PIPER: Are you guys dating for real or what?
PIPER: You had your arm around her like a caveman the entire dinner.I don’t think you even realized.
So that explains Piper’s weird looks to me during dinner.I pocket my phone, thinking about her words.
There are so many reasons why falling for Casey just isn’t what I need right now.But it doesn’t matter how much I deny it, how much I fight against it.One thought drowns all those reasons out, and it’s coming out even when I think it’s under wraps.
This woman is mine.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CASEY
“Griff!Look!”I gasp, pointing across the length of the farmer’s market.“They have zinnias this week!”
Griffin lifts his sunglasses, peering at the farm market stall I point out.“Oh, hell yes.Just what we need for the living room.”
I squeal, grabbing Griffin’s hand as we head that way.It’s yet another farmer’s market Saturday—we haven’t missed a single one—and we’ve made it a habit to pick out a new summer flower bouquet every weekend, along with other farmer’s market goodies that we select for each other.
Because we’re just friends.
And this isn’t absolutely my dream life that I’m living: reading books, recording my thoughts, sleeping with my best friend, and attending farmer’s markets on the regular.
You better pinch yourself, because this is ending in less than a month.
Jake never cared about zinnias.Griffin getsexcitedabout zinnias.As if I need any more proof that Griffin is my dream man, he has the audacity toooohandaaahat the color varieties upon arrival to the flower stand.
God, I love this man.
I love him so much that I cannot stand the thought of moving back to Chicago after my sister’s wedding.But what else am I supposed to do?I’m emailing with two different Chicago companies right now, and both are oddly enthusiastic about beginning the interviewing process with me.He’ll be starting another hockey season.I’m holding on to that reality for him, even if he can’t do the same right now.
He’s made it more than clear that he has no room for love in his life.And I respect that.Even if I disagree with it.
And after his recent call with his agent, I know he’s going to be doubling down on his focus.More time spent in Cleveland during the week, more rehab sessions, more hockey.
It just means that I need to get myself in the right headspace soon.Each day, that mid-August move-out date is drawing nearer.Which means all the sweetness of this summer in Bayshore is one day closer to ending.
Griffin and I spend a lot of time picking out the best bouquet.I don’t even care which one we get, really, I just love being here, doing it with him while he has some free time on a weekend.Before this summer evaporates and becomes a memory.
He holds all our goodies as we drift through the rest of the market—the bouquet, the new T-shirt I insisted on getting, a new set of hand-carved wooden spoons, a bundle of lavender—and he only stops to pose for pictures twice with fans, which is fewer than his farmer’s market average.
By the time we get back to his truck, a text from Branson arrives in our group chat.
BRANSON: POOL PARTY 2 DAY.You coming.Not a question.It’s a command.
GRIFFIN: I guess we’re coming.Where?
BRANSON: Liddell’s house out on Bayview Drive.Gonna be huge.Everyone’s coming.CU THERE.
Griffin and I exchange a look as he starts the engine.
“All right.Cancel everything.It’s pool party time,” I say with a grin.
“Good thing you didn’t have to work tonight,” he says.“I’m in the mood for letting off some steam.Once Monday hits, I gotta hit the grindstone again.”
“So is this kind of the end of your summer?”
“Yeah.The last weekend where I can let loose,” he confirms.
