We hit a flatter part of the trail, just wide enough to walk side by side without jostling. He brushes against me again, shoulder to arm, and then, suddenly, his fingers slide into mine.
Just like that. He laces our fingers like he’s done it before. Like it’s no big deal.
And I forget how to breathe.
I glance down at our hands, then up at him. He’s looking straight ahead, lips twitching like he’s holding back a smile.
“You’re holding my hand,” I say, because my brain is clearly running on half-power.
“Good observation,” he says without missing a beat. “Next, I might kiss you again. Watch out.”
I should say something cocky back, but my mouth goes dry. My chest’s doing that annoying fluttery thing again, and I hate how good it feels.
We walk like that for a while. Just hand in hand through the trees like we’re not two dumbasses figuring this out in real time.
“This is weird,” I say finally.
Griffin tilts his head toward me. “Weird good or weird bad?”
“Weird like... I don’t know. I don’t usually do this. With guys. Or girls. With anyone.”
He’s quiet for a second before he squeezes my hand once. “Yeah. Me neither.”
And somehow that makes it better. Knowing that this is new to him too. Or at least that I’m special and not another notch in his belt. I mean I know that he was with Sabrina for a few years but before that he was pretty well known on campus for getting around. With girls, obviously.
We keep walking.
And it’s really fucking cute.
“Hey,” I say, keeping my eyes forward. “Can I ask you something?”
Griffin doesn’t hesitate. “Yeah. Shoot.”
I swallow, thumb brushing against the back of his hand. “Have you ever… been with a guy before? Like, before me?”
He’s quiet for so long I think that I may have asked a really delicate question.
I glance over at him, and he’s still looking forward, jaw tight but not in a bad way. Just like he’s thinking.
Then he shakes his head once. “No. Just you.”
Something about how calm he says it punches the air out of my lungs. I nod, not trusting my voice for a second.
He looks over at me. “You?”
I huff out a breath, eyes narrowing at the trail ahead. “I’ve… I don’t know. Made out with guys. At parties. Nothing serious.”
He arches a brow. “Like Danny?”
I nearly trip over a rock. “Oh my fucking god, can we not? I didn’t think anyone even noticed us.”
Griffin chuckles, smug as hell. “You weren’t exactly being subtle.”
“I was drunk,” I grumble.
“Not too drunk to grind against me while I kissed you against the house,” he says, giving me a look that is all satisfied male.
“Whatever. Point is, yeah, I’ve kissed guys. But this?” I motion between us, feeling awkward as hell. “This is… not the usual.”
