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Griffin’s entire body droops, his torso collapsing against the desk he’s been leaning on, as though relief has released all the panic ballooned inside him. “Thank you,” he says, wiping a hand down his face as he sits back up. “Thank you for not giving up on me. On this. On us. You would have every right to wash your hands of all this nonsense.”

“I can’t lie—I feel very unequipped to deal with the nonsense. Twenty kindergarteners screaming and flailing and sometimes vomiting in a room filled with books—that nonsense I can deal with. Media attention and people digging into Jason’s past because I’m dating a famous athlete? Not the nonsense I’m prepared for,” I say, wiping the remainder of my tears away.

Griffin’s face hardens. “As soon as Sam told me what was going on, I was ready to hop on a plane. If I wouldn’t have been in breach of contract, I would have skipped the game and been there throwing those vultures off your front lawn.”

I huff a small laugh. “Well, it’s a townhouse, so I don’t exactly have a lawn.”

A smile slowly breaks across Griffin’s face. “Did you just make a joke? At a time like this? Here I was, suffocating the whole game thinking that you would be showing me the exit door from your life, and now you’re joking about the mob of reporters outside?”

“Like I said, the exit door column did have more selling points for a minute there, the mob being a rather large one,” I say, smiling to soften the statement. I lean my head against my free hand. “But Jason’s social worker called and said nothing about this should inhibit the adoption moving forward. That was my biggest concern.”

Griffin’s head drops back slightly, and he takes a big inhale of relief. “Thank goodness,” he says on the exhale.

My voice falls to practically a whisper. “I’m sorry about the game. I should have waited until afterward to call you or Samantha.”

“Absolutely not. A situation like that is not something you carry by yourself, not even for a minute. You did the right thing calling to make sure I knew. I couldn't care less about losing a game, not right now. All I care about is that you feel safe,” Griffin says, voice slowly warming with each word, like a pot of water set to boil.

We stare at each other through the screen, wordlessly watching each other’s faces. He hums. “Did you know that your eyes turn fully green when you cry?” he asks. Smiling, I shake my head. “It’s like every fleck of gold gets chased away by the saltwater. They’re like a vibrant meadow green all of a sudden. So beautiful.” His final statement is a whisper.

Blushing, I glance down, breaking eye contact. When I look back up, his smile is soft. “I really wish I could kiss you right now,” he says. “Hold you. Run my fingers through your hair. Sit next to you for hours.”

“Right after I get to watch you throw all the reporters off my imaginary lawn. I’d kinda like to see that,” I respond with a smirk.

He sits up, puffing out his chest. “Would that display of alpha male protection impress you?”

I burst out laughing, the reverberation chasing away the lingering worry still hiding in my nerves. “I can’t say itwouldn’timpress me.”

Griffin’s face turns serious. “Are they still out there?”

Blowing out a breath, I rise to my feet so I can peek through the blinds on the kitchen window. It’s quiet, empty. Normal. “They’re gone,” I say, surprise in my tone. “I guess word traveled fast about Griffin West not standing for media circuses on my doorstep.”

“You let me know the second anyone else bothers you,” Griffin says. “Sam’s already contacted a lawyer about getting any article mentioning Jason’s personal information taken down. I’m going to do everything I can to protect him. Both of you. I’m sorry that it’s necessary. That I’ve brought this mess into your life.”

“I’m not sorry that you’re in my life,” I say, hearing his unspoken need for reassurance. “I’m only sorry that I can’t be there to kiss you right now.”

Chapter thirty-four

Griffin

ME

I get to see your beautiful face in person today. Can you come to my house straight from school? I should get there by three.

DANAE

I can’t wait to see you, but it will probably be a couple of hours after the end of school before we can make it over. I have to decorate the library for a special event tomorrow.

ME

Then can I come there to help you?

DANAE

Are you sure you want to do that?

ME

I’m positive I want to see you every second that I possibly can. And also positive that I want to help you in every way I can.