Griff looks at Willow and me in turn, and we just shrug and smile.
Beck gives Griff a healthy back slap. “Isn’t that cool? We’re gonna be uncles.”
Griff’s mouth hangs open for a beat, then he goes to sit cross-legged next to Lane. “That’s… that’s awesome, Lanie. How long have you known?”
Ah. There’s that hint of jealousy, and I get it. I totally do. But he chose to leave. He didn’t have to. Yet, as in the past where I’dfeel a mix of anger and frustration, today all I feel is empathy for my brother.
Something Beck said a while back plays in my head, about the reason why Griff may have left. Something about it being my fault, more or less. I’ll need to address that just between the two of us, before Griff leaves.
Loud screeches sound outside. Calla jumps and barks, a rare occurrence for her. Her hair is standing on her back, her teeth are bared.
“Easy, sweetie. It’s only Gail,” Willow coos, petting Calla.
I rub my face. “Let me check what’s going on,” I say.
I step out into the chilly morning, pulling the door shut behind me. Gail is kicking a red Mercedes coupe, her luggage at her feet. Did she lose her key?
“Everything okay?” I ask.
She turns a lethal gaze at me. “Does itlookokay to you?”
I close the distance between us. “Need a hand loading the car?” At this point I’m not asking why she’s leaving.
She points the fob at the car and clicks it repeatedly, but nothing happens. “Who did this?” She’s seething, gaze pointed at the car.
“Your fob battery is dead. There should be a manual key lodged inside it.”
“I’m talking aboutthat,” she spits, chin pointing to the car itself.
I take a closer look, my mouth gaping. Through the tinted windows, it’s not hard to tell the seats are mounted… facing the back. Like an automotive version of The Exorcist. “Uh…”Could Beck have done this? Nah. Kids in town? Hard to pull off.“You locked your car last night?” We don’t usually lock anything around here.
“Really? That’s your question?”
“Yeah, that’s my question, lady.” I pull my phone out. “Colt? Any chance you could tow a car from down here and do some… inside rearranging at your place?” He starts telling me about his whole schedule. “It’s an emergency,” I interrupt him. Turning away from Gail, I mutter, “a mental emergency.”
Ten minutes later, Colton pulls up, backing his flatbed to Gail’s car. He nods at the both of us, then hooks Gail’s car and wrenches it up. Gail is shivering, so I haul her suitcase inside the cabin while she takes the passenger seat. After the car is secured, Colton peaks inside it. With a small smile, he slaps me on the back. “Wicked shit.” In a lower tone, he adds, “you’ll have to tell me how you pulled it off.”
I start protesting, but he cuts me off. “Yeah, right.” He laughs and glances in Gail’s direction. “See you later.”
“You alright?” Willow asks me when we’re back in our bedroom, getting ready for the day. The meeting isn’t until tonight, and we’ll both be heading to the store as usual. “Worried about the meeting?”
“It’s Griff. I wish I could get across to him. Know what he’s thinking.”
“He showed up when the family needed him. That’s huge, right?” She places her hand on my chest, in the way that made me lose my composure in the beginning and now makes me feel invincible.
I skim her lips with mine. Running a hand down her back, I bunch up the fabric of her dress and reach between her legs.
“Baaabe,” she whines.
“Mmm?” I wrap her tighter as our kiss deepens, our mouths seeming to meld to each other. “Remember how I feel about begging now.” With Gail definitely out of here, we have a minute or sixty before the day starts.
“Please,” she whispers in my neck, raking her nails against my back.
“Yo! You guys in there?” Griff’s voice sounds outside our door.
“Great timing,” I mutter for Willow’s benefit.
“I love you too,” Willow whispers in my ear, her hand still on my chest as if she’s cradling my heart.
