Page 81 of A Perfect Match
And there it is.The shut-down I was worried about from day one.Kru looks at me, conflict in his gaze.My shoulders sag, my stomach a thorny mess.
“You should go,” I say to him quietly.
“I’ll call you later,” he promises, slipping his shirt back on.He leaves the house without fanfare, and I hurry to slide my sweater back on.My legs are jelly, every inch of my body on high alert as I cautiously follow Griffin into the kitchen.
Silence settles between us like a lead blanket.
“So your event ended early?”I say, because I have no idea where to even begin with this.
Griffin spins on his heels, eyes blazing.“Don’t even act like everything is normal after that.”
“I don’t know what to say!”
“I feel like I don’t even know who you are anymore,” Griffin spits.“You’ve been sitting here, lying to my face, for god knows how long.I don’t know what’s even real anymore, Piper.This is the guy who kicked you out of your apartment, remember?The one who’s been battling you in the competition?Breaking through your storage room wall, harassing your customers, impacting your sales?”
“They were all temporary inconveniences due to construction—”
"Oh my god."Griffin drags a hand down his face.“Listen to yourself!He’s brainwashed you!”
"He has not brainwashed me!"I snap, my own anger rising to match his."I like him, Griffin.A lot.I’ve gotten to know him over the past few weeks and he’s a good guy.I promise you.I just never told you because I knew you wouldn’t accept it.”
“He’s using you, Piper.Can't you see that?First he gets you to do that reality show, then he gets you into bed.What's next?Taking over your business too?"
"It's not like that," I insist.
Griffin paces the length of the kitchen, shaking his head."I can't believe this.After everything that's happened with Mom, with the shop, you decide now is the time to hook up with the enemy?"
"It’s my choice.Mine.”
“And it’s a stupid one,” Griffin shouts."What happens when he gets bored and moves on, huh?He's not just some random guy you can avoid after it falls apart.He's your landlord.Your neighbor.The guy who has all the power in this situation."
A seed of doubt begins to root.Hadn't I worried about the same thing myself?
"It's not going to fall apart," I say, with more conviction than I feel.
Griffin snorts."Right.Because you know so much about long-term relationships."
The barb stings more than it should.It's true that I haven't had many serious relationships—always too busy with the shop, with family, with everything else—but hearing Griffin throw it in my face makes me want to curl into myself.
He’s reminding me yet again that my entire family sees me as the young, dumb one who can’t be trusted with her own decisions.
"That's not fair," I say quietly.
Griffin leans against the countertop, his mouth a thin, angry line."I expected better from you, Piper.You’re smarter than this.”
The disappointment in his voice cuts deeper than his anger.
“I’m sorry you found out this way,” I tell him.“And I’m sorry I didn’t clue you in earlier.But I’m not sorry abouthim.”
Griffin looks over at me, his eyes hard."Does Mom know?Or our brothers?”
I shake my head.“Only Bella.”
“Well, I’m done keeping your secrets,” Griffin bites out.“And I’m done talking to you.You’re the only one who can’t see what’s really going on: power hungry guy buys up the property, has his way with the tenant, gets what he wants, leaves her broken.And probably broke at the end of it.”
His words hit me like a brick.What if he's right?What happens when Kru moves on?
"You don't know him," I say weakly.
