Page 64 of Home Safe

“The other day, I was talking to Kara and called you Griff. She totally freaked out that I shortened your name—she would lose it completely if I called you ‘babe.’”

I reach over to run a strand of Danae’s hair between my fingers. “I did internally freak out a little when you just called me ‘Griff’ a minute ago. And I also might lose it completely if you called me ‘babe.’”

Danae lowers her gaze with a bashful smile. A smile that begs me to cover her lips with mine, but I’m trying to stay focused on our list.

“Video and phone calls would be great, but what about when our schedules don’t align? What if that happens a lot, and we’re left to rely on only text messages? You know my tendency to overanalyze textmessages. And I don’t want our main communication to be a point of frustration for you with your dyslexia,” Danae says.

“No form of communication with you is going to frustrate me. I know you have listening ears around and can’t always listen to voice memos. I’ve spent years learning to manage my dyslexia and text messages—you don’t need to worry about me,” I say.

Danae nods. “Okay, if you’re sure. And . . . I would like to come out over spring break, if you’re serious about that.”

“Deadly serious,” I say. “Tell me the dates you can come, and I’ll arrange everything.”

She gives me a coy look when she responds, “You mean Samantha will arrange everything?”

I reward her flirtation with another sound kiss, but I’m careful not to get totally lost in it. Breaking away, I ask, “You feel a little better now that we have a list and a plan?”

Danae sighs. “I guess so. I still just . . . wish you weren’t leaving. Not when things are so hard with Jason. Not when things are really clicking between us. Right when I’m fal—” she cuts herself off and takes a deep breath. “I wish we didn’t have to say goodbye.”

I can’t make any promises about how hard or easy the next six weeks are going to be. She doesn’t need any platitudes about how well she’ll handle things with Jason on her own. So I give her the only promise I can.

“I’m coming back to you, Danae.”

Chapter twenty-seven

Danae

GRIFFIN

Where’s your ideal place to sit and read?

ME

You mean everyday location or dream locale?

GRIFFIN

Both.

ME

Everyday would be at one of the nearby parks when the temperature is perfect. Dream would be sitting by the fireplace of a ski lodge in the mountains.

GRIFFIN

You mean after a full day of skiing?

ME

Do you even know me at all?

GRIFFIN

So we’re going to a ski lodge but not goingskiing?

ME

You’re welcome to go skiing. You could even take Jason. I will sit by the fireplace with my book.

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