Page 5 of Changing Grades

Griffin nods to the bartender who gives him a beer and brings me a fresh drink which is just a virgin Shirly Temple. I’m really living it up on my night away from Callie. But can you blame me? I don’t want to be here and the last thing I need to add to the mix is alcohol.

“Sienna,” he says my name like pure seduction, and it has my entire body perking up as he takes hold of my elbow and leads me over to some tables in the corner of the room, “it might be the most cliché question, but what have you been up to for the last fifteen years?”

I take a big drink to try and give my mouth a little moisture back because his voice is too sexy for me to handle. Then there’s the uncertainty about answering his question. It’s a simple one, I know it, logically, but will he look at me differently once I spill all my secrets? I could try and keep the whole truth from him, but I’ve never been ashamed of Callie or who I am and I’m not going to start now.

I heave a big sigh and Griffin tilts his head to the side, his dark eyes boring into me as if he’s trying to see the deepest parts of me. The thing is—I want to show him who I am.

“I went off to college, but it didn’t go how I thought it would go,” I admit quietly.

“Don’t tell me that a good girl like you got sucked into partying and stopped studying. You were always one of the smartest people here while also being popular and nice.”

I duck my head slightly, a little embarrassed at his assessment of me, but he doesn’t let me get away with it. His fingers are cool from where he was holding the chilled glass of his beer when he grasps my chin and tips my head back up. There’s a softness in his eyes, one that thrills me and makes me want to be wrapped up in it.

“It wasn’t like that. I was still committed to my studies.” He lets go of my chin and I look away, thinking about that time in my life. “I had big dreams, ya know?”

“The dreams of kids are usually innocent, but life has a way of making them much harder to achieve,” his voice is gentle and lulling.

I nod slowly and swallow hard. “Things didn’t go my way, that’s for sure.” He stiffens and I figure it’s better to just jump in with both feet. “I was dating this guy and I got pregnant. He didn’t want anything to do with me after I told him. I ended up dropping out and coming home.” I feel a smile lift my lips. “Callie is almost 12 now and just started sixth grade.”

Griffin sucks in a sharp breath which has me quickly looking at him. There are so many emotions flitting across his face and I’m not sure where to start sifting through them. He’s pissed, but I know it’s not at me. He’s curious and it makes my heart beat faster. He’s still attracted to me, and my body responds to the lust in his gaze.

“You have a daughter?” Even though there is no judgement in Griffin’s voice, I still eye him warily. I’m not at all prepared for the slow smile to overtake his face. Strange. He doesn’t seem to mind that I’m a single mom. Is this a reunion or a parallel universe? “I bet you’re a great mom.”

“I try to be,” my voice is small, “but I’m not sure if I succeed most of the time. She’s a great kid and has kept me grounded. It’s hard to wallow in what might have been when you have a child depending on you.”

His voice is quiet, and I have to strain to hear it, “Do you regret it?”

“No,” the word comes out fiercely, like a shot. “I could never regret having Callie or giving up what I thought my life was going to be like. Being her mom is a blessing and she’s made my life so much richer. I have all these happy memories of her,” I chuckle, “and some not as happy, but they made me grow into a better person.”

He reaches over and wraps his large hand around the back of my neck, giving it a squeeze, seriousness lining his face as if his next words will hold only truth in them. “You’re a strong woman, Sienna.” He gives me a boyish grin that has my pussy clenching. “Gorgeous too.” I roll my eyes and huff out a laugh, but the intensity in his eyes won’t let me push away the compliment completely.

The warmth from his palm and the way his calloused thumb brushes back and forth over my skin has me almost panting. I don’t recall ever wanting a man as much as I want this one in front of me. It doesn’t make a lot of sense, but he hasn’t run away from me yet, even when I led with the whole single mom thing. Hope might be a thing with feathers, but what if this time it can soar on the air currents and lift?

His eyes go a little unfocused before he chuckles and looks at me. “I wasn’t going to come tonight. I figured I didn’t have anything to prove to people who made assumptions about me and what I would amount to, and I don’t. Something was telling me to come, though, and I couldn’t shake it.” He gives the nape of my neck a squeeze, reminding me he’s still touching me when it felt so comfortable that I had forgotten all about it. “I think I was supposed to come so I could see you again.”

I bite my lip, trying not to feel the impact of his words as deeply as they want to hit. I can’t remember the last time someone was as focused on me as Griffin is right now. I can’t remember the last time it felt like someone was seeing me and really seeing me, not just the single mom, not just the person who didn’t realize their full potential.

“I just figured I’d get a night out with adults,” I joke. “I wasn’t looking forward to being here and being judged. You haven’t done that.”

“I never will, Starshine.”

I blink at his nickname for me. “Starshine?”

“You always shone bright like the stars on a cloudless night in the mountains. Anyone could see it. Life might not have gone the way you thought it would, but you’re still shining.”

“Griffin,” I breathe out and he smirks like he knows I’m a heartbeat away from launching myself at him. Which would be bad form at our reunion. Probably. I clear my throat. “You asked me what I’ve been up to, and I answered, now it’s only fair for you to do the same.”

He chuckles, the sound rich and smooth like melted chocolate and I fight the urge to crawl into his lap to explore the decadence of him. As he starts talking and telling me about his life, his job, and his family, I can feel the pride pouring from him. It makes me ache with the desire to be part of what makes this man proud. I want to help give purpose to his life, which he has already molded in a way that deserves to be praised.

I hang on to every word, listening intently, when he talks about restoring a house for his mom and himself. I’m kind of in awe of him and I don’t recall ever being in awe of a man. Not like this. He’s so much more than the handsome package in front of me.

He’s caring, thoughtful, and driven. It’s sexy as hell and I don’t want this night to end anytime soon. I don’t notice anything else going on around us other than hearing the music, which were hits 15 years ago, playing through the speakers.

Part of me wonders what would have happened if we had gotten close in high school, but I don’t let the thought go very far. I had to take the path I did because if I didn’t then I wouldn’t have Callie and I was being honest when I told Griffin I could never regret my daughter.

“I bet your house is beautiful,” I can’t keep the note of hope out of my voice as I say the words. When I hear them out loud, they make me feel awkward, like I’m inviting myself into his home and his life. I shake my head and flash him a smile. “It sounds like you put a lot of work into it while still preserving the history of it.”

“I did. I didn’t want a cookie cutter home and it had good bones to work with.” He nods toward my now empty drink on the table. “Do you want to go and grab another drink?”

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