But I couldn’t make myself do it. The way he was looking at me—open, unguarded, like I was the only thing in the room—I never wanted him to stop.
I’ll tell him on the way home.
Griffin glanced past me and laughed. I turned to see for myself. Sophie was slow dancing with a very grumpy, very reluctant James—and she was leading. Maddie and Theo were hamming it up. She twirled him out and then lowered him in a dip.
“Hey,” Griffin said, digging his fingers into my side. “Have you been wearing my ring on that chain this whole time?”
I grinned shamelessly. “Yes. Mine and yours, right next to each other.” I made my lashes flutter. “Right over my heart.”
He shook his head, nostrils flaring, and wrapped his arms around my back. “Good grief.” He kissed me on the top of my head, his laugh reverberating in my chest. “You are something else, woman.”
I closed my eyes, reveling in his love. “Sorry, not sorry. That’s what you get.”
“Fine.” He exhaled. “I guess we’re even.”
Maggie and Bowen materialized beside us, slow dancing too.
Bowen tipped his chin at Griffin. “Glad to see you’re working it out.”
Griffin blinked. “Oh dang.” He held out his fist for Bowen.
Bowen squinted but bumped him back.
“About that thing you asked me earlier,” Griffin said in a tone that screamedsecret. “I would be honored.”
Bowen grinned. “Cool, man. Cool.”
“What’s cool?” Maggie asked.
“Nope. That’s for me to know and for you to find out later. Much later.” He spun her away, making her laugh.
I flicked my brows atGriffin.
He smiled. “I’ll tell you later.”
“Okay. But I’m not waiting until later to hear aboutKynzleigh,” I said. “I can’t believe you ever liked someone with a name like that.”
“What’re you talking about?” He scoffed. “I was thirteen. She was blond, arguably the prettiest girl in eighth grade.” He threw one hand up. “And her name has a Z in it. What more could a boy in the throes of puberty possibly want?”
“Seriously, what’s the story there?” I asked. “Why isn’t she Mrs. Griffin Dupree?”
He guided me slowly around the dance floor and filled me in about the bet with her friends and the Starbucks gift card. Had I known that story, I wouldn’t have been quite so nice to her.
But really, what did it matter now? What did either of our pasts matter? As long as we were together, we could face anything.
Chapter Thirty-One
JULIETTE
Two hours later, I was tucked against Griffin’s side in the back of Cash and Charlie’s Beamer. Our legs tangled together, arms too. If we hadn’t needed seatbelts, I would’ve been in his lap.
“Juliette,” Charlie said from the front passenger seat. “You were a natural at line dancing.”
“Seriously,” Griffin said. “And you’re starting to get a little accent.” His lips grazed the tip of my nose. “Adorable.”
I traced his eyebrow, holding his gaze.
I needed to tell him. All night, I’d promised myself I would.
