Page 32 of Griffin (Stone Brothers #5)

THIRTY

SHAY

"S hay, I can't tell you how glad I am to have you join the theater group. You'll be such a marvelous addition to the dancing cast." Miss Pearl had snow white hair and light blue eyes. She moved with such grace and ease, she had an almost ethereal quality about her.

"I'm the one who's thrilled. I've learned so much from you in these few months."

She waved and a pink blush covered her cheeks. "Oh please. You came with an abundance of skill and talent. All I did was help refine that."

Behind me, the door to the studio opened. Miss Pearl's smile spread out across her face. "Griffin, how nice to see you again."

Griffin joined us. I winked at him. After all, I knew all about his big-time crush on Miss Pearl. "Nice to see you again, Miss Pearl."

"Well, I'll let you two go. Remember, practice starts at 7 in the morning," Miss Pearl said. "Don't be late."

"I'll be here with slippers on," I replied.

Griffin and I walked out hand in hand. I was still finding it hard to believe how much my life had changed.

I had a full life now. No more half-life.

The divorce was nearly finalized, and Tate was on his way to prison for life.

And just like during my half-life moments, I'd easily let any trace of Tate go.

There were so few good memories that they got buried by the weight of the bad ones. I was moving forward from now on.

Griffin stopped me before I climbed into the truck. He pulled me into his arms.

I laughed. "I'm sweaty and, I daresay, stinky."

"Nope, ballerinas are never stinky. They are sugar and spice and everything nice." He kissed me. "Yep. That proves the sugar theory." His green gaze held mine. "Your place or mine?" he asked.

"Hmm, let's go to mine. Last time I was at your place, Crusoe and Theo were trying to skateboard down the stairs."

"Yeah, not one of their smarter plans. I think Crusoe is still icing his tailbone from that one. All right. Your place it is."

We got in the truck, and I scooted over to the middle seat. "Fin, I was thinking."

"Yeah?" He started the truck.

"Maybe I've had enough independence. I mean, I still want that, of course, but who says I can't have my cake and eat it too?

And by cake, I mean you." I tapped my chin.

"Or would my independence be the cake? Hmm, that one is confusing.

Anyway, this is my long, clumsy way of asking if you want to move in with me. "

Griffin stared straight ahead at the road and didn't answer. I felt silly and rejected for asking. "Or not. I'm sure you want your independence too," I added briskly.

"Me? Nah. I was just wondering how fast I could get my shit packed and moved."

I laughed in relief. "I'll start making space in the closet and dresser for you. What about Theo and Crusoe? They'll be a roommate short."

"The rent is cheap. They'll be fine." Griffin looked over at me. "You're sure about this?"

I nodded. "Yes. I'm starting over, and this time I'm doing it right, Fin Stone. You've been what I needed from the start. Someone I can trust. Someone who'll protect me and not hurt me. Someone who?—"

"Someone who loves you so fucking much it makes him ache just thinking about you. That's you, ballerina."

I wrapped my arm around his and rested my head against his shoulder. "With you by my side, this ballerina is going to fly."