And then I ask myself what the fuck I’m still doing here right now. I need to get home to her.
Almost as if reading my thoughts, Griff says, “Let me grab a shirt and my keys then I’ll take you to your truck.” He heads up the steps to their room without another question.
I make my way across the kitchen and wrap Kenna in a hug. “Thanks for taking care of me last night, M&M. Sorry I interrupted your big date night, and I’m even more sorry for ever doubting your faithfulness to Griff.”
“I’m oddly okay with it—I know you were just looking out for him,” she replies, a sleepy happiness present in her voice.
“Yeah, but you were my friend first.”
“You’re dang right. Try not to forget that next time you think I’m up to no good.”
“Will do,” I say, pausing just as I’m about to turn toward the front door. “Oh, and Kenna?”
“Yeah?”
“Congratulations,” I tell her without elaborating as to what I’m congratulating her on.
Her face softens as a shy smile eclipses her face. “Thanks, J.”
“And thank you for inviting Taevin to be a part of your book club yesterday. She told me you text her on our way home from the cookout. I’m sorry we had to leave early.”
“Absolutely! I hope she’ll take us up on it. It’s nothing official, more so just an excuse for us ladies to get together.”
“I’m sure she’ll join if she’s able,” I assure her.
“Give her a hug from me when you get home, okay? She looked like she could use one yesterday just before she left.”
Guilt weighs heavy in my gut as the repercussions of my actions sink in.
She looked like she needed a hug when she left the cookout yesterday, and that was before she shared one of the hardest things that’s ever happened to her with me.
And then I left.
I was a fucking coward and I left the only woman I’ve ever loved to grieve and process on her own. She said seeing Cadence yesterday triggered her, just like it did for me just now.
I need to get home to her.
In Griff’s Jeep, I do my best to avoid looking at him when I ask, “Can I ask you something kind of personal?”
“I mean you can ask, but I’m not sure I’ll answer.”
“Fair enough. Uh, I remember when you and Kenna were trying to get pregnant with Rowen that you opened up to me about it being more of a struggle.”
“I did,” he confirms.
Clearing my throat, I will myself to just go for it and ask him. “If you don’t mind me asking, how did you manage to put aside your own fears and concerns to be there for her?”
When the vehicle rolls to a stop next to my truck in the bar’s parking lot, Griff puts it in park before looking over at me. “Where’s this coming from?” he asks.
“Uh, well,” I start and my voice cracks. “Last night Taevin told me she miscarried our baby my freshman year. She said he would’ve been Cadence’s age.”
“Shit, J. I’m so sorry.”
I manage to take a deep breath, keeping my tears at bay. “Yeah, last night, uh, was the first time I heard about any of it. And I just . . . walked out on her,” I confess on a choked sob.
Griff grasps my shoulder firmly in his hand. “J, look at me.”
With reluctance, I fix my blurry gaze on him, concern etched across his features. “It’s never too late to fix things with the one you love. After Katie died, I walked out on the love of my life and missed two years of my daughter’s life because of the chokehold grief held on me. Yes, you left last night. But I don’t think Taevin will fault you for needing time to process the news of her miscarriage. You just found out you lost a baby ten years ago who you had no idea existed until last night. Go home to her. Apologize. Promise you’ll show up and be there for her just like you have been, and then be a man of your word. You’re one of the best people in mine and my family’s lives, Jackson.”
