Authors: Victoria H. Smith
Lowering my hand from the knob, I gave him a small smile. “Some of the not so great things I’ve done in my past kept me from Roxie at first, but I learned your daughter is forgiving. You just have to give her time. She goes at her own speed, her own pace. You just have to be conscious of that. It’s one of the things that makes her special.”
I didn’t say what I had to give him unrealistic expectations or a false sense of hope. I strongly believed in the words. Roxie was an amazing woman who had nothing but openness in her heart. And though she had her own struggles within herself, she got nothing but braver every day, stronger. She didn’t let anything break her down. She was a fighter, and one day, she’d be able to reconnect with her father. I just wanted her dad to know that. That there was some light at the end tunnel. I believed it was there for both of them.
I think this man knew that, too. He nodded at me with a small smile before going through some papers on his desk.
D stood against the wall when I came out of his office, his head popping up as I passed him. I really had nothing to say to him. He got his second chance, could move on, and I helped him get there. Because of that, I believed we were finished here, but he didn’t, trailing behind me.
“What did he say, Griff?” he asked.
I let out breath when I stopped to talk to him. That’s when I knew something.
I was angry.
I didn’t understand why until I turned to him. The words tickling my throat, I decided to let them fly. “He wanted to let me know that he’s covering for you. He’s personally covering for you and the other guys because he knows what you did.”
Surprise flashed in his eyes and a stupid look hit his face. I was so tired of that look, that selfishness. He wanted to help his family, I got that, but on the way he betrayed me. He betrayed me when he insulted my girlfriend and kept things from me.
Tired of looking at him, I turned, but he grabbed my arm.
“Why, Griff?” he asked. “I mean, I’m happy, but why is he doing that?”
I didn’t turn around. Not this time. “Because his daughter asked him to. The same one I’m dating. The same one you had shit to say about in the locker room that day. That
word
you called her… what was it again?”
He didn’t respond, but he did lower his hand from my arm. I took that as he remembered but didn’t dare insult her now.
“Just remember who saved you,” I said. “Remember that. Maybe one day you’ll be fortunate enough to find a girl that’s kind and selfless like that, too. Oh, and by the way, I need some space from you. I think you know why.”
I left him in the hallway. I guess I had something to say to him after all.
*
I didn’t want to make Roxie worry about the result of today, so the first place I went after my meeting with the Chancellor was to find her. I mentioned the meeting to her and I wanted to put her mind at ease about what happened, but really I wanted to thank her for everything and then some. She had class right now in a building not too far from this one. I texted her I’d be outside it when she got done so we could talk, so imagine my surprise when she turned out to be standing right by the door. She must have left so she could talk to me.
She wore a skirt today, matching the cool weather outside, her legs long and looking beautiful underneath it. It was brightly colored like the blouse she wore and she had her laptop bag on her arm. Seeing her standing there before she saw me, I realized something. She used to wear all black before with only splashes of color, her body always covered. She wasn’t doing that anymore. She wasn’t hiding, but instead she wanted to be seen by the world around her.
And I definitely saw her.
My steps caused her to look up, her pretty face so anxious. I didn’t want it that way. I wanted her happy. I wanted her warm.
She got an uneasy, “How did it go—?” out before I snatched her up by her waist, pressing her body effortlessly against me. I breathed her in, absorbing that scent that made me fall for her before even meeting her. It warmed my blood, so sweet and succulent. I was so glad this amazing woman let me see her.
I was so glad.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
The Fourth of July
Roxie
Today was Griffin’s post draft celebration party. Since his family met up for Independence Day anyway, his grandma thought it would be a good day to have his party. My jetlag was terrible. We flew straight from New York (where the draft conference was held) to Texas. Yes, the fatigue got to me, but I’d never been happier. I was so proud of Griffin and all his accomplishments. He was a first round draft pick…
I pretended to know what that meant, but from what I heard that was an amazing feat for a player. The best they could be. He got an offer, which he accepted, from a team on the Florida coast. From what I heard, they were pretty good. He’d be moving out there soon to start his life and live out his dream. Currently, his stuff was in my apartment. After his lease was up with his roommates, he just kind of moved his stuff on into my place since I was month-to-month on my lease after mine ended. I really didn’t know what was next for me. I had a few job offers with some private organizations—some local, some not. Griffin and I hadn’t really talked about what we’d do as far as my opportunities in conjunction with his. He didn’t ask me to come with him to Florida, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t. He’d been busy. I knew what I’d say if he did. Long distance didn’t seem ideal for me, but if that’s what he wanted I’d be okay with it. I wanted him, but I didn’t want to pressure him. Things between us had been so easy, so relaxed. I guess I figured things would come to fruition on their own.
“Roxie?” Griffin’s gram came into her kitchen, her hands on her hips. She also had on a wide smile under her Stetson hat. “How you doing with that salsa? We got some hungry folks out there.”
I just added the third jar to the bowl I mixed before she came in. This was the second batch I made of this stuff and it was only early afternoon. I didn’t mind, though. I told Griffin’s gram I wanted to help out as much as I could for the gathering. Texans really loved their chips and salsa. I couldn’t say anything, though. I was a ranch junkie myself.
Chuckling to myself, I picked up the bowl and followed the older woman to the back of her property. I thought there were lots of people for the family reunion, but there were at least double that today. So many tall men amongst them for Griffin’s celebration.
My feet left the back porch steps and the bright sun heated the tops of my shoulders exposed from my tank top. I came prepared this time, purchasing my own brown cowboy hat before the trip. I really loved this place. I loved coming here and being with people. I never thought I’d be able to say that before.
After I set the bowl of salsa near the chips, I was pulled into a conversation with Hayden’s wife, Karen, and her friends. Clare and Destiny were there with them, too. I was so happy they were still together and that they’d been able to fly out for the celebration. Despite the incident with Tanya, Clare had been able to catch up in school and walk with us. She and Destiny moved in together after both getting job offers near campus. And from what I hear, Clare was taking Destiny back home to Michigan for a short weekend to meet her parents soon. They wanted to meet her girlfriend.
I guess things worked out for all of us.
We all chatted today about the future, the complications of the previous year nothing but a memory, not important enough to linger on. While in conversation, I passed a look over the back porch. Griffin’s Aunt Robin was guiding someone out the backdoor to the party. That person was someone I didn’t necessarily think Griffin wanted to see.
I scanned the area and spotted Griffin with some of the younger kids. He had sparklers, setting some of them off for the giggling children surrounding him. The first time he brought me here, he dressed in his street clothes from campus, but today he was looking very much like he was at home. Of course his tall hat and boots were a given, but he also had on a plaid shirt with blue checks, his lean build formed throughout it. He couldn’t look more handsome and perfect.
Seeing him interacting with those kids lit an unexpected warmness in me. I never really put much thought into children for myself. My childhood didn’t really allow me to. Bringing someone else into the world meant risking the world’s affects on them. I felt with Griffin maybe having those thoughts of children wouldn’t be a bad thing. He was a protector; he took care of the people he loved like I did. He’d keep them safe alongside me. I knew he would. We were so strong together, