Page 17 of Griffin (Pecan Pines #3)

Chapter 17

Griffin

M ichael tugged at the hem of his shirt for the third time since we’d left the house. I couldn’t help but smirk.

“He’s in a coma, you know,” I teased. “He won’t care how you’re dressed.”

Michael shot me a look, his fingers still fussing with the fabric.

“I still want to make a good impression,” he said, his voice soft but determined.

Adorable. That was the only word for it. Michael was so damn adorable sometimes it made my chest ache.

I shook my head, smiling as I pulled into the hospital parking lot. The tension eased a bit when I found a spot close to the entrance.

Once the truck was parked, I reached for him, my fingers brushing lightly over his arm. Before he could say a word, I leaned in and kissed him.

Michael stiffened for half a second, then melted against me, his nervous energy softening into something warm and familiar.

When I pulled back, he blinked at me, the faintest blush coloring his cheeks.

“What was that for?” he asked, his lips curving into a shy smile.

“For luck,” I said with a grin. “But mostly because I just wanted to kiss you.”

Michael laughed softly, shaking his head. “Well, I’m not complaining.”

I took his hand as we walked into the hospital, the automatic doors hissing open to let us in. The scent of disinfectant hit me like it always did—cold and sharp.

The familiar energy of the place surrounded us—nurses moving with purpose, monitors beeping in the background, and low conversations drifting through the halls.

Michael’s hand tightened in mine as we approached Dad’s room. I could feel his nerves kicking back in, but he didn’t say anything.

I pushed open the door, and there he was, just as he always was.

Dad lay still in the bed, the steady rhythm of the heart monitor the only sign that he was still here, still alive.

I swallowed hard, like I always did when I saw him like this. No matter how many times I came here, it never got easier.

Michael lingered in the doorway, his expression softening as he took in the sight of my dad. I gave his hand a gentle tug, and he stepped closer.

“Dad,” I said quietly, my voice steady but low. “I want you to meet Michael.”

Michael glanced at me, his eyes searching mine for a moment before he turned to my dad.

“It’s nice to meet you, sir,” he said, his tone sincere.

I half-expected something—anything.

For Dad to open his eyes, to sit up, to give Michael that protective once-over like he always did when I introduced him to someone new.

I could practically hear his voice in my head, asking a million questions, testing Michael’s resolve.

But Dad didn’t move. Michael shifted beside me, his gaze softening as it settled on my dad.

For a moment, he seemed hesitant, like he wasn’t sure what to say. Then, with a deep breath, he began to speak.

“You probably don’t know this, sir,” Michael started, his voice low and a little unsteady, “but Griffin and I met in the most unexpected way.”

I watched him, my chest tightening. Michael didn’t have to do this—he could’ve stayed silent, left the moment as it was.

But instead, he chose to fill the quiet with something meaningful.

“It was at a convention,” he continued, his words slowly gaining confidence. “I was exhausted after a whole day of networking and trying out new games, and I just wanted a moment to myself. Then, I sensed someone watching me. The next thing I knew, I was being chased. But Griffin, even though he was a stranger, decided to help me out.”

His lips quirked into a small smile, and he glanced at me briefly before turning back to my dad.

“I mean, you should’ve seen him chase that stalker off. I was drawn to him before I even realized it.”

My heart thudded heavily in my chest. I stayed quiet, letting him talk, but my wolf stirred inside me—calm, yet alert, listening to every word.

Michael chuckled softly, the sound filling the room.

"I kissed him in the cab. Can you believe it?" he admitted. "It was probably the most embarrassing moment of my life. And just when I thought I’d never see him again, Casey brought me here to Pecan Pines—to his bar."

I felt a lump forming in my throat as I listened to him recount our meeting.

He wasn’t just telling a story; he was weaving a connection, one that reached out to my dad even though Dad couldn’t respond.

“And from there, we just… clicked,” Michael said, his voice softening.

He hesitated, his hand brushing lightly over mine. “I didn’t know what I was missing until I met him. He’s patient, protective, a little stubborn sometimes…”

I raised an eyebrow, smirking.

“But he’s also one of the kindest, most genuine people I’ve ever known,” Michael finished, his voice trembling just slightly. “I’m really lucky to have him in my life.”

I couldn’t take my eyes off him. Watching Michael speak to my dad like this—like he was fully alive and part of the conversation—it did something to me.

It broke something open inside of me, something I hadn’t even realized was locked up.

In that moment, it hit me like a freight train. This wasn’t just some casual relationship, something fleeting. Michael was it.

He wasn’t just my boyfriend, my partner. He was my mate.

