vibrating through my chest. He places a kiss between my breasts before speaking. “Luna, Rome take you for a little trip?”

“Don’t… isn’t it weird?”

“You and Rome? No. He bakes. Everybody loves a baker and he’s… Rome. Besides, he’s basically a brother. If you weren’t mine, I would absolutely recommend him. The fact that you found him on your own just makes this more interesting.” He presses another kiss to my chest, a little higher this time, teetering on the edge of my collarbone.

“That’s weird.”

“Luna, we used to share people all the time.”

I’m glad the lights are off as I sink my hands into his hair, holding him tight against me. Griffin isn’t wrong. We shared. We watched. We attended parties in Red Brook that allowed us to explore and partake in part of a nightlife that wasn’t available in Spring Haven. However, there was always one rule—that we were both in the room. What Griffin is insinuating can’t happen. I just met Rome and Griffin and I… well, our relationship is only a fraction of what it used to be.

“Let me give you something else to dwell on,” Griffin offers again, untangling himself from me and reaching over the side of the bed. He retrieves his phone, scrolling several times before thrusting it into my face. The light illuminates the small area around us and the lax smile on his lips makes me happy.

My attention turns to the phone. In large bold-type,Risky Tasteis written. I scroll a few times, frowning at the lack of feeling in these paragraphs. The main character, Noah, is a gorgeously tortured Military doctor and from just what I can pick up, has gone through the wringer a few times. Unfortunately, I just can’t connect with the passage. “What is this?”

“My book,” he mutters, scooting closer. He places his elbow on the pillow and props up his head.

I try reading through it again but I can’t. This isn’t the work of our most popular writer—not because I’ve read him—but because I know that Max would never publish something like this. “Seriously? Griffin this is…”

“An attempt.” Something in his words reveals a wariness that defines what I’m reading as if he couldn’t find the spark he needed to give the characters their own stages. The personalities fall flat and the next character introduced makes me sigh.

Reaching over, I run a hand up and down his arm, trying to bring back the smile I love so much. “Are you sure you’retheGriffin Solace? Where did you hide him?”

The playfulness dies on my lips when he speaks. “I… wasn’t in the right headspace. Three days from now is the sixth anniversary of the day you left.”

Oh. Shit.Of course.“I really hurt you,” I whisper, laying the phone down. I don’t want him to see the anguish in my expression, nor the regret I have for leaving—nor the fact that I may have to leave again.

“No, Luna.Youdidn’t hurt me. Circumstances made it so that we couldn’t be together and I’ll hate your father until the day I die for dumping this shit onto you.”

“How could you still love me after six years?”

“Because you’ve never once done something without a reason. And because your letter said that you would always love me. Because when you saw me you didn’t actually run. Because when you came closer, I saw that you still wore our necklace. Because when you had the chance, you leaned into my touch rather than away. You don’t have to say the words, Luna. I can feel them. I know you don’t want to love me because you think it might bring danger here but I told you once and I’ll tell you again. You will always have a home with me, Luna.Always.”

“Thank you,” I mutter, pulling him farther up to my chest. “For believing in me.”

“Do you think you can fix this dumpster fire?”

“In two weeks? God, you need a fucking miracle, Griffin.”

“Well, I’m glad she showed up on the doorstep this morning.”

Griffin

Luna’slaughisgorgeousas it rings through our mostly empty living room. Settled onto the scratchy cushions, Luna tucked into my side wearing my clothes, I can’t help but wonder what would have been different if we hadn’t lost all those years. I hate that thought path because it means I wouldn’t have met Nova. I’m torn between my feelings for the both of them, which will have to be a conversation sooner rather than later because I’m not losing Luna now that she’s resurfaced.

Even if her bag is neatly packed at the edge of the couch, with her shoes just in front of it. She keeps checking to make sure that they’re still there but with every glance, I feel her snuggle tighter into my embrace. My nose grazes her cheek, the smell of lemon body wash wafting off of her skin. Little does she know that she used Nova’s shower gel but I won’t be the one telling her.

“This is really horrendous, Griffin,” she murmurs, scrolling through the document on my laptop.

I chuckle as I drop my head to the curve of her neck. Fuck, I know that. I’ve known that since I started the book three months ago but it was a lingering idea that needed to be put on paper. The PR manager got a hold of it and slapped a due date on it. She’s been up my ass ever since I signed with Shepard’s Press and I swear she has it out for me. Or she just likes creating stories and drama because she couldn’t make it in Hollywood. Who knows?

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