Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 102185 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 511(@200wpm)___ 409(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102185 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 511(@200wpm)___ 409(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
His arm comes around my shoulders, and he jostles me at his side. “I knew I could count on you, Buggy.”
“About the Buggy . . . let’s end that, okay?”
“You hate it that much, huh?”
“With a passion. It’s cutesy, but it was never used that way when I was little. It was used to make fun of me.”
This time, his side embrace feels genuine. “Consider it retired.”
“Thanks.” With him contemplating a move across the world to be with someone, it has me wondering if I’d move across county lines to be with Griffin. It’s fun to think about, but not something that’s on the table. It’s way too soon for that.
Is it too soon to see him again, though? Knowing Judy is at the house for the night, I check the time on my watch. Is it too late to contact him? For all I know, he could already be asleep. Selfishly, I’m willing to take the chance. But first, I pull the phone from my pocket to text Savvy, requesting her location.
My brother says, “You go on. I can cover with the crew. What do they have, an hour left?”
“Just under.” A text pops up from my cousin. “Savvy is restocking bottled water, but she’s here as well. She can handle it easily if you don’t want to.”
“I’ll stay. It’s been a long time since I’ve been a part of the events at the winery. It’s good to know all the ins and outs.”
I reply to Savvy and let her know I’m taking off. I also text: I’m going to see if I can get lucky. Again.
Her text pops up quickly: I knew it. Kidding aside, you have fun. You deserve all this good coming your way, cuz.
That built-in family best friend really worked out for us. I type: Thank you. Love you.
She replies: Love you.
When I pocket my phone again, I look up at my big brother. “Hey?”
“Yes?” he replies with a chuckle.
“Thank you.”
With a casual shrug, he nods. “It’s good to know all parts of the business.”
“That’s not what I was referring to.” I put my arm around his back because my immediate family of Dovers aren’t really huggers. But my intentions are good.
His arm comes around me as well. “I know,” he says, his eyes trained on the party. “Now get out of here, kid. Get some rest.”
I walk away, feeling good about our conversation. It’s the first time in years I feel we connected as humans, as siblings, even as equals. I smile. As soon as I reach my car, I send a text to Judy to let her know I’ll be out later. Then I send one to Griffin: You awake?
I don’t see an immediate response, but then the three dots rolling across the screen have me grinning. A reply pops up: Wide awake. You?
I type, holding my breath, and then hit send. I was thinking maybe we could knock another one of those to-dos off your list. What do you think?
I just know he’s already smirking. I can see it so clearly in my head, it’s like he’s here next to me. His message pops onto the screen: How fast can you get over to the Riggins’s house?
Me: Twenty minutes.
Him: If you’re speeding.
I remember joking with him about this very thing. So I text: A few speed limits will be broken, but all for a good cause.
Griffin: For a good cause indeed. We need to knock out this to-do list.
You’d think we hadn’t seen each other in weeks or even months. But even the hours from this morning have been too long without him in them. I send one more text before starting my SUV. I can’t wait to see you again.
CHAPTER 26
Cricket
I’m surprisingly calm.
Last week, my nerves were eating me alive, turning me into a person I don’t want to be. But Griffin relieved my anxiety when he stepped up for Jacob. Without question. Without hesitation. He didn’t even ask me to prove anything. He just believed me.
I could justify it any way I want to slice it, but the bottom line is, Griffin trusted me. He made me happy for my son to have his dad in his life, but maybe there’s also room for me in there somewhere. For the first time, I wonder if fairy tales really do exist?
Without another car in sight and no streetlights, I squint into the darkness ahead. I have no idea where this turnoff is, so I slow down to glance at my phone and the directions Griffin sent. According to him, the turnoff should be right about here. I stop, spotting an opening in the dilapidated fence falling on the right side, and pull in.
Maybe I should tell Savvy where I am, just in case I pulled onto the wrong property and am about to be murdered. My headlights land on the back of Griffin’s tailgate, and I breathe easier. Thank God.