Page 26 of Stay With Me (Griffin’s Den #2)

TWENTY-SIX

Luna

Jess and I are curled up on the couch, watching one of her new favorite shows about wildlife. As the credits start to roll, I grab the remote and turn the TV off.

When I turn to tell her it’s time to get ready for bed, she asks me, “Do you ever miss The Family?”

I pause.

Her therapist mentioned that Jess might start asking questions as she works through everything.

I take a deep breath. “The answer is complicated.” I lean back onto the couch and turn toward her, tucking a leg under me.

“I started questioning things that happened in The Family when I was younger than you. To be honest, I don’t know why a lot of the teachings didn’t feel right to me.

In my heart of hearts, I knew something wasn’t right.

The older I got, the more I knew I wasn’t meant to be there.

” I watch her as she fiddles with the bottom of her shirt.

“I will tell you, I miss the carefree, off-the-grid way of life, but not enough to go back. Does that make sense?”

She shrugs. “Sometimes I think it was easier back with them.”

My heart breaks because I know the feeling.

The first six months of being on the run, I thought the same thing, that I should go back and just take the punishment and move forward. “I can understand that. Is there anything that’s happening that you’re uncomfortable with? Or don’t understand why we’re doing it?”

With a sigh, she shakes her head. “Everyone is so nice, and no one has tried to kill me. I just don’t know who to believe.

Why would Father and the elders lie to us about the outside world being so bad if I can’t find a single reason for him to think that?

My therapist says some people just like to be in control and that sometimes it can’t be explained.

Do you know when The Family started? Or why? ”

I shake my head. “I don’t know. The little I have been able to put together is that I’m a second-generation child born into The Family.

But we’re meeting with the FBI soon, and the person we are talking to knows everything about them.

So maybe if you can write down some of the questions you have, I can ask them and get answers for you. ”

“Can I be there when you talk to them?”

Until right now, I was confident in my choice to not have her there, but now, I’m worried she’ll be upset with my decision.

“No, you won’t be talking to them, and the only reason I’m saying no is because I don’t know the person we’ll be talking to, and I don’t know what will be said.

You’re either going to hang out with Am at the farm or with Sam at his house while it’s happening, and I promise I’ll tell you everything that I can. ”

“If you don’t know the person, why are you talking to them?” she asks.

“Because Noah trusts them, and I trust Noah,” I admit.

“Okay.”

“Okay?”

“Yeah, I trust Noah too. Do you think we can have ice cream tomorrow after dinner?” she asks.

I can’t help but laugh.

She was forced to act so much older in The Family. But as the days go on, she allows herself to be a child, and I’m so happy she’s been given that.

“I think we can make that happen. But do you have any more questions for me? You know I’ll answer anything I can.”

“No, it’s just really hard to think that everything we were taught might not be right. And if they aren’t right, who is?”

“That’s a good question. And, unfortunately, one I don’t have the answer to.

In a way, I think everyone tells you a version of their truth, and it’s up to us to determine if it’s something we believe in.

My rule of thumb is that I will always do some sort of research and hear both sides before I come to a conclusion. I might agree with one side or both.”

“That makes sense. I did learn about Google a couple of weeks ago, but Ms. Cassidy said we can’t believe everything we read on the internet.”

“That’s true, and if you ever have a question about something you’re being told or are reading, you can always come to Noah and me, and we’ll help the best we can.”

“Can I ask Sam, Am, Abby, or Pam too?”

“Yup.”

“Okay. I’m going to go to bed. I’m really tired today,” she tells me with a yawn.

“Okay. I’m going to sit on the porch and read if you need anything.”

“Thanks for everything, Luna. Even when I’m confused, I’m happy to be here with you.”

“You’re welcome. I’m happy you’re here too,” I tell her, emotions clogging my throat.

Watching her stand to head to her room, I can only hope that I made the right choice to involve the FBI and that it hasn’t put a bigger target on our backs.

Checking the time, I see it’s only seven thirty.

I grab the book the girls and I are reading from the spare room and head to the front porch to sit on the swing.

Noah has the perfect house. It’s about twenty minutes from my job, so it’s not far, but isn't near the center of town either. It’s peaceful.

Setting my phone to the side, I open my book, excited to jump into the new story.

Noah’s headlights catch my eye as he turns into the driveway. Setting the book down, I watch him get out of the truck. Every time I see him, he takes my breath away, and I still feel like I have to pinch myself that this man is even remotely interested in someone like me.

My heart flutters every time I see him in his uniform—his broad chest under his bulletproof vest and the way his pants mold to his strong legs.

His messy blond hair looks like he ran his hands through it recently, and his blue eyes lock onto mine.

His smirk tells me I was caught checking him out, and I can’t help but squirm as he walks closer.

“Hey, baby, how are you?” he asks as he walks up the stairs.

“Um, I’m okay. I had a conversation with Jess before she went to bed that I was expecting, but it still caught me off guard.”

“A bad conversation?”

“I don’t think I would say it was bad. More about if I miss The Family.”

“Oh. Were you okay talking about it? I know her therapist talked about it coming up,” he says, now fully standing in front of me.

My eyes fight to stay on his face after the last couple of chapters in my book.

I’ve never been drawn to anyone like I am to him.

I remember the first time a guy flirted with me after I left The Family. I didn’t understand what was happening. I had no interest in even the thought of dating.

Until the moment I met Noah.

“Yeah, I was okay talking about it, but it was harder to put into words than I thought it would be.”

His eyes search mine to see if I’m telling the truth, but I’m okay.

Well, about that topic anyway.

What I don’t know how to bring up is how I’m ready for us to go to the next step in our relationship. I know he said he wanted to make sure I was ready, but I don’t want to wait much longer.

I adjust how I’m sitting on the swing and run my hand through my hair to get the stray strands off my face.

He moves to sit down next to me the best he can with his utility belt on, his eyes never leaving mine. “Are you sure you’re okay? You seem… off.”

“Yeah, why wouldn’t I be okay?”

He narrows his eyes like he can see through my half lie. Then his eyes travel down my body, landing on my book. When his eyes meet mine again, his smirk stretches into a full smile.

“Whatcha reading about, baby?”

“A book about a girl who is accidentally kidnapped by a man and someone he works with and he wants to keep her because he falls in love,” I answer and lick my lips.

I’m not embarrassed about the fact that I read romance, but I don’t know how to talk about it either.

He leans forward like he is going to kiss me, and my eyes start to close.

“Are you sure that’s all it’s about?” he whispers.

I nod, words escaping me as I close the distance and make the first move.