Page 72 of Griffin

“What are you doing here?” I asked, my hand still gripping the key in the lock.

Todd shrugged, his gaze darting around the porch. “What, can’t I visit my best friend?”

“No, I mean…” I turned fully to face him, frowning. “What are you doinghere? How did you even know I’d be here?”

He chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. “Isn’t this Griffin’s place? Didn’t one of you mention it the other day at lunch?”

Did we?

I tried to think back, but nothing came to mind. Something about it felt off.

I knew I hadn’t mentioned it, and I doubted Griffin would’ve said anything either. But how did Todd know?

Before I could make sense of it, Todd stepped closer, slinging an arm around my shoulder. The weight of it startled me. My whole body tensed.

“Aren’t you going to let me in?”

“Huh? Oh. Yeah, sure.” The words slipped out automatically, even though every instinct screamed at me to shut the door and bolt it.

I pushed it open, stepping aside as Todd walked in like he owned the place.

He paused, looking around the room with an expression I couldn’t quite read. My pulse thudded in my ears, and I tried to shake the uneasy feeling crawling up my spine.

“Do you want a drink or something?” I offered, heading straight for the kitchen.

My hands felt clumsy as I grabbed two glasses from the cabinet. I focused on the simple motions—reach, grab, set them down—like they could anchor me. Still, my fingers trembled.

Behind me, Todd’s voice broke the silence. “You sure know your way around here.”

I turned, glass in hand, and froze. Todd was standing by the coat rack, his fingers curled around the edge of a sleeve—my sweater. He lifted it to his face and inhaled deeply.

A shiver ran down my spine. I tried to shake it off, but the feeling of his eyes on me lingered.

“Uh, yeah.” I forced a laugh. “Griffin lets me work here sometimes.”

I set the glasses on the counter a little harder than I meant to. “Oh, is that why you’re here? To check whether I was going to stream?” I tried to keep my tone light, but my voice still wavered.

Todd raised an eyebrow, taking the water I offered him. “No. I just felt bad about how we left things the other day and thought I’d come by to clear the air.”

“Ha.” The brittle laugh escaped before I could stop it. I looked away, running a hand through my hair. “You didn’t have to come all this way for that.”

“It’s no trouble.” Todd waved me off with a grin that didn’t quite sit right. “In fact, I was thinking we could go out for ice cream after you stream. I found this place in the next town over—they have waffle cones and a ton of toppings. Just the way you like it.”

I froze. That sounded almost exactly like the order I’d gotten with Griffin at Cinderfield.

No. It didn’t mean anything.

In all the years I’ve known Todd, we must’ve had ice cream together at some point. Maybe he just remembered what I liked.

A coincidence—that’s all it was. It had to be.

The silence stretched too long. Todd watched me with an expectant smile, but something about it felt off.

“You know what? Why don’t I call Griffin and see if he wants to join us?” I said quickly, reaching for my phone.

Todd’s smile faltered, just a little. His gaze darkened, flicking to the phone in my hand. For half a second, he didn’t move. Then?—

“No!” His voice cracked like a whip, sharp and raw. Before I could react, he lunged forward, snatching the phone from my hand.

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