“Yes, ma’am.” I hug her back.
“Thanks for coming tonight,” she says, opening the door. “Don’t be a stranger next week. We’ve missed having you around for dinners.”
“Thanks, Doc. As always, it was great.” I smile, then nod to Saint as he gives me a fist bump.
“See you Sunday morning, big guy,” Saint says. “Get some rest.”
I step out onto the driveway, the icy air stinging my face. I swear, I’m not made for this kind of cold. I walk toward my truck, the silence outside a sharp contrast to the noise I left inside. Before I can reach the driver’s door, the sound of footsteps makes me pause.
I turn and see Liam walking toward me, his hands shoved deep into his pockets, and I can see his breath in the cold air.
“Griff,” he calls out.
“Sup, Pitzy?” I rest my arm against the roof of my truck, smiling. “Forget something?”
“No,” he says, stopping a few feet from me. He folds his arms across his chest, looking at me in the dim light of the driveway lanterns. He doesn’t have his typical easy grin anymore, but his face is calm and steady. “I just wanted to walk you out. Archie called me yesterday.”
My smile falls. “Did he?”
“Yeah. Said he, Ace, and Austin called you and you sounded off. Said he thinks something’s going on with you.” He lets out a breath, studying my face. “Arch asked me to check on you. Make sure your head is straight.”
“I’m good, Pitz,” I say, my voice unintentionally getting defensive. “Just focused on Chicago, is all. It’ll be good to see Beck, especially after we beat them.” I laugh, but it sounds forced, even to my own ears.
“Right,” Liam says, his voice void of judgment. He steps closer. “I’ve known your family for a long time now. I know when something is going on with one of you. You know you can tell me, right?”
I stare at him, the silence thick between us. I can skirt aroundthe truth with Brody if I have to. I can even deflect around Saint. But Liam does know me. He’s spent a lot of time with my family over the years.
“Who is she, Aston?” he asks quietly. “If she’s someone you might be serious about, why are you hiding her?”
I let out a rough, ragged breath, then look out into the dark trees lining Saint’s property. “Trust me when I say it’s complicated and just leave it at that.”
“Complicated how though?”
“Just … history,” I say, my jaw tight as the image of Ace flashes in my mind. “People involved that could be hurt. So, I’m keeping it tight for now.”
Liam watches me for a beat, but he doesn’t push further. He reaches out, his hand gripping my shoulder tight.
“Okay,” he says. “I’ll let it be, but your brother is worried—and Archie’s never worried. So, whatever it is you think you need to keep close to the chest, you don’t have to do it alone. And if you need someone to talk to whose last name isn’t Griffith, I’m here. You know that, right?”
The sincerity in his voice cuts straight through the guard I’ve put in place to protect this fragile bubble Eva and I are in. I look him straight in the eye out of respect, but also because I want him to know it means a lot to me that he’s offering to be there for me.
“Yeah, I know. Thanks, Pitzy.”
“Get home safe,” he says, his hand falling off my shoulder.
“You know it.” I step into my truck and close the door. I finally exhale the deep breath I think I was holding since they asked if I was seeing someone.
The drive to my place is only twenty minutes. I don’t turn on the radio. I just keep both hands locked on the steering wheel, the headlights cutting a path through the dark roads between our houses.
When I pull into my driveway and shut off the engine, the house looks exactly like it always does. I climb out of the truckand walk toward the front door. As I unlock the heavy cedar door and step inside, I can still smell the burned wood from the fire I built for Eva when she was here.
I drop my keys on the counter, walk over to the refrigerator, and grab a bottle of water. Just as I take a sip, my phone vibrates, so I pull it out of my pocket and see Eva’s name lit up on my screen.
Eva: Just finished up with work, and I’m in the car and on the way back to my place. What a long-ass day. You still up?
I smile and answer quickly.
Aston: Yeah. Just got back from Saint and Presley’s house.
