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7
Juliet tosseda bean bag to her, nodding in approval. “Okay, you’re on my team. Let’s beat their asses.”
Eve giggled at Juliet’s competitiveness. A week had passed since her mini panic attack. Things had gone back to normal as if it never happened. Griffin didn’t pressure her to spill her secrets. Juliet made no comment on her rushing away from her.
The only difference was Griffin wasn’t afraid to show affection anymore. Like now. He pressed a light kiss to her lips before winking and taking the other side of the cornhole. Bryce stood on the other side of the yard with Juliet next to him. They were going to play a game and Juliet thought they were going to win. Ha! She might’ve caught the bean bag, but she had terrible aim.
But she’d have fun regardless.
The four played as if they had no cares in the world. Bryce pretended as if his marriage wasn’t heading for divorce. Eve had arrived with Griffin at Bryce’s house. Shortly after getting there, they witnessed Denise shouting nasty things at Bryce before peeling out of the driveway. She had let Griffin have a word alone with Bryce, which hadn’t lasted long. He didn’t want to talk about it. She understood that.
She didn’t want to talk about her issues either.
Every time she thought she found the courage, the words got stuck in her throat. She’d come to the conclusion she had imagined the planter on its side and the shadowy figure coming from the side of the house. Considering nothing else odd had happened in the past week, she had to have imagined it.
Griffin didn’t pressure her. He didn’t even bring the subject up. That made it harder for her to confess. Though she couldn’t blame him for her inability to speak. It was her fault. Her weakness.
The men won the first round.
They won the second round too.
When Juliet suggested a third game, Eve bowed out.
“A tiny break. My arm is starting to hurt.”
Which was a lie. She hated to lose. Hated looking like a loser.
“Fine,” Juliet grumbled, though wore a smile.
She grabbed a pop from the cooler and jumped a little when she stood, turning around. Griffin stood in front of her. He did that so often. Appearing out of nowhere and making her jump.
He brushed her cheek before kissing her. Briefly, as they had an audience, but enough to ignite her senses, wanting more.
“You know you don’t have to…” He paused as if looking for the right words. “Stretch the truth.”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
His fingers caressed her throwing arm. “I’ve come to learn your smiles. I know when you’re telling a lie. It’s okay to want to take a break from the game. Saying your arm hurts isn’t necessary.”
In her past life, it had been. Lying had been a mechanism to survive. Feigning headaches to bow out of invites so they wouldn’t see the bruises. Pretending she was dining with one friend when another asked her for lunch only to stay at home because it hurt to move. Lying had been a way of life to hide the ugly parts she couldn’t let anyone see. Because sometimes he didn’t hit her where it could easily be covered up. He never cared how he treated her.
His fingers slid back up her arm, eliciting a delightful shiver from her. She smiled at the contact.
“So if I say…I like it when you touch me like that, you know I’m not lying.”
His lips brimmed with pleasure, his fingers taking the same path as before. Up then down. “Yes, I know you’re not lying about that. I can see it in your eyes. I can sense it in your touch. The shivers of delight compared to ones of fear.” His smile fell. “I need you to know that none of us are going to get mad if you tell us something. That you’re tired and just want to quit. That you want to leave because you’ve had enough. It’s okay to be honest with us. We will understand.”
“I suck at cornhole. My aim is terrible. I hate losing.”
She knew she sounded whiny, but he said to be honest, so she was going to try it out.
“My Eve has a competitive streak in her. Hating to lose. How about I teach you some moves.” He leaned closer. “Or, better yet, you be on my team.”
“No, if I win, I want it to be with Juliet. Men vs women.”
His lips moved closer. “But I like you on my team. I like you by my side.”
“I am by your side.”
