Page 98 of Counterfeit Connection

“So it wasn’t jealousy at all with Wilder?” I tease.

“No. That old fart needed to be locked up for the way he spoke to and about you.”

I tuck the top of my head in under his chin. “You’re so confusing sometimes.”

He chuckles. “Not the first time I’ve heard that. Tell me specifically what you mean.”

“Well, you wanted to rip Wilder into little pieces for things he said and did, but the press, you tell me to ignore them. I don’t know. Sometimes the press has said worse things than he did. It’s confusing.”

“The press is vile, but they’re just trying to get clicks. If you shut them out, they can’t hurt you. Wilder was right there, in your presence, wanting to touch you, to disrespect you. Hecouldhave hurt you.”

I push myself to sit up and stare down at him. “You’d burn the world for me… wouldn’t you?” I ask him because the realizationjust sank into my chest. This is the kind of love I didn’t think was possible. It’s sitting right in front of me.

He sits up next to me but lowers his head a little so we are eye to eye. “I’d burn the world and throw myself onto the pyre for you.”

I shake my head, not even wanting to think of it, while throwing my arms around him. “I’m so in love with you.”

Griffin swiftly flips me over to my back. My hair puffs all around my face across the pillow. “I could live a whole life off of those six words.” His fingers play with my wrists before they move the hair next to my ear. “What if we did?”

“What if we did…what?”

“What if we tried to live the rest of our lives off it?”

I can feel the wrinkles in my forehead. “What if you were my forever?”

My breath catches in my throat. Is he really saying what I think he might be saying? Before I can even respond, our cell phones ring at nearly the same time. “Fuck’s sake,” he mutters as he climbs off me to reach for his while I reach for mine. “I’ll take this in my office,” he mutters angrily. “Shaw,” I hear him answer as he closes his office door.

My father’s unmistakable ringtone shatters the new silence I find myself in. After the quick time zone math, I’m realizing he’s up early, too early. “Dad. What’s wrong?”

“Kaitlyn…” he says gruffly.

He said my name, not Pixie. That means something isn’t right.

“Dad? What happened? Are you all right? Gillian?”

“Gillian is fine. Everyone is safe.” His voice is somber and a bit husky. He’s upset.

“You’re scaring me…”

“Have you checked your phone today?” he asks and I’m immediately confused.

“No? This is the first time I’ve touched it. Why?”

He sighs heavily. “How could you lie to me, Pixie?”

I sit up straighter. “Dad? What are you talking about?”

“Check your phone. I’m sure you have messages from your sister and friends.”

I place the call on speakerphone and see immediately that he’s right. I have hundreds of notifications that were clearly silenced overnight. I tap open the first one and I’m taken to a social media post containing a video. I don’t even have to click play to know what it is.

Griffin and I having sex on the balcony.

“Holy shit,” I breathe. “What is this? How did someone…?”

“I know you’ve had the birds and bees conversation long ago, clearly. I take it this was done without your knowledge.”

“Jesus Christ, Dad. Of course it was. How could you even ask that question?”

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