“I don’t even know how to share things, Griffin. I was in a long-term relationship that… Well, Marshall didn’t care much about me in any respect. Most of the time, I was doing my own thing. Even when I was doing stuff for us, I was planning everything, and he just went along with it. It didn’t occur to me that you’d like to know what’s going on in my life, let alone the details.”
“I so fucking would. Play by play. Everything.” I tilted her head up. “You’re not alone in this. I might not know much—or anything—about relationships, but I want to do things together. Our lives are merged now, babe. We’re together, yes?”
She closed her eyes and smiled. “Say that again.”
“Together. We’re together,” I repeated. “Are you ready for that?”
“Yes. That sounds amazing. I really was going to tell you tonight that I was moving, though.”
I started to laugh. “You didn’t think the boxes would tip me off?”
“I didn’t even think about that. Do you want something to drink?” She groaned. “Crap, I already packed the glasses. I’msorry, I really didn’t think this through. Should have left out more things. Want us to go to your place for the night? I’ll just grab something to change into tomorrow.”
“When exactly are you moving to Veronica’s?”
“Next week.” Turning around, she headed to her bright pink suitcase, opening the top.
I gritted my teeth. “We really have to work on your communication skills.”
She looked at me over her shoulder, blushing, then closed the bag again, straightening up. “Know what? We can actually just take this huge-ass bag with us. I have most of my seasonal clothes in here.”
I narrowed my eyes and said, “Take everything you need until then.”
“Why?”
“To stay at my place.” I realized I wanted her there. “There’s no point in you staying here until next week. It’s even more depressing than before with everything in boxes.”
She smiled. “True. But are you sure? I don’t want to get in your hair.”
“I’m fucking sure. Why do you keep questioning me every time I say something?”
She shrugged. “I’m not used to this, Griffin. It’s new territory.”
I stepped closer, gently putting my hands on the sides of her neck. “For me, too, but I need you to take what I say at face value.”
Her smile was impish now. She put a finger on my chest and pushed me away. “When we were concocting stories for Jude, I remember thinking you were a great actor.”
“I’ve needed you from the very beginning, Phoebe. And I haven’t stopped needing you since.” This was another confession that came out of nowhere. I wasn’t prepared to even think these things, let alone say them.
“I need you too,” she whispered.
“And that scares you,” I concluded.
She gasped. “How can you tell?”
“Because your entire body tightened up.”
“I am afraid. I’m trying not to be, but I can’t help it.”
“Phoebe, you’ve been through a lot. That’s understandable. And as I said before”—I lowered one arm to her waist, pressing her closer to me—“I don’t want to rush you. We’ll take things as they come. Now, go change into something dry and let’s go home.”
CHAPTER 27
GRIFFIN
On the wayto the house, we spoke a bit more about her living arrangements with Veronica. This whole thing still wasn’t sitting well with me. I didn’t like that she felt she couldn’t share everything with me and that she might be a burden. I was going to have to work on that.
On the other hand, who was sending mixed messages? Me. I knew it, but I’d never in my life thought I’d ever want to be with one person. That one person could be all I needed.
