Page 93 of Home Safe

Cinda asks several gentle questions about my experience with Jason so far, and I find myself slowly opening up more and more.This must be where Griffin got those human can opener skills.

“And have you found a therapist yet?” Cinda asks.

“Yes, we see Jason’s therapist once a week right now,” I reply. “Plus the OT appointments.”

“No, honey, I mean have you found a therapist foryouyet?” Cinda clarifies.

“Oh, um, no, I haven’t,” I stutter. “I mean, I talk with Jessica, Jason’s therapist, and learn a lot from her about what’s going on in his mind and how I can help him regulate.”

“But you need a professional to talk to just for you, hon,” Cinda says. “Supporting a loved one as they work through their trauma isn’t a light load. You’ll need help processing your own secondary trauma if you want to continue being there for Jason.”

My brows furrow. “So you had your own therapist apart from who Samantha and Ian saw?”

“Absolutely,” Cinda says. “David went sometimes, too, although not as often as I did. Griffin and his older siblings even talked with her a handful of times. You make sure you’re finding the supportyouneed to stay healthy and regulated.”

We’re interrupted again by the announcement that Griffin is up to bat, so we turn our attention to the field. The remainder of the game is a dance between our conversation and watching Griffin, and by the end, I realize it’s the most I’ve ever enjoyed a baseball game. As a bonus, the Crowns win 4–2, with Griffin scoring two of the runs. Jason gets a huge kick out of watching Adrian douse Griffin with a cooler of Gatorade during the post-game interview. Let’s be honest—I get an equally big kick out of the sight, and the grin on Griffin’s face has me weak at the knees all the way up in the top of the stadium.

Everyone hangs out in the suite until Griffin is cleaned up and able to join us. Despite the fact that his parents and brother are here, Griffin gives first attention to a very eager, very excited Jason. He places his hands on his knees and bends to look Jason in the eye.

“Did you see my long throw from deep in the shortstop hole in the sixth inning?” Griffin asks Jason, as though there’s any doubt that Jason watched every single second.

“Yes!” Jason says with a fist pump and leap into the air. “I was afraid the ump was gonna call him safe when I justknewyou got the ball to Sheffield in time. Good thing he called it right.” Jason swings an imaginary bat so hard he spins himself in a circle. “And then you had that triple in the seventh inning—epic! Did you hear your dad and me cheering for you? Because we were super loud.”

At Jason’s mention of Griffin’s dad, he finally has license to look around and greet everyone else. He’s equally surprised by Ian’s presence, giving him some sort of intricate handshake that must have taken years to perfect. After a bear hug from his mom and a manly slap on the back from his dad, Griffin turns to me and picks me up in a spinning hug.

“All my people here in one room after a solid win—nothing could make me happier,” Griffin says, his face bright.

“I believe you’re forgetting that you have two other siblings plus a sister-in-law,” Cinda says sternly. “Should I tell Miranda and Sawyer that you’ve kicked them out of the family?”

Griffin rolls his eyes. “No, Mom, I didn’t forget them. But they’re too busy with their own grown-up lives to come to my games anymore.”

“You can tell them that Ian and I are Griff’sfavoritesiblings,” Samantha chimes in.

“Now, Sammi—” Cinda begins, but David jumps in with a change of subject. “Jason here might have a future career in sportscasting. Kid’s a natural at narrating the game-play.”

We all watch with smiles as Jason visibly inflates, standing two inches taller and lifting his chin. Griffin holds his clenched hand out for a fist bump from Jason.

“Oh yeah, Fireball here has an incredible grasp on the game. And wait till you see him throw the ball,” Griffin says, matching Jason’s grin. “What do you say we all head back to my house to hang out for the evening? Mom and Dad, the guest room is ready for you, but you’ll probably have to sleep on the floor somewhere, Ian.”

“Whatever, I’m kicking Sam out of her bed,” Ian retorts. A round of sibling bickering and teasing ensues that gives me a glimpse into the West family household, bringing a smile to my lips and a splinter to my heart.

And in that intuitive, charismatic way of his, Griffin is immediately right there, sensing my thoughts. He presses a kiss right below my ear and whispers, “I love you.”

Chapter thirty-eight

Griffin

ME

First of all, it’s been less than a day since my parents headed home and I flew out, and I’ve received no less than fourteen texts from my mom gushing about you.

DANAE

You were right. I loved her. Both of them.

What’s second of all?

ME

---