Page 90 of Lessons in Heartbreak

Marcus cleared his throat. “Don’t you want to know who I am?” he asked, laying a hand on his inked chest.

Maggie rolled her eyes. “I know who you are. I watchSportsCenterevery morning.”

“Nice,” he said.

Griffin rubbed the back of his neck, looking a little bit like he might pass out.

“But she’s new,” Maggie said. “I know Uncle Griffin’s single because it’s all over the internet.”

My mouth was dry as the freaking Sahara when I opened it to speak. “I—”

“She’s my friend,” Griffin said, “and you don’t get to be nosy right now, young lady. You’re in so much trouble.”

“Technically, we’re only in trouble once Dad catches us,” she pointed out.

Marcus snickered. “I hope I have a kid like you someday.”

Maggie beamed.

Her brother rolled his eyes. “Don’t encourage her.”

Griffin pulled out his phone. “As much as I don’t want to do this, I have to call your dad.”

“No!” both kids wailed.

Indecision was stamped all over Griffin’s face as Maggie tugged on his arm. “Please,” she begged. “He’ll make us leave, and we haven’t seenyou in so long. Just ... just send him a text and let him know we’re okay and that you’d love to have us stay for a while. Please?”

Her chin started wobbling, and Griffin sighed, tugging her in for a hug. “I missed you, kid.”

She flung her arms around his waist and lost her battle with her tears. “We missed you too.”

My own eyes burned as I watched him extend an arm to a suspiciously red-eyed Bryce, and he joined them in the hug. Griffin sighed, kissing the tops of both of their heads, his eyes falling closed as the two kids cried softly in his arms.

Oh, this was dangerous.

Griffin showing sweet paternal energy was like a rallying cry for my ovaries, and I actually pressed a hand to my stomach to instruct those little jerks to calm down. Not once had I heard the ticking clock, or even a whisper of wanting to have kids. For years, I’d been so consumed with just ... staying alive that procreating was so far off in the distance I couldn’t even squint to see it.

But the sudden image of Griffin holding a baby almost knocked me down to my knees.

I pinched my eyes shut and turned toward the kitchen, bracing a hand on the counter until I could ruthlessly banish that picture into the depths of ... I don’t know ... mental purgatory, where it belonged.

Marcus gently touched my arm. “I think I’m gonna go see what Lauren’s up to,” he whispered, with a quick glance at where Griffin was talking quietly to the two kids. “Give him a little space.”

I nodded, wondering if I should do the same.

Marcus exited without fanfare, sneaking out down the hallway through the garage. Griffin straightened with the kids still holding him tight, eyes briefly locking on mine. He looked so lost. My hands itched to hug him. Hold him. Do something. Maybe this was why he always threatened violence when I was upset about something—because then he could do something to make it better. Make it go away.

In that moment, I would have done anything to give him an anchor. Make him feel safe, like he wasn’t alone. It was the same thing he’d been doing for me this entire time.What a dangerous game we’re playing,I thought. And yet, nothing could’ve dragged me away from him before our time was up. Nothing.

I’d take every minute, every second that he gave me, and soak up this sweet torture for as long as possible.

After a moment, Griffin told the kids to go check out the pool, and they ran off into the background with an excited whoop. He turned to me, blowing out a slow breath, that lost quality seeping back into his expression. “What the fuck?” he whispered.

I let out a small laugh. “So,” I said. “Those are Barrett’s kids.”

He nodded, eyes flitting between me and them. A soft, adoring smile played around his mouth as he watched them, and it was so unbearably attractive that I almost screamed.

“They’re so big. I haven’t seen them in a couple years.” Griffin pinched his eyes shut. “He’s gonna kill me when he finds out they’re here.”

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