Page 4 of Changing Grades

I look toward the bar and my lungs deflate with a woosh. The only real person in the place is standing at the bar, looking uncomfortable, but just as gorgeous as she did back in high school.

Sienna Erickson.

Fucking hell. I had a crush on her back in school, but she was out of my league. She was out of everyone’s league really. The light inside of her shined so bright and it was wrapped up in a beautiful, smart, and kind package.

That was the best and worst part.

She had that girl next door thing going on, without any artifice. Without any expectation. Without anything but truth.

I only talked to her a few times in school, but it always gave me a little slice of peace.

She looks a little lost and I notice quite a few guys looking at her with hunger in their eyes, even the ones who are clearly with someone. It has me glaring at them. Part of me can’t blame them because Sienna is the sexiest woman I’ve ever seen.

The dress she’s wearing hugs every single one of her curves. She didn’t get a lot taller than the 5’5” she was in high school, which means I have some inches on her, but I have no doubt she’d fit against me perfectly. Her dark hair is hanging down her back and I wonder how it would feel slipping through my fingers as I run them through her tresses.

Then what would it feel like to grip the strands so I could tip her head back and kiss her until we both forget how much we don’t want to be here?

She has to be here with someone. Right? As I watch her, my gut screams at me that she’s alone. It doesn’t mean she’s single, but I want it to be true.

I notice one of the football players, fuck if I remember what his name is, start to make his way toward Sienna and something roars inside of me. Sienna looks up, sees fuckface coming toward her, and grimaces. It has my feet moving faster.

“Sienna Erickson,” the guy schmoozes.

I roll my eyes as fire races through my veins. My woman looks like she’s at a loss. Why does that feel so right?My woman.

I want her. I didn’t know how to approach her back then, but I do now. Something in me yearns to know everything about her and to have her in my life. It’s a strange sensation, but it feels right.

“Uh, hi,” her voice is unsure as she speaks to jockstrap stuck in the past. When I stop next to Sienna, she looks up at me and her eyes widen as she sucks in a sharp breath. “Griffin? Griffin Welch?”

A slow smile spreads across my face. In part because she remembers me and the rest because the dude who thought he could even breathe my woman’s air is clearly, and thoroughly, dismissed. She doesn’t even glance at him as she looks me over, attraction in her gaze.

“Sienna,” my voice is low and husky, making me wish I wasn’t at our reunion for a whole other reason. “Damn, you look amazing,” I suffuse as I lean against the bar. I nod toward the drink she’s holding. “You want another?”

She smiles up at me. “With you?” I find myself nodding without even meaning to. “I’d love to have a drink with you.” There’s something forward about her words, but the way she’s looking at me and the slight pinking of her cheeks is full of shy innocence. Still. She giggles softly and looks away. “I used to have the biggest crush on you.”

My heart starts to hammer inside my chest. She looks up at me with big, wide eyes as if she didn’t mean to say those words.

“I felt the same way,” I admit, not wanting to hold back and needing her to know.

I swear the woman leans into me. For the first time since I found out about the reunion, I’m fucking ecstatic I decided to come. I want to soak up all the sweetness Sienna exudes and I’m going to. Every single drop.

CHAPTER 3

SIENNA

I can’t believe I admitted I used to have a crush on Griffin. Or that he felt the same way about me. It makes me feel a little drunk, like the possibility has me floating on air. I never want my feet to touch the ground again.

His dark eyes are filled with promises, ones I’m not sure I should indulge in, even though I desperately want to. He’s so fucking handsome now. He was always an attractive guy, but now he’s so much more. It’s almost funny because I thought he was the hottest guy back then and now I realize I had no idea what hot was. The man standing in front of me is beyond my wildest expectations of such a mundane descriptor.

Griffin’s shoulders are broad and it’s clear he’s strong and muscular, but it’s the kind of strong you don’t get in the gym. His hair is longer on top and shaved on the sides and right now it’s tied back and away from his face. I desperately want to pull the tie off and run my fingers through his hair.

Would he let me?

I probably shouldn’t ask. It would be strange.

Just like it would be strange if I were to run my fingers along the short beard on his face just to feel the stubble against my fingers. Yup, totally weirdo behavior.

Let’s hope I can keep my shit together and not make a fool of myself. Well, more of a fool out of myself considering I’ve already admitted I had a crush on him.

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