“No, it doesn't. You have been more you in the last few days than you have been in years. Every choice you’ve made has been the right one. Don’t ever feel like you need to feel different for anyone else.”
I lean forward, pulling him into a hug. It lasts longer than your typical embrace, and just when I think there’s some hidden meaning in the way we hold each other, a throat clears behind us from the bedroom doorway.
Tobias and I both stand quickly. I step toward Griffin, but Tobias moves next to me, half shielding my body from my ex-fiancé. His hands bunch at his sides.
“Griffin, I thought you were in California today,” I say.
“There was a change of plans,” he says in a clipped tone and crosses his arms. His gaze is on Tobias, and there is nothing friendly about the look in his eye.
After a beat, Griffin points at me, Tobias, and the bed where I'd just been sitting.
“This was going on the whole time we were together, wasn’t it?” he fumes, then advances on Tobias. I move in front of him, holding my hands up to push Griffin back if needed.
“No, it wasn’t, and you’re one to talk. How isNikki?” I snap.
Griffin huffs a laugh. “You can’t lie to me, Natalie. I’m not stupid.”
Tobias snorts.
I toss my hands up. “Griffin, I’m here packing my things. Just give us ten minutes and we’ll be gone.”
He laughs in my face. “Oh, you're anusnow, huh? Tell me again that you two weren’t fucking behind my back.”
Tobias moves fast to get between me and Griffin.
“If you thought for one minute that Natalie wasn’t faithful, you never really knew her. She’s the kindest, smartest, most considerate, and selfless person I know. You’re the dumbass who couldn't see it and lost the best thing to ever happen to you.”
Griffin shakes his head.
“You know damn well I was right about you two, Tobias. Damn, if I’d known she was such a slu?—”
I have a good hunch where his next sentence is going, but Tobias’s knuckles crack against Griffin’s face. Guess he was done listening too.
“Oh my god!”
Griffin groans, crouching over to cup his face, blood instantly dropping from his hands.
I move to check Tobias's hand, but Griffin moves faster, catching Tobias off guard and punching him right between the eyes.
“Ahhh! Stop,” I cry out. “Stop.”
Tobias stumbles back but rights himself. I can tell he wants to keep this fight going, but he’s looking at me for the go-ahead.
I shake my head and then glare at Griffin.
“Go!” I yell at him. “If you had even an ounce of respect for me in the time we were together, you’ll leave this room right now.”
“Get your shit and get out of my house.” Griffin spits blood from his mouth to the carpet and then storms out of the room. “I’ll be back in an hour. I suggest you two finish packing and be gone by the time I get back.”
“Fine by me,” I say.
I rush to Tobias and hold his face. It’s swelling fast; he’s definitely going to look like a raccoon in the morning. I grab a shirt from my suitcase and hold it up to his nose to stop the bleeding. It’s not near the amount I saw gushing down Griffin's face, but my hands are still shaking as I hold the cloth to his face.
“Are you okay? Oh god. Of course you’re not. How bad does it hurt?”
I kiss his forehead.
“I’m so sorry.”
