Page 60 of Crash
“We should probably get going,” Quynh said hesitantly as she slowly stood up. She hesitantly approached her father, unsure of what to do. Her father reached out a hand, which she grasped, grateful for the olive branch. Holding his aged hand in both of hers as they smiled tentatively at each other. Then, he gave Cindy a nod, who tried to pretend like she hadn’t been eavesdropping on the edge of the lawn. A gesture she knew meant he was ready to retire to his bedroom.
“Goodbye, dears.” Cindy rushed to wheel her father back into the home.
She watched the pair as they moved toward the house. Her father glanced over his shoulder and offered a small wave of goodbye.
Griffin’s warmth against her back made her tense muscles relax. When he wrapped his strong arms around her waist, pulling her against his hard chest, she let out a breath of relief. He rested his chin on her head. They stood together for a moment as she processed the last hour.
Griffin turned her around gently, hands framing her face. His calloused fingers wiped away tears she hadn’t known were there. He kissed her on her forehead and pulled her in for a tight embrace.
She clung to him. Her rock. Her quiet comfort.
Not for the first time, her stomachfluttered with awareness. This time, though, instead of pushing the sensation away, she embraced it.
She wondered if this was what her mother felt for her father. If what she was feeling was even a fraction of how her mother felt, she understood why losing it would break a person.
Quynh prayed she never had to know what her mother endured firsthand.
She wasn’t sure she was strong enough to survive it.
twenty-six
QUYNH
Bright rays of sunshine peeked through the blinds. For a moment, Quynh forgot where she was. Last night, Griffin brought her back to his house. She was completely emotionally drained from her visit with her father. She’d wanted to collapse in his bed and curl up under his blankets for at least a few days. Though he didn’t push her to talk, he’d silently prepared a hot bath.
He insisted she get in the hot bath while he cooked dinner for them. He’d given her an adorable frown when she’d tried to refuse.
“You’re not going to waste all that hot water, are you?”
It took more effort than it should have to get undressed, but it was worth it when she sank into the slightly too-hot water. She’d let the lavender scents from the bath bomb Griffin tossed into the bath soothe her senses as her muscles relaxed.
By the time Griffin came back to retrieve her for dinner, the bath water was barely lukewarm, and she fell asleep. He shook her awake gently, having a giant fluffy towel ready to help her get out of the bath. Wrapped up in the towel, she’d felt like a princess as he helped her get dressed in another one of his shirts and sweats. Once she was fully dressed, he’d cradled her in his arms and carried her to the dinner table.
Quynh never felt so cared for before. And she was not complaining. It was a welcomed feeling after the emotional roller coaster of the past week. She never realized how lonely she was until she met Griffin. How empty her life was.
Dinner was delicious, as always. She marveled at how talented Griffin was. Not only was he a respected and successful businessman, but he was also an amazing cook.
How did I get so lucky?
She could get used to this. She could get used to him. For a brief moment, she imagined what her life would be like if she stayed in Willowbrook.
Can I stay here?
Pushing the thoughts away, she finished the dinner he had made of beef Bolognese. She was too tired to worry about anything else but the present.
Life seemed so much simpler this way, not worrying about the future but focusing on the present.
Later, after they’d cleaned up dinner, the sex was unhurried. Tender. Building each other’s climaxes up slowly with gentle caresses and sweet kisses. Each touch of the hand was an exploration of not just their bodies but their souls. They came together, eyes clinging to each other as their climaxes peaked nearly simultaneously.
Quynh passed out before Griffin finished cleaning her up.
It was how she found herself this morning. Except something was different. There was a familiar furball curled up next to her head.
“Pickles?” She lifted her head to look around Griffin’s bedroom.
Where was Griffin?
She rarely woke up alone.
