AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“That’s because your phone keeps going off,” Karina fires back.
“Who in the hell is texting me at this hour?”
She laughs. “It’s after nine, sleepyhead. Did all that cuddling with Griffin last night take it out of you?” she asks, her voice sugary sweet.
“Stop.” I swat at her arm. “Besides, you and Daniel looked pretty close too.”
“We were flirting.”
“So were we,” I defend.
“Nah, what you had going on was altogether different.”
I peel open my eyes and look at her. “How do you figure?”
“I don’t really know. The best way I can explain it is that it looked like the two of you were together. Like you had been together for a long time. You move, he moves. He moves, you move. It was really something to see.”
I should tell her that she’s crazy, but then I’d be lying. That’s exactly how it felt to be with Griffin last night. “He didn’t make a move,” I confess.
“Yeah, it didn’t look like that to me. I mean, it didn’t look like he was just trying to get his dick wet. It was weird, Peyton. I’ve never seen two people just… connect like that.”
“You want to know something even weirder?” I ask her.
“What’s that?”
“Feeling it,” I say as my phone vibrates again. Reaching over on the nightstand, I grab it and swipe at the screen. I have several text messages from Griffin and one from Oliver.
Griffin: Morning, beautiful
That one was sent two hours ago. They just kept coming at random from then until now.
Griffin: Do I get to see you today?
Griffin: How about breakfast?
Griffin: Peyton?
Oliver: Girl, you’ve got my boy all tied up in knots. Can you put us all out of our misery and reply to him? Even if it’s to blow him off.
I laugh at that one. “Who is it?” Karina asks.
“Griffin, and then one from Oliver.” I hand her my phone, so she can read the messages.
“Damn, girl, that must have been some stellar snuggling.” She laughs.
“Stop.” I take my phone back from her and reply to Oliver first. I can’t have Griffin thinking I’m falling at his feet, even though I kind of am. There is just something about him.
Me: Just woke. Ever heard of sleeping in?
Oliver: She’s alive.
Oliver: Your boy is waiting for his reply.
His message is followed by a string of laughing emojis and a picture of Griffin sitting on the couch, staring down at his phone. I show my screen to Karina, and she laughs. Pulling my phone back, I type out a reply to Griffin.
Me: Just woke up. Do you not sleep?
Griffin: Not last night.
Me: Everything okay?
Griffin: I’m not sure.
I don’t know him well enough to pry. I bite down on my bottom lip, trying to think of what to say, but his next message comes in before I can.
Griffin: I couldn’t stop thinking about you.
Griffin: That’s not me.
Griffin: What are you doing to me?
Butterflies take flight in my belly. I want to tell him I thought about him too. I stayed up way later than I should have, which is why I slept in this morning. However, before I can contemplate my reply, I get another message. This one is from Oliver.
Oliver: What kind of spell did you cast on my best friend?
It’s followed by a picture of Griffin sitting on the same couch. Only there is a sexy grin pulling at his lips as he smiles down at his phone.
Me: Are you calling me a witch?
Oliver: No. But you are responsible for that goofy-ass grin.
I’m now wearing a goofy-ass grin of my own.
Me: I’m not sure you’re right, but I’ll take the credit.
I close out of his message, switch back to Griffin’s, and type out a reply.
Me: If it makes you feel any better, I thought about you too. I’d say we’re even.
Griffin: Can I see you today?
Me: What did you have in mind?
My phone rings, and I drop it as I’m fumbling to answer the call. Karina laughs and picks it up from the bed between us and hands it to me. “Hello,” I say in a rush.
“Peyton,” Griffin greets. “Come to my place today. We can swim and just hang out.” He expels a breath as if he’d been waiting hours to invite us over.
“Your place?” I look at Karina with wide eyes, and she nods, pointing at her chest.
“Yeah. I can swing by and pick you and Karina up.” I love that he included my best friend without me having to ask.
“I’m not sure what we’re getting into today,” I tell him. “I’ll talk to Karina and let you know.”
“I’m in,” Karina calls out, moving to practically lay on top of me. “Whatever it is, Griffin, we’re in,” she says again with a mischievous glint in her eye.
Griffin’s deep laughter fills my ears. “Tell me what time to be there, Peyton.”
“Give us a couple of hours? I want to talk to my sister for a bit, and we both need showers.” That doesn’t sound too desperate. I do want to check in with Parker, but I don’t need to. I just want to make sure things are still solid with her and Holden. I’m sure they are, but I’d still feel better checking in with her.
