“I have something…” She moves, turning to her small bedside table and opening the drawer. I hear her rustling before she comes back to me. “Here.”
She hands something to me. “What is it?”
“It’s my grandma’s little Bible. The one she gave me when I was a girl. Put it under your pillow, Griff.”
I feel like my chest rips wide open. I stare at the book, moving my fingers across the cover, the red color bright against my skin.
“I can’t…”
“You can. It helped me. Maybe it will help you too?” Her voice is full of tender care that a man like me doesn’t deserve.
“I’m beyond help.”
She gives me a small smile, shaking her head. “No, you’re not. It’s just, some things are harder to get through than others.”
I pause, swallowing roughly. “I’ve been trying to outrun that night ever since.”
“So maybe it’s time to stop running?”
“I’m not sure I can… but with you, I sure want to try,” I tell her honestly as I pull her tight against my chest, gripping the book in my hand with a silent promise to put it under my pillow. For her. For me. For us. She remains quiet, leaving me with my thoughts. Not offering to fix it. Doesn’t offer platitudes. Just holds me like I’m still worth holding.
And for the first time in a long time, I let her.
24
Savannah
I rub my eyes, wondering why it’s so bright.
“Ahhhh… morning, baby…” I tell my bump as I rub it, yet it feels different. My mind connects, memories from last night swirl, and I open my eyes, looking at my side and seeing my bed empty.
No Griffin. I can’t say I’m surprised. Last night was raw, in more ways than one. The sex was amazing. He was caring, supportive, and manhandled me in a way I’ve never been touched before. Even remembering him naked now makes me blush.
But also, our conversation afterward. How he shared a little more of his past. I knew he had demons. I knew he had a past he was not fond of. But when I heard some of his story last night, my heart broke for him. For him now, but also for the little boy he was.
I’m not surprised my bed is empty. He’s a runner by habit. Not trying to run from me or anything like that, but run from his mind. Something he’ll never be able to outrun. His memories will always follow him. The fact is that he’s here. He stayed, we connected. I hope that even though he’s a man who will always need his space, that he’ll run to me a little more. Find solace with me instead of leaving town as often as he does.
I roll over and sit up before panic slithers through my body. It’s full sun outside. My eyes flick to the clock, seeing it’s past nine.
“Nine!” I yell to myself. I should’ve been awake hours ago. Hell, the bakery should already be open with the smell of fresh goods. I’ve never slept in this late. I jump up and waddle around as fast as I can, taking a quick shower and pulling my hair back, and although I’m stressed, I’m smiling. I feel at ease. Not as tightly wound as yesterday.
I look at myself in the mirror, admiring my body, my bump, not feeling fat and exhausted, but sexy and confident. I notice a few little love marks on my chest, making it obvious Griffin is a breast man. Good thing, considering mine are massive and are going to be out a bit with breastfeeding.
That man. He’s a total contradiction and yet exactly what he’s meant to be. And I’m falling for him more every day. My eyes rest on my bump for a moment, and I frown as I pull my dress over myself.
I tilt my head, trying to work out what’s different before my eyes widen. I’ve dropped.
Does it happen that quickly? Was sex all it took to get this baby down? The heavy feeling I’m now experiencing on my pelvic bone tells me this baby is now using gravity to its full capability.
I pull in a breath, feeling my lungs expand a little more than they have in months, and I smile before I become instantly terrified. Oh shit, the baby is going to come soon. It’s locked and loaded and ready.
I have so much to do and I’m already late. I wonder if people are banging on the front door.
As I walk downstairs, I’m careful on each step, surprised to see the lights on down here already. Griffin must have left them on when he headed out this morning. I wonder why he didn’t wake me.
I pause at the bottom step, and my eyes widen. The bakery is open. I step tentatively into my kitchen, seeing it all with new eyes and surprise.
“Uhmm?” I’m confused as I spot Griffin, surrounded by tools, a fully built nook now almost complete.
