“Mahalo. I owe you. See you in a few.”
I pull on shorts and a v-neck, slipping on shoes and grabbing my purse as I rush out the door. It’s a quick five minute walk to Honolulu Beerworks from my apartment. Raff and I go there quite a bit because it’s convenient and they have delicious drinks and pub food. I guess he and Griffin must go there too. I wonder where Rafferty is that left me getting this call. And why it’s even necessary. When I walk in I spot Griffin immediately. Oh, dear. He’s stooped over a glass, shoulders hunched. Alex tosses me a shaka and goes back to work as I slide into the seat next to Griffin.
“Hey, Griff,” I say softly.
He looks at me with bleary eyes. “Fuck. Why’d it have to be you?”
That hurts, but I don’t let him see. Keep the wall up. “Alex called me. He thought you might need someone to walk home with you.”
He shakes his head, looking a bit hazy after the abrupt movement. “No. Why’d it have to beyou?”
“Griff, I don’t really know what we’re talking about, but I’d like to walk you home. Will you walk with me?”
He looks frustrated but he nods. My stomach growls and he peers at me closely, his face inches from mine. “You’re hungry. You need to eat.”
“Haveyounot eaten, Griff?”
He shakes his head at me. “Just alcohol. Lots of alcohol. Actually, not that much at all. S’embarrassing.”
I motion Alex over. “Hey, brah! Griff hasn’t eaten anything and I’m pretty hungry too. Can we get two Beermade Mac and Cheeses and can you make me a Sweet Heat? Once we have some food in our bellies, we’re gonna walk home together.”
“Sounds good, Mina, I’ll get that order in right away.”
Griffin looks melancholy. I’m not sure if I should draw him out or let him stew. I don’t want to poke the bear, so to speak, and cause a scene. I’d like to be able to continue coming here after tonight. I have no idea what might push him over the edge, or if there is an edge. I’m not sure he even gets angry. Griffin looks up at me, tilting his head very low to one side. “Were you and Rafferty together?Togethertogether?”
“No, Griff. Never. Why would you think that?”
“He let me think that. Why would he let me think that? ’Cause he’s into you?”
I laugh and he scowls. “Sorry, I’m not laughing at you, Griffin. Raff and I have had this conversation before. The two of us together would be a disaster. We make really, really good friends. That’s it. And neither of us have ever wanted to change that.”
He grunts and goes back to whatever he was drinking, finishing it off with a gulp. Alex brings him a big glass of water and delivers my drink. I wink at him in appreciation. Griffin sees, glares at Alex, then scowls at his water like it did him wrong. I take a sip from my glass. The combination of pineapple jalapeño infused vodka, lime juice, and seltzer is delicious. Alex swings back by a couple of minutes later, dropping off our food with a flourish.
“Here, Griff, mac and cheese. It’s perfect carb-y goodness. Eat up.” I scoot his in front of him and dig into my own, moaning in delight. Griffin is staring at me, mouth slightly open. “What? It’s good. They have the best mac and cheese. And I’m starving!”
Once he takes a bite he starts eating energetically. Thank goodness. There’s no way I can carry him home. We take our time eating and I flag Alex down again, ordering some fries too. He smirks at me and I flip him off. Fine. Everyone knew I was going to order fries.
Hopefully, the time and food help sober Griffin up some. When we’re done, he stands, swaying only a little, dropping cash on the table. I add to the pile to cover our food, my drink, and a very hefty tip for my man, Alex. He more than earned it tonight. I take Griffin’s hand and lead him outside. Now is not the time to think about the feel of his palm against mine, or how he automatically intertwined our fingers.
I’m too small to support him with my shoulders, I settle for wrapping my arm around his waist, even though I hate to do it because I have to let go of his hand.
“You can lean on me, Griff. It’s a short walk.”
He’s not too unsteady on his feet. He seems more in control with every step. I’m relatively certain we can make it to his apartment without any major mishaps. The alcohol has made him stubborn, possibly belligerent, but not overly clumsy. Or maybe he’s always this way when he’s mad. What do I know?
We’re slow, but we make steady progress. Ten minutes later I take his keys from him and unlock his door, letting us into his apartment. It’s warm but masculine. Everything is neat with clean lines and no clutter. I expected nothing less from Griffin Simms. It smells good, like him. I close the door and turn to find Griffin pacing. His earlier slowness has been replaced with almost frenzied energy.
“Why did it have to be you, Mina?Why?”
“Why did what have to be me, Griff? I still don’t understand what we’re talking about. Should I have called someone else to pick you up?”
He’s raking his fingers through his dark hair, leaving it sticking up in places, and it’s weird to see him…messy. “There was a plan. There are things that are expected of me. I always do what is expected. I do what is right. Catherine is what is right!”
“This is about my sister?” My anger flares, hot and immediate. God-fucking-dammit! EVERYONE knows they’re wrong together and he’s still fightingthis hardto make the wrong thing work?! And what exactly is wrong with me that he won’t even give me a chance? My fury is building with every breath, threatening to engulf everything around me.
“Yes! She’s the right choice! It all makes sense. We mapped it out. It’s safe. It’s comfortable. It’s easy.”
“Why don’t you go to Catherine then?” I ask him sharply, my voice raising.