Page 120 of No Way Home
“You’re his big brother.”
“I’ve also been a complete jackass.” He clasped his hands together, staring at them. “Like if there was a World’s Worst Brother award, I would’ve won it six years straight.”
“Griff—”
“Let me say this before I lose my nerve.” He flexed his hands. “I hurt him over and over, punishing him for whatshedid. And what’s worse is that I used you to do it.” I wanted to tell him it wasn’t true, but he’d asked me to let him finish, so I sat there, waiting. “I used you, Maggie, and it’s disgusting.”
“How?” I was the one who’d kissed Bowen and broken Griffin’s heart.
"I knew you two liked each other,” he admitted. “From the very beginning. I could tell.”
I pressed my hands to my cheeks, feeling stripped bare. “Was I that transparent?”
“Yes.” He chuckled. “And so was he.”
But it wasn’t that simple. “Ididlike him. But I liked you too. You know that, right?”
“Yeah. I know,” he said bitterly. “But you liked him more. Just like every other girl I’d ever been into. So freaking annoying,” he muttered. “There’s just something about him that makes girls go crazy.”
It was true. So true, it made me nauseous. Would I have to bat women away everywhere we went for the rest of our lives?
“You don’t need to worry,” Griffin said. “He’s immune to it. I actually think he finds it obnoxious.” His eyes smoldered on his brother’s behalf. “Youare the only woman I’ve ever seen him this crazy about.”
“I don’t know about that,” I said, shifting on my feet, suddenly very aware of myself.
“Please. He drew pictures of you. Plural. And gave them to you anonymously. For years. He never draws for anyone except my mom—and only when she begs or guilts him into it.Andhe pierced his eyebrow for you, knowing full well our dad was going to lose his mind—which he did, by the way.Andhe kissed you at the Spartan Race, in front of everyone. He loathes cheaters. And PDA. It disgusts him.”
My gaze skittered to Bowen under the tree. He waschewing his bottom lip into a twist, arms folded across his chest, watching us nervously.
“Really? He hates PDA?” I asked. “I didn’t know that.”
“Exactly.” Griffin tossed his hands out. “You wouldn’t—because he loses all rational thought whenever you’re around.” He glanced over his shoulder at Bowen. “We need to wrap this up before he upchucks his pancakes.” He huffed out a laugh. “I mean, look at him. He’s pitiful without you and he’s only a hundred feet away.”
My hands twisted around each other. “So you’re okay that Bowen and I are a couple?”
His head bobbed side to side. “I will be. It’s not that hard when I live across the country. I hardly think about it, no offense.”
“I’m glad.” It was a complete understatement. Some girls might love the idea of their ex lying in a dark room, still depressed about ‘the one that got away’ two years later. Not me. I really did want the best for Griff. "You’re happy in Arizona?”
“I am happy.” His eyes danced, and his mouth turned up at the corners like he knew a secret. “Really happy.”
“So you’re never moving back?” I asked, knowing Lemon would be gutted if it were true.
“Definitely not. I love it out there. No bugs, no humidity—” He stopped mid-sentence and checked his phone. “Oh, Mom’s itching for us to get back.” He slapped his thighs and looked at me. “Are we good?”
My stomach relaxed. “Yes, Griff. We’re good.” I opened my arms, hoping for a hug.
He wrapped his arms around me, squeezing me tight.
Bowen’s expression turned baleful and he strode toward us.
I stifled a giggle. “Oh, he doesn’t like this.”
“Told you he hates PDA.” He stood and propped his hands on his hips, laughing as Bowen walked up.
“Hands off my woman,” Bowen growled as soon as we were in earshot.
Griffin lifted his hands and took a giant step away from me. “Don’t get twitchy. We all know I was the detour and you’re the destination. Aight?”
