Not now.
Not ever.
“We’re going to make the most of every second of adult time she gifts us tonight.”
CHAPTER THIRTY
VIOLET
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
Cleo grinned, bouncing Hazel against her hip. My tiny charge gurgled happily, completely unbothered by being handed off to someone she’d met all of twenty minutes ago. Traitor.
“What?” Cleo looked far too pleased with herself. “We’re just helping out a friend.”
“By encouraging me to go out in public with him? Are you mental? What if someone sees us? What if there are photographers?”
Imani perched on the arm of Griffin’s ridiculously expensive sofa, looking far too amused. “You should see your face right now.”
“I’m sorry, did I miss the part where Griffin Michaels suddenly became best friends with you two?” My gaze darted between them. “How did he even get your numbers?”
“Your phone,” they said in unison.
Of course. The absolute nerve of the man.
“Look,” Imani said, her voice carrying that familiar no-nonsense tone that had talked me down from countless panic attacks over the years. “He called, said he wanted to surprise you with a night out, and asked if we’d watch Hazel. We said yes. End of conspiracy.”
I stared at them, trying to process this bizarre turn of events. One minute I’d been settling in for another quiet evening together, the next Griffin was ushering me toward the bedroom with a cryptic, “Get dressed. We’re going out.”
I’d barely had time to argue. Not that arguing with Griffin ever worked. He’d just raised that infuriating brow and said, “Trust me, Princess.”
Which was obviously a terrible idea. Trusting Griffin Michaels was like trusting a shark not to bite when you’re bleeding in the water.
“One night that could ruin everything if the wrong person spots us together,” I said, panic threading through my voice.
“So you wear a hat.” Imani shrugged. “Keep your head down. It’s one night, Vi.”
“One night that could destroy his career if we’re photographed.” My fingers found my rings, twisting them. “One night that could give my father the exact ammunition he needs to?—”
“Breathe,” Cleo said. “You agreed to try this, didn’t you? The secret relationship thing?”
My cheeks burned. “That was supposed to be secret. Not parading around London together.”
I hadn’t even thought we’d be telling our friends.
“He’s not stupid,” Imani said. “He won’t take you somewhere obvious.”
I glanced back to where Griffin had disappeared down the hall, presumably to give us “girl time” or whatever he’d called it with that smirk of his. Maybe he did have a plan.
“You’re overthinking this,” Cleo said, bouncing Hazel, who gurgled happily. “When was the last time you did anything just because it made you happy?”
I opened my mouth, a snappy comeback right on the tip of my tongue... except, when had I last done anything purely for joy? Anything that wasn’t carefully calculated, risk-assessed, and Julian-approved?
I swallowed hard, my throat tight. “If my father finds out?—”
“He won’t,” Imani said. “Not from us.”
“And if he does, we’ll say we kidnapped you.” Cleo grinned. “Dragged you out against your will.”
