Page 70 of Rival
His comment after the third time when I asked what all of this meant didn’t sit right with me, but at least he was honest.“Let’s just keep this simple. This doesn’t need a definition. We can have our fun.”
Fun is definitely the right word. Just yesterday, he laid me out on a hay bale and put his mouth—
“If you move one more time, I’m gonna drag you outta here and we’ll have words.” My father’s hissed warning is low, but I catch one of the members of the church glance back in our direction.
Embarrassed that I must have been squirming, I drop my head again and concentrate on staying still until we’re finished.
As I follow my father out of the building, barely having a chance to say goodbye to Ruth, I come up short when he swings around to face me.
“I’m goin’ into town. You’ll have to walk home. Corb’s comin’ over for the evenin’, so make somethin’ early.”
With that, he leaves me standing in the parking lot and a cloud of dust as soon as he peels out. Checking around me, I let my shoulders fall in relief that no one witnessed his dismissal and make my way toward the house.
My walk is uneventful and I spend the afternoon gathering food to prepare and settle on a lasagna for the night. I can’t help wondering if Griffin will be joining Corbin, and I’m not sure if I want him to. But I do miss him.
A muted meow drags me from my thoughts and since my father hasn’t returned yet, I hurry to the back door, only to find Billy sitting there looking sad and anxious. The moment he sees me, his cries grow louder, and I push open the door to scoop him up into my arms.
“Why are you here, buddy?” I murmur, trying to calm him as he wiggles in my arms to get closer. His purrs are so loud I have to remind myself the sound isn’t the engine of my father’s van.
As he knocks his head against my chin, I giggle and press my cheek to him. I need to take him back to Mason’s, but I’m not sure how to do that.
I hear doors slam and anxiously look around, trying to figure out where to put Billy. If I set him outside, I know he’ll just cry at the door and my father will find him. Making a quick decision, I run out with him cradled against me, then around the side of the house.
Peering around the corner, I see my father with both CorbinandGriffin, and my heart shoots up to my throat.So, he did come.
I know Griffin left under awkward terms, but I ignore that and attempt to catch his attention. As they walk toward the front of the house, he finally notices me and raises his brows.
Murmuring something to the other two, he starts back toward his truck, then makes a path directly toward me as soon as they’re inside.
“What are you doin’, darlin’?”
I wince at his use of that nickname for me. His face shutters at my reaction and we both silently stare until I blurt out, “Would you help me? My father isn’t a fan of pets, and this little guy isn’t supposed to be here.”
Griffin eyes the kitten bouncing around in my arms. “What do you need me to do?”
With relief that he’s willing to help, I bite the corner of my lip and ask, “Would you take him over to the Coopers? There’s a barn the kittens are staying in, but Billy must have snuck out.”
“Billy?” He huffs out a laugh, but when I don’t return it, he sobers up. “You just want me to take him over there for you?”
Nodding quickly, I shove the kitten into his arms. Thankfully, Billy takes immediately to Griffin, purring up a storm and trying to lick his chin. “Mr. and Mrs. Cooper should be home. If you just knock and ask if you can run him back to the hay barn, I’msure they’d let you. It’s the one that’s closest to the house. There are two other kittens in there as well, so if you just set him inside, he’ll be fine.”
He doesn’t look thrilled but agrees anyway.
Then, a thought occurs to me. “Were you planning on staying today? Will they think it’s weird if you leave for a few minutes?”
Looking sheepish, he avoids my eyes. “I was just dropping off my brother since nowhistruck is fucked up. Just in time for mine to get fixed after their little road trip.”
I deflate.
“Well, I’m, umm… I’m sorry if you don’t feel comfortable coming by because of—”
“It has nothin’ to do with you, darlin’. I promise. I really do have shit I need to do tonight before the week starts.” He pauses, then asks, “Are you doin’ okay? You know, after everythin’? I feel like things weren’t right between us when I left.”
Standing up straight, I smile at him even though I agree. It didn’t feel good being pushed aside, but like Jaxon said, he has a right to decide who he’s around and wants to spend time with.
“I’m doing okay, Griffin. I hope you don’t feel like you can’t be here because of that. It’s not like I’m hanging around, anyway.”
He scowls at me. “Why is that, by the way? Why don’t you spend time downstairs when everyone is here?”
