Page 115 of The Rookie

Griffin smirks slightly, shaking his head. “Why is this shocking?”

“Because YOU are YOU!” Kayla exclaims, motioning wildly at him. “Griffin freaking Knox!”

Jake slaps the table. “This is a CRIME. Who the hell were you sleeping with?!”

Griffin just laughs, shaking his head. “I’m selective.”

“Selective?!” Kayla grabs my arm, looking genuinely distressed. “Avery. Are you hearing this? Are you understanding the gravity of this situation? Is Griffin Knox like…a virgin?!”

I press a hand over my mouth, trying not to laugh. “I…I honestly don’t know how to respond.”

It’s Jakes business to share that he just lost his virginity—not mine.

“Not a virgin.” He bites his lip and looks directly at me, before letting his eyes flow back to Kayla and Jake. “No, definitely not.”

Jake leans back in his chair, shaking his head in disbelief. “Knox, you are literally one of the most desired men I know, and you’re telling me not a single girl in your past has?—”

“Guess I was waiting for the right person.”

His words are casual. Offhanded.

But the second he says them, his eyes flicker to me. Just for a second.

My stomach flips violently.

“Wait…waswaiting?” Jake says. “Did youfindthe right person?”

“Guys…enough. This is getting kind of weird. So I haven’t had someone go down on me yet. Big whoop.”

Kayla, oblivious to the way the air just changed, smacks his arm. “Well, Jesus, Griffin. I hope whoever it is blows your mind.”

Jake snorts. “Or maybe Kayla, you should take one for the team.”

I choke on my drink.

Griffin’s entire body goes still.

Kayla wheezes with laughter. “JAKE!”

“What?!” Jake grins, looking at me. “You were bragging about it yesterday! Or…Avery?!”

I drop my head into my hands. “I hate you all.”

Griffin just grins, swirling his drink, eyes locked on mine. “Let’s just keep playing the game. I’m sure when it happens it will be mind blowing. For both parties.”

And that?

That should not have made my entire body burn.

But it absolutely does.

Kayla clutches her chest like she’s personally offended. “I just—I don’t even know what to say. I feel like this is a tragedy. A crisis.”

Jake points his drink at Griffin. “Are you in a cult? Are you secretly married? Mormon? Do you have a very specific oral allergy we need to be aware of?”

Griffin just laughs, shaking his head. “It’s really not that deep.”

“IT IS, THOUGH.” Kayla leans forward, her voice dropping like she’s revealing classified information. “Griffin, babe. Sweetheart. Darling. I’ve seen girls throw themselves at you.”

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