Page 24 of Home Safe

I shake my head. “No, Jason’s fine.”

“But thereissomething on your mind,” Kara observes. She glances at her watch. “We have sixteen minutes until the first classes rotate to our rooms. Spill.”

My thumb is working overtime picking off the clear polish on my fingernails as I debate whether to clue Kara in to my new friendship with Griffin.Should I even call it a friendship? Acquaintanceship?

Kara grabs my thumb and yanks my hand up like evidence. “Spill,” she reiterates.

Sighing, I cover my face with my hands. “Swear you won’t breathe a word about this to anyone else,” I say, peeking out between my fingers.

She holds a hand up. “Of course, I swear.”

“Not even Ron.Especiallynot Ron,” I clarify. Her husband is a huge sports fanatic.

Kara pouts momentarily but agrees. I blow out a breath. “So, you remember the baseball camp that Jason got to participate in—the one organized by Griffin West?”

“Of course, I remember,” Kara says. “Your new son getting to meet members of the Crowns baseball team isn’t exactly a forgettable detail. Or Griffin West’s sister becoming your new babysitter.”

My thumb resumes fidgeting with my nails. “Well, Jason and I have really connected with Samantha, Griffin’s younger sister. Turns out she joined Griffin’s family through adoption because his parents fostered kids for several years.”

Kara nods. “Ohhhh, that makes a lot of sense why he would host a camp for kids in foster care.”

“Exactly. And Samantha understands firsthand some of what the kids might be experiencing. As you know, she offered to start babysitting Jason whenever I needed some time to myself. She came over last night to stay with him while I went to book club,” I explain.

“That’s great! Why would you be acting broody about that?” Kara asks.

“Well . . . when I say we connected with Samantha, I guess it might be more accurate to say we connected with Samantha . . . and Griffin.”

Kara’s eyes widen dramatically. “Danae, youknowGriffin West?!” Her voice started out hushed but grew in strength and pitch. I shush her.

“Be quiet, or I won’t tell you the rest!” I admonish. She mimes zipping her lips, so I fill her in on last night’s events.

After dramatically unzipping her lips, Kara loudly whispers, “You rode in a car with Griffin West and weren’t going to tell me?! I thought you were my best friend!”

I roll my eyes. “You are my best friend, but I’m still trying to process all this new information. After I was already processing a lot of new information with Jason moving in.”

“What’s he like? Is he as charming in person as he seems to be?” Kara asks.

“I mean, I didn’t even know who he was the first time I met him”—Kara closes her eyes and shakes her head at this—“so I can’t say I’m the authority on whether he matches his public image. Butcharming might not be exactly the right term. It’s not charm just for show. He’s . . . well, he’s . . .” I feel my cheeks heat as I trail off, searching for the right word.

A grin spreads across Kara’s face. “You have a crush on Griffin West!” she squeaks.

“Kara! Stop it! Crushes are for teenagers—I donothave a crush,” I say. Kara side eyes me. “I just . . . I keep thinking about him. And I’d like it to stop.”

“Danae Collins, only you could be friends with Griffin West and wish you could stop thinking about him,” Kara says with an exasperated expression.

“We’re not friends—more like acquaintances,” I try to justify. Kara shoots me a look. “Okay, fine, I guess we’re a level up from acquaintances.”

“Why are you so averse to thinking about him? If I wasn’t happily married, I wouldhappilyspend time thinking about Griffin West,” Kara says. “Especially if I had even the slimmest of chances with him.”

“Because he’s the opposite of everything I want out of life! You know I hate baseball. You know I hate instability. You know I hate the fanfare that comes with wealth and status,” I say. Kara’s expression softens slightly. “Griffin West’s existence is pretty much summed up by everything I hate. It makes no sense for me to like him. So, thinking about him is pointless. I need my brain to compute that logic.”

Kara looks at me with assessing eyes. “Logic has its place. An important place.” She pokes me in my chest. “But our hearts also have a place. Maybe your heart is fighting for its place. Not to kick logic out the door, but to at least have a seat at the table.”

I mull over her words, not particularly wanting to give credence to them. “This is a silly conversation anyway. It’s not like Griffin West is going to think twice about me. I’m a school librarian with a newly-adopted son. Not exactly the caliber of the models or socialites he’s probably used to dating. He was doing a favor for his sister last night. My mind has run wild worrying about contingencies that aren’t even going to happen.”

Karatsks. “Or maybe you’re precisely the type of woman who would capture his attention. He’d be a smart man to notice you.”

Sighing, I fight a smile. “You’re just saying that because you’re my best friend.”

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