21
Griffin
As we walk into Whiteman’s Bar at the top of Main Street, I hold her hand tight. There’s a lot of people here tonight. Usually, I slink in, find Tanner, and sit in a booth down by the back, paying no attention to anyone.
But tonight is different. I feel different.
“Wow, this really is the place to be. Is this what the locals get up to while I’m mixing icing and proofing sourdough?”
I look down at Savannah and see her glancing around at everyone and everything. The bar is packed. Tables full, the dance floor getting good use.
“I see the guys.” I spot Tanner, Connor, Hudson, Sawyer, and Sutton all over near the pool tables. Their significant others are right by their sides. Tanner looks up and spots me first, and I see when it registers that I’ve brought Savannah with me tonight as his eyes widen before he has a chance to school them.
“I feel like I’m waddling… Do I look like a duck?”
“You look beautiful,” I say like it’s as natural as breathing. With her skin glowing, her face and body round and soft, her hair out tonight, falling down her back past her shoulders, she looks like my every dream rolled into one. Her cheeks pinken at the compliment, only making her more stunning.
“Not sure I believe you, but I’ll take it. This baby is really pushing against my rib cage today,” she teases, and my lips quirk, but it’s replaced with my frown quickly as her hand rubs the side of her tummy and she winces.
“Maybe we could dance?” I’ve never danced in public. Never hardly danced in private aside from our bakery nights. But if she needs to dance, I’ll do it.
“No, it’s okay… maybe a fizzy drink might help…”
I nod to her, my mission now known.
“You made it. Hey, Savannah,” Tanner greets us, and Victoria and Savannah hug hello.
“I need a sprite and a whiskey,” I tell the bartender, who immediately gets to work.
“So how’s the bakery going?” Tanner asks Savannah, and her grin is instant.
“So good. The town has been really welcoming.”
I love seeing the joy in her face when she talks about her business.
“Oh, we’re not talking about business tonight. Come. We need girl time.” Victoria pulls Savannah away from me, over to the group of women on the side. My jaw tightens a little at having her removed from my side, but Savannah laughs.
“I’ll be back later,” she tells me quietly, dropping my hand and walking off.
“You need anything, you come to me.”
Her grin widens as she nods, and I watch her until she gets to the group of girls and is settled before I can relax.
“Sooo, this is new?” Tanner asks, taking a swig of his whiskey to hide the grin he has.
“What is?” I mumble, looking around to not feel so on the spot. I notice a guy over by the other side of the bar. I haven’t seen him around before. He’s on his own, watching everyone and everything. He sticks out because his shirt is buttoned up tight, crisp, clean. Not the usual country vibe for this area. More uppity.
“That small grin on your face…”
My eyes flick back to Tanner, seeing him smirking at me like he knows something I don’t.
“Don’t know what you’re talking about.” I grab my whiskey from the bar and take a sip, needing the burn but knowing I need to be sober tonight to drive Savannah and the baby home safely.
“How long have we known each other, Griff?”
“Too fucking long.”
Tanner huffs. “Did you know tonight was the first night in the twenty or so years I’ve known you that I’ve ever seen you hold hands with a woman?”
