It’s him acknowledging the fact that it’s not a clear-cut situation. That he, too, sees the intricacy here.
“I don’t want to upset you.” Aria squeezes her hands together as if she could wring the discomfort out.
“You’re not. I’m not sure you ever could.” Griffin looks at his wristwatch. “But I should probably get going. Another morning practice tomorrow, and we have a team breakfast before.”
Something in Aria’s chest hitches. Maybe it’s guilt. Maybe it’s disappointment in this day ending this way. Maybe it’s a longing for clarity in the middle of this muddy situation. But most likely it’s at the prospect of distance growing between them.
“Of course. Totally. I hope I didn’t keep you.” Aria resists the urge to roll her eyes at her clumsy comment.
“I hope I didn’t keep you.”
Yes, by kissing him, then only realizing after the fact that maybe just following the whims of her feelings isn’t a great plan. That in fact there wasnoplan.
Griffin pulls the sliding door open, then stands back and holds out a hand to indicate she go first. Faithful Griff, always a gentleman, even—apparently—in the face of a surprise kiss.
“Thank you,” Aria says quietly as she passes through.
She walks slowly enough for Griffin to close the door andkeep up behind her, but Aria keeps the momentum going through the studio, up the stairs, through the kitchen, then into the entryway to the door.
She pulls it open, and Griffin pauses before he steps out, standing there face-to-face with Aria.
The same position they were in just moments earlier locking lips.
“Regardless of”—Griffin gestures widely with a single hand—“any of that, everything I said stands. You’re killing it, and staying true to yourself is the way to your next album being your best yet.”
“Thanks.” Gone is Aria’s ease, gone is the bubbly banter that’s become their routine. She speaks plainly.
Griffin cracks a smile. “And that’s coming from your number one fan.”
He reaches out and squeezes the top of her arm before turning quickly for the door. He steps out onto the wraparound porch and digs into his pocket. Once he has retrieved the keys, he unlocks the car with a click of the remote and turns back—very briefly—to throw her a single wave.
Aria returns the gesture, pulls a tight smile, then shuts the door. Only then does she let herself fall back against it and let her head loll back. She closes her eyes, and inside her eyelids, the kiss replays over and over again.
What on earth is she supposed to do about that? Surely marrying their PR arrangements with real feelings is only a recipe for disaster.
Aria’s heart is still hammering, and there is no question it’s out of fear. She’s already let her walls down enough with Griffin, and now this happens. Opening the gates to feelingsand dating would only make her more vulnerable, only make the ultimate letdown hurt more. Even if it’s Griffin, even if most of her brain agrees that he won’t hurt her like people did in the past, it’s a terrifying concept to consider.
Griffin would probably give great advice on the situation if he weren’t already wound up in it.
When she’s ready, Aria will have to talk it over with Bailey.
She always knows what to do.
Chapter 29
Griffin
Griffin makes plans with Elliott to stop at Enzo’s for dinner after practice on Friday. The Wardens have a bye this week. Usually, Griffin gets antsy on those weeks, wishing for a game even when his body demands rest. He’s always better when he stays in his routines and focused on his goals.
But usually he wouldn’t be fresh off a kiss with Aria Wilder.
“So, didyoukissher?” Elliott sits across from Griffin at a sticky-top table.
Griffin bobs his head from side to side. “Yes. But also I think there was a lean in from her side. It wasn’t as if I swooped in fast and surprised her. We were both in the moment. Like a mutual thing.”
Elliott sips on the foamy top of his beer, a treat he only affords himself on a bye week during season. “Huh.”
“It’s weird, isn’t it?”
