Page 121 of Dream Chaser
Mom rolls her eyes. “That one was sweet. But the football and back porch? CaptionedTake Me There, that was a whole damn Hallmark movie.”
Dad nods solemnly. “Cheesy. Extra sharp cheddar.”
“I stand by it.” Griffon shrugs. “Grand says they’re love letters.”
Grand, I think I love her … but never want to play cards with her.
Mom gives me side-eye, definitely clocking that I’ve been radiating feral panic energy ever since I walked in.
Under the island, Griffon’s foot nudges mine.
I ignore it. Not because I want to. But if I look at him, I’ll either crack … or melt. And I cannot be that girl. Not here. Not when every organ in my body is currently screaming variations oflove him and jump him. And that’s saying nothing about my lower half.
“Anyway,” Mom says, leaning against the counter like she’s trying to smooth the moment over, “it’s sweet. Truly. Not unexpected, but sweet.”
Dad lets out a long sigh, glancing over at me like he’s watching something shift.
“What?”
“Not long before you’re on the Hen List,” he says cryptically.
“The what now?” I ask warily.
“Meeting under full moons and speaking names into the heavens,” he adds.
Mom chokes on her tea and waves a hand while Dad pats her back, pleased with himself.
“Come again?” Griffon chuckles, clearly entertained.
“No,” Mom croaks, still recovering. “Don’t ask.”
Dad’s just getting warmed up. “It’s like fantasy football, but with no football and twice the players. A draft, and then once couples start forming, the real fun begins.”
“Jake Ross, don’t you dare,” Mom warns.
“As long as it’s notWilderness Warriors, I’m game,” Griffon adds dryly.
“Oh, it’s worse.” Dad smirks. “You’ll be involved, too. Midnight dinner parties. Secret ballots. Once ‘the chosen’ are coupled up?—”
“Your sister, Phoebe, and Jade will kill you,” Mom warns. “Then who’ll plow the fields?”
“Is that literal or metaphorical?” Griffon asks. “Because I’m totally down to get my John Deere license.”
“Griffon Skinner!” I bark, scandalized.
Dad laughs—like truly belly-laughs—and turns to Mom. “Tell your daughter what you meddling women have been up to since this all started.”
It hits me then, and now I remember all the hints Riley has dropped that have to be exactly this. “Oh my God, Mom!”
She just smiles into her mug. “What? He was my first-round pick.”
“Wasn’t mine,” Dad says, grinning.
“You liked Hunt’s last name,” Mom huffs.
“Really?” I squint at Dad likehave you ever truly known me?
“I’m part of this family now—someone needs to catch me up,” Griffon says like it’s the most normal thing in the world.
