Page 97 of Finding Home
“Yeah. The few times I’ve seen him, I could tell he has this charm about him. All laughs. All fun. Serious when he needs to be, you know?”
He stares at me for a heartbeat before looking down at his now-empty bowl of soup and picking it up to take to the sink. I watch his every move as he rinses the bowl, placing it in the sink and resting both hands on the edge of the counter as if deep in thought.
Picking up my bowl, I meet him at the sink. He steps to the side, allowing me to put mine in the sink as well. Turning to face him, I place a hand on his forearm.
“I’ll finish the dishes later,” I say. “Seriously, thank you for all of this. I already feel so much better from you being here.”
He nods but remains silent.
He heads toward the front door as if he’s going to leave without saying anything more. After opening up to him and showing my vulnerable side, there’s no way he’s going to just walk out of here.
“Hey,” I call after him. He stops, turning to face me. “Are you just going to leave without a goodbye?” My hands find my hips in annoyance.
For a brief moment, I think he’s going to say goodbye and turn around and leave, but he doesn’t. He eyes me up and down, taking a few steps toward me. Close enough that I have to angle my head to meet his stare.
“There’s a lot more I want to say than that single word.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “Okay?”
He cups the side of my cheek with his calloused but gentle hand and brushes his thumb over the apple of my cheek. His stare is so intense, my body shivers and I want to throw myself into him.
“But if I say all the things I want to say, I’ll never leave.” He pauses, eyes scanning my face. “And if I say it, it changes everything.”
“Let it change everything,” I whisper, letting my eyes flutter closed from his touch. “I can handle it.”
“Get some sleep, Blair.”
He leans down and presses a soft kiss on my forehead. I’ve never wanted to feel those lips on mine more than I do right now. Soft and warm, awakening a feeling inside of me so foreign.
He pulls back, his gaze never leaving my face.
Then I witness the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.
Griffin Barlow’s smile.
CHAPTER 28
YOU’VE BEEN DRIVING ME CRAZY SINCE I GOT HERE, ANGRY COWBOY.
Griffin
Me
Feeling any better?
Blair
I was able to get all that sleep you told me to get.
Me
Funny.
Blair
I thought so.
Me
