Page 25 of Midnight Whispers
Griffin sat at Zinnie’s kitchen table with a radio in pieces. The radio was older than Riley. According to Zinnie, it had stopped working that morning. Griffin had spent the afternoon fixing it, but so far hadn’t been able to figure out the problem.
Riley used Zinnie’s kitchen to make blueberry lemon muffins. She had bigger tins and muffin paper liners. She also shared her recipe with Riley and told him to go to town. Since baking was his happy place, it was the best way to spend his day.
Zinnie had five guests, plus she told Riley to make enough for the neighbors, which meant Riley could take a muffin to Cass later. But they’d be ready for breakfast tomorrow morning.
Riley had a batch in the oven already.
“Smells good in here.” Griffin smiled as he fiddled with the world’s smallest wire. He had a special tool ready. Griffin calledit a soldering gun. Riley had never seen one before, but it reminded him of a glue gun.
Griffin used the soldering gun on the tiny wire. Then he blew on a small bit of what appeared to be liquid metal, but Riley didn’t know what the stuff really was. Griffin put the radio back together again, and it came to life.
Giffin fiddled with the dial until he came to a song he liked. Noah Kahan and Post Malone sang Dial Drunk. Griffin seemed to know all the words, so he sang aloud.
Riley would have teased him if he had sucked. Lucky for him, he didn’t.
Riley whipped the batter for his next batch of muffins, dancing to the beat at the same time. Riley didn’t take long to pick up the chorus, so he sang along, too. He sucked at singing. He knew it. But he didn’t care.
Until Cass and his dad came into the kitchen. Well, Riley didn’t care about Dad hearing him. It was Cass who made Riley blush.
When their gazes met, Cass’s expression held longing.
“I didn’t know you could cook,” Dad said as he came in for a hug.
Riley met Griffin’s gaze over his father’s shoulder. He mouthed the words, “What’s happening right now?”
Griffin shrugged and shook his head.
His dad wasn’t a tactile person. He’d hugged Riley upon first seeing him and told him it was good to see his face, but that was it—beyond a pat on the back or a touch on his shoulder.
When Riley tried to pull away, Dad held on and whispered, “Not yet.”
“There’s going to be flour transfer from my apron.” Riley smiled.
“I don’t care.”
It didn’t take long for Riley to relax. He even shut his eyes and rested his head on Dad’s shoulder.
“I love you, son.”
Riley kept his eyes closed when tears threatened. “I love you too, Dad.”
“What the hell happened?” Griffin asked. Riley wasn’t sure who Griffin asked, but he didn’t know what had gotten into his dad, so he didn’t answer.
Riley opened his eyes and lifted his head off his dad’s shoulder, meeting Cass’s gaze. Cass winked at him and smiled.
Dad finally ended the hug. “Nothing happened. I was told Riley needed a lot of hugs. Especially from me.”
“What about me? I need hugs.” Griffin smirked and opened his arms wide, beckoning Dad closer with his fingers. “Come on, Dad. Let it happen.”
Dad chuckled, but he let Riley go to hug Griffin. It wasn’t as long as the one Dad gave Riley, but it still seemed heartfelt. Dad was smiling when it ended.
And then, of course, Griffin turned his attention onto Riley.
Riley rolled his eyes but stepped into the hug.
“Cass set Dad straight,” Griffin spoke so quietly that Riley barely heard it. There was no way Dad or Cass heard it. But when they stepped away from each other, and Riley met Cass’s gaze, Cass nodded.
Riley cleared his throat and grabbed two paper sacks he’d packed for Cass and Dad. “I intended to bring it to you later, but since you’re here.”
