Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 56256 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 281(@200wpm)___ 225(@250wpm)___ 188(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56256 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 281(@200wpm)___ 225(@250wpm)___ 188(@300wpm)
“You’re not going to read any of this.” There’s not much hidden in the pages of this silly notebook, but I love the way I’ve got his attention.
I walk closer to the door, and he takes up the whole of it. How will I get past him?
“Tell me one thing nobody else knows, and I’ll let you pass,” he says.
I blink up at him, thinking about what I could tell him. My heart races, and it’s growing hot in here. “Umm, Willow told me that she thinks you’re good-looking.”
Griffin’s eyes twitch ever so slightly, but I notice. “Willow’s dating Lake. Try again.”
“Okay, she did say it, but she said it because she thinks…” I can’t believe I’m about to say this. “She thought you and I could date.”
Griffin swallows, not saying anything, and I’m mortified.
I cut him off, wanting the awkwardness to disperse immediately. “But I told her that was crazy. You and I would never date.” I laugh. “Could you imagine?” I ask, laughing more. I want to die. “Never never,” I add on for good measure.
Griffin chuckles softly. “Yeah, never.”
Chapter 4
Griffin
“Damn it, Tripp. I’ve had this burger up in the window for five minutes. Stop fucking around and get the food out when it’s ready,” I shout, wiping down the line.
He grabs the plate, mumbling under his breath, but rushes off when I snap my head and he sees my narrowed eyes.
“Chef, you all right?” Jared, my sous-chef asks.
That’s a loaded question.
Everything is great. Anya’s first party is tonight. The room we used to use for storage looks fantastic. She has tables set around with crisp white linens. There are candles on all of the tables and string lights hung around the room. The big window with a view of the courtyard is a feature now.
I busted my ass working on the menu to make sure it’s perfect. We decided to go with filet, grouper, and a vegetarian pasta option. Everything has been delivered this morning and I’ll be starting to prep soon.
The thing that has me snapping at everyone is something that really is a moot point. When Anya confessed that Willow said Anya and I should date, I felt something in my chest tighten. My pulse raced and for just a moment I allowed myself to imagine what that would be like. The idea of being able to do things to Anya that I’ve only fantasized about a handful of times had my skin overheating.
I stared at her, wanting her in that moment more than I wanted my next breath, and then she laughed. She repeated over and over how something like that would never happen and she laughed again.
It was a slap of reality to my face and to my cock.
I promised Callum years ago I would never date his sister. It’s not something that will ever happen. Not even if Anya truly wanted it. I’d have to deny her.
I’m wondering if I could ever deny her anything.
My friendship and career would be put on the line and I can’t lose them. So, the fact that I’m enraged about her laughing at the possibility is ridiculous.
Yet, here I am, days later still feeling it. Snapping at everyone and pushing down a fire that I haven’t felt in a very long time. That fire, it isn’t a good thing. It’s something I felt growing up and I taught myself, with Callum’s help, how to keep it smothered. I’m having trouble keeping it smothered now and that isn’t helping my mood.
“Griff, everything good for tonight?” Shepherd asks, walking into the kitchen.
“All good. Jared and I are going to start prepping soon,” I say, putting another burger on its bun.
He nods his head as he leans against the counter. The kitchen is crazy busy with the lunchtime rush, so my annoyance is getting poked with him standing there.
“The room looks awesome. I just helped Anya move some tables around. We even got the speakers working in there so there’s light music playing now,” he says, picking at a plate of fries I have sitting there.
“Shep, those are for someone, Christ,” I say, shaking my head.
He laughs and grabs a couple more. “Tripp said you had a stick up your ass today. I guess he was right.”
I turn to face him and cross my arms. “Tripp needs to deliver the food while it’s still hot. If that’s a problem, I must be doing my job wrong.”
“What’s really going on? You’re never like this?” He raises a brow.
I shake my head and throw more fries in the fryer because he’s still eating what I have prepared. “I’m busy, Shep, that’s my problem. I’m trying to get through this lunch rush so I can focus on preparing for the party and then I need to cook that food and make sure the dinner rush is handled.” I grab a brown disposable carton and toss the fries in it fresh from the fryer. “I just need to make sure everything is perfect, all right. It’s the first night and I’m stressed out.”