I’d known Michael was incredible. From the moment we met, he’d surprised me, challenged me, made me laugh.

But now, watching him pour his heart out to my dad, showing a level of kindness and vulnerability most people wouldn’t even think to offer—it made me proud.

Proud of him. Proud of us. Proud that he was mine.

My wolf stirred again, not with the usual restlessness but with a deep sense of contentment. This was right. This was exactly how it was supposed to be.

Michael glanced at me, his eyes filled with something I could only describe as hope.

“Do you think he heard me?” he asked quietly.

I swallowed hard, nodding. “I think he did,” I said, my voice thick with emotion. “And even if he didn’t… I did.”

Michael’s expression softened, and he reached for my hand, squeezing it gently.

We talked to Dad for a while longer, but eventually, Michael's phone beeped. He glanced at the screen and sighed.

"I hate to leave. I’ve got a stream coming up,” he said, sounding reluctant.

Was it Todd again, reminding him he had to stream? I bit back the question, knowing it would sound snarky.

We were having such a good moment, and I didn’t want to ruin it, so I let it go. I nodded, brushing my fingers over his arm.

“Go. I’ll be here when you’re done,” I told him.

He hesitated, leaning in to kiss me quickly before stepping back.

“See you later,” he whispered, then slipped out the door.

As the door clicked shut behind him, the silence in the room grew heavier. I turned back to Dad, staring at the man who had always been larger than life to me.

The man who had taught me how to stand my ground, who’d been there through every scraped knee, every mistake, every victory.

He wasn’t coming back.

The realization hit me harder than I thought it would.

I’d been clinging to hope, telling myself that one day, he’d wake up, and everything would go back to the way it was.

But deep down, I knew better. Noah and I were keeping him here for us, not for him.

A knock on the door broke through my thoughts. I looked up to see Noah standing there, his expression guarded but familiar.

“Where’s Michael?” he asked as he stepped inside.

“He had to head back for a bit. Work stuff,” I said.

Noah nodded, his gaze drifting to Dad. He stood there for a moment, his arms crossed, before letting out a small laugh.

“Dad would’ve liked him,” Noah said, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

“Yeah,” I agreed, a grin breaking through despite the ache in my chest. “He would’ve.”

The silence stretched between us, heavy with everything we weren’t saying.

“Noah...” My voice came out quieter than I intended. “It’s time.”

Noah’s jaw tightened, his gaze still fixed on Dad.

“I’m not ready,” he said, his voice cracking just enough to break my heart a little.

I walked over to him, placing a hand on his shoulder. He didn’t resist when I pulled him into a hug, something neither of us did often. But right now, it felt right.

“We’ll be okay,” I said, my voice steady despite the lump in my throat. “We’ve always watched each other’s backs.”

Noah let out a shaky breath, holding on a little tighter than I expected.

“Yeah, you’ll be okay,” he said, his tone trying for light but falling short. “You’ve got Michael now.”

I managed a small smile. “Don’t worry. We’ll make sure you’re not lonely.”

Noah snorted, stepping back and shaking his head. “You think I’m the lonely one?”

“You’ll find your own mate someday,” I said, my voice firm with belief.

Noah’s gaze softened as it drifted back to Dad.

“Yeah, but I was hoping I could introduce him to Dad too, you know? That might be months... years away,” Noah said.

I nodded, my throat tightening. “It’s time,” I reminded him.

Noah exhaled deeply, his shoulders slumping as he finally let go of the weight we’d both been carrying.

“It’s time,” he agreed, his voice filled with both grief and acceptance.

We stood there together, looking at the man who had shaped so much of who we were. My cellphone vibrated in my pocket, shattering the solemn mood.

Pulling it out, I saw Michael's name flashing on the screen. Relief surged through me—until the call ended before I could press answer.

I frowned, staring at the screen as if willing it to ring again. My wolf stirred uneasily, an instinctual alarm thrumming through me. Something didn’t feel right.

Michael had mentioned his stalker during his last stream, the way they’d brazenly appeared in his chat room, dropping chilling hints about knowing where we were.

The stalker had somehow pinpointed our exact location at that ice cream shop in Cinderfield, even though it was packed with people. How the hell had they known?

The thought made my chest tighten. My wolf growled softly, the unease clawing deeper.

And now, looking at this single missed call, a terrible certainty settled over me. Something was wrong.

Or worse—something was about to go terribly wrong.

"Noah," I said abruptly, cutting into whatever he was saying. "We'll talk more another time."

Noah blinked, taken aback. "Wait, what? Where are you going?”

"I need to go," I said, already moving.