Page 22 of The Triple Play

It’s strange. Had it been my dad or brothers badgering me with all these questions, I would have been aggravated at best and furious at worst. I don’t need anyone second-guessing my decisions or thinking I’m unprepared. But coming from these two, it somehow feels good. Makes me feel warm inside.

Griffin folds his arms across his chest, his face unreadable. Denver, on the other hand, is far easier to read.

“Sorry, Pixie.” He looks chagrined, but also, still worried. “Hard to turn off the rescue brain.”

I melt just a little at hearing that. “It’s okay, I appreciate the concern and the advice. But I promise, I’ve done my research. I’m as prepared for this trip as possible.”

“You can’t prepare for everything,” Griff says gruffly, but he runs one hand through his dark auburn hair before shoving his hands in his pockets. “But I’m sure you’ll be fine.”

I’m suddenly aware of how close they’re both standing. As if over the course of the conversation, they moved in closer. Their presence feels warm, strong, and comfortable, and yet it makes me vibrate with an invisible tension.

I’m reluctant to leave, but I have to.

Drawing in a deep breath, I step back and pick up my basket. “I need to get going. I’ve still got a few things to do at home. Thanks for the advice on the trails.”

“Be careful, Pix.”

I smile at Denver.

“Text us when you get back.”

Griffin’s request is spoken in a quiet voice, but one that I feel deeply. I suppress my shiver, not wanting either man to know how they make me feel. “I will.”

I quickly pay for my items and hightail it out to my car. The distance to my apartment building is short, thankfully so, since I drive it on autopilot. My mind is caught up in replaying the encounter with Denver and Griffin.

One of them makes me smile, and the other makes me feel like he sees my soul. Both of them together? Makes me long for something impossible. Something I’m afraid to even give a voice to, it feels so far-fetched. The stuff of fantasies, not real life.

Certainly not my real life.

11

GRIFF

Foxxy and I leave the grocery store shortly after Olivia does. Neither one of us says a word about seeing her, or the conversation we had, until we get home and are unloading the bags of food.

“Gut check,” Foxxy announces out of the blue. “Am I the only one feeling all kinds of not good about Olivia going into Strathcona alone tomorrow?”

I shake my head. “Nope. But there’s nothing we can do about it.”

He lets out a frustrated huff. “I know. Doesn’t mean I like it. I realize it makes me sound like a caveman, but I hate the idea of her being out there by herself. We’ve done three rescues in the park in the last two weeks, thanks to washed-out trails and shitty conditions.”

I slam the fridge door shut a lot harder than I should. “I hate it, too, but you heard her. She’s done this before. Besides, we’ve got no right to be overreacting like this.”

Foxxy leans against the counter, folding his arms over his chest and raising one eyebrow at me. With that damn moustache he insists on keeping, he looks fucking weird doing it. “No right? Overreacting? Whatever do you mean…”

I grind my teeth together, keeping my gaze anywhere but at him. “You know what I mean. She’s Kyle’s older sister, not ours.”

The chuckle Foxxy makes sounds like it’s forced. “Damn right she’s not our sister, or we’d have a different problem on our hands.”

“What does that mean?” I say sharply, feeling a trickle of sweat travel down my spine.

He sighs. “It means, I know you like her, Griff. But shit, bro, I like her, too.”

My gaze shoots up to meet his. “I…”

He scrubs his hand over his face before bringing it to the back of his neck. “I’m sorry, dude. I tried to stay back. I wanted to wingman you. She’s too fucking good for me, anyway. But I’m freaking out about her going to that cabin by herself and it’s making me crazy.”

I can’t help it. I start laughing. It’s either that or…I don’t know what else.