Page 71 of Griffin

My game review video wasn’t due until tomorrow, and I’d already told Todd I had plans for the day.

Yet somehow, here I was, gripping my phone in irritation after his earlier message.

You need to do it today. This afternoon.

No explanation. No apology.

After what happened when we met up in Cinderfield, Todd had stopped replying to my messages.

At first, I’d convinced myself he was probably just swamped with other work—he always had a lot on his plate. But after a few days without a single response, that excuse started to feel flimsy.

Eventually, I stopped trying—maybe he needed space, I told myself, or maybe I’d done something wrong and just didn’t realize it.

Still, it stung. It wasn’t until my last stream, the one where I told everyone I’d be taking some personal time, that he finally decided to message me again.

The bus jerked to a halt as the automated announcement crackled: "Pecan Pines Boulevard."

I rose from my seat and stepped off, the cool breeze brushing my face as I headed toward Griffin’s place.

For all Todd’s insistence, I wasn’t about to drop everything and rush back to stream—not today.

I hadn’t even bothered to ask why he was pushing so hard, and honestly, I didn’t want to.

Whatever was going on between us, it wasn’t going to fix itself if I pushed too hard. Best to give it some air, let things settle.

Besides, it was too nice a day to spend locked inside.

As I walked, a flicker of movement caught my eye. A large black bird swooped low overhead, its red-tipped tail feathers catching the light as it landed on a nearby lamppost. My steps faltered.

It looked exactly like the bird I’d seen that night outside GamesCon.

The memory hit me all at once—sharp and unwelcome. Back then, I’d been drowning in everything: work, the stalker, the mounting pressure to keep up appearances.

For just a moment, the bird had been a distraction, a strange little anchor that pulled me out of my spiraling thoughts. But the calm hadn’t lasted.

Because right after that, I met my stalker.

The familiar weight of dread crept in at the edges of my thoughts, but I shook it off. That night hadn’t been all bad, had it?

It had also led me to Griffin, to this unexpected new chapter in my life. I smiled faintly. Things were different now. Better.

Griffin’s place came into view, and I pulled out the key he’d had made for me.

My thumb traced its edges as I approached the door. I paused for a second, considering something.

Maybe I’d ask Griffin to visit his dad again soon. My visit earlier had been cut short, and I wanted to do it properly next time.

Before I could unlock the door, a hand landed on my shoulder.

“Todd?” I froze, my heart thudding in my chest.

He was the last person I expected to see here. A nervous laugh escaped me as I turned to face him.

“Hey, Mikey.” Todd grinned, the edges of it just a little too sharp.

I didn’t like the nickname. Only Casey ever called me that, and usually when he was annoyed.

I might’ve mentioned it to Todd once, years ago, but hearing it now—from him—felt weird. Unsettling.

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