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Griffin steps back and clears his throat. “Anyway. I thought we could try a little something sweet from everywhere in town.”
I take a breath for the first time in what feels like minutes. “They all look amazing,” I stammer out, trying to calm my racing heart.
“Have a seat,” he says, urging me over to one of the stools at the counter. “How was work?”
“Good. I love working at the bookstore,” I tell him. Griffin smiles, and something about the genuine happiness in his gaze almost has me tearing up.
“You like books then? Reading?”
“Love it,” I admit as he pulls out the stool next to me.
"What do you like about it?"
"I love that you can open a book and get lost in another world. I love that feeling of disappearing into a story and getting so wrapped up in the characters that you forget all of life's problems. At least for a little bit."
I can tell that he wants to ask me more, so I cut him off with a question before he can dig into what I’m trying to escape.
“You don’t like to read?” I guess and he frowns.
“Why do you say that?”
“Well, I haven’t seen you in the bookstore in the time that I’ve worked there.”
“I’ll be there every day now,” he says eagerly, making me blush.
I try not to get sucked in by his words. I’ve never had anyone take such an interest in me. Never had someone try to make me smile. Hell, no one has ever tried to get to know me period.
Usually, I’m a shadow. A wallflower. Easily ignored.
With Griffin? I feel like I’ve never been more alive. More seen.
“You were a Green Beret?” I ask as Griffin slides the first dessert my way.
"Yeah. I joined when I was eighteen, the same as Ryker. We met in boot camp and after that, we went to the Green Beret training. Then we got stationed in Virginia. We were in the same unit so we deployed together, too."
“You guys make a good team,” I say. He smiles.
“We do. He’s my best friend.”
I nod, noting the love he has for his friend as I take a bite of the turtle cheesecake.
"It's good," I say, sliding the plate toward him.
He cuts himself a little piece and I watch his mouth as he licks the dessert from his fork.
"What about you?" Griffin asks me.
"What about me?" I repeat.
“Tell me something about yourself.”
Not wanting to get too personal with family stuff, I opt for a safer topic. “My best friend is named Eden.”
“Is she moving here, too?” he asks as he grabs another plate, this one containing chocolate cake. He offers me a bite before taking one himself.
“Not right now,” I say once I’ve chewed and swallowed. “She’s still back in Kansas, but she hates it there as much as Idid. I’m hoping I can convince her to join me here in Twisted Oak.”
That’s a lie. Well, kind of.
