Page 83 of How He Got the Girl
Griffin laughs. “Is there something you want to ask me, beautiful?”
“Do you want to come over?”
“Isn’t it girls’ night?”
I fiddle with the hem of my sweater. “Yeah, we’re doing a winter trivia night at home and just realized we have an odd number of people. I need a partner.”
“Oh, so I’m the replacement?” His voice is teasing, but I still feel bad.
“We planned it before our talk—”
“I’m just kidding. I’d be happy to partner with you, although I’m not sure how much help I’ll be.”
I sigh in relief. “Great. How soon can you be over here?”
“Give me ten minutes.”
“Sounds perfect.”
“See you soon, beautiful,” he says, and then the line clicks.
I head back into the living room and rejoin my friends and family.
“Well?” Alyssa raises a perfectly manicured eyebrow.
Shayna rocks on her heels, making her skirt swish around her calves. “Is he coming?”
I nod. “He’ll be here soon.”
I sit down on the couch, when I hear Tyler say to Kelsey, “It’s only a matter of time.”
I lean forward and shoot him a look. “A matter of time until what?”
Tyler doesn’t even flinch. I don’t think he’s ever been scared of me, even when I told him that I didn’t like him right to his face. It just makes him even more right for Kelsey. “You two realize how in love you are,” he says.
“Aren’t you already in love?” Emmy plops down next to me. Connor joins as well, taking a seat in an empty chair. Though he doesn’t say anything or look our way, I can tellhe’s listening to the conversation, simply observing rather than participating.
Shoot. I forgot people were here that aren’t privy to the details of our “dating contract.” I’m not sure if the contract is even a thing anymore now that we’re actually dating, but I can’t risk that information getting out or breaking my NDA.
I laugh dryly. “You know me. I’m quick to second-guess things when it comes to men. But there’s something different about Griffin.”
Emmy purses her lips. “You’re right. I don’t think you’ve ever introduced a boyfriend to the whole family before him. You must be serious about him.”
“That’s what they were saying.” I gesture to Kelsey and Tyler. “They think I’m in even deeper than I realize.”
“Do you agree with them?”
“Let’s just say I didn’t believe in fate. Not until I met him.”
Emmy sighs. “That’s the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard.”
When I look over at my brother, his gaze is already on me. For the briefest hint of a second, I think he might smile, but then his features morph back into their perpetually neutral state.
There’s a knock at the door. Emmy smiles suggestively at me and says in a singsong voice, “Your boyfriend’s here.”
I pop up, shaking my head. “I’ll let him in, then we can get started if you want to round up the troops.”
“Sure thing.” Emmy gets up to gather everyone who isn’t already in the living room while I head to the front door. I open it to find Griffin’s smiling face. He’s in dark-gray joggers and a black sweater, but it’s the backward baseball cap and the way he’s leaning against the wall that sends my stomach fluttering. I get what all the social media girlies meant about the effects of that combination on the femalepopulation. It should be illegal to look that good, to be able to cause that instant attraction.
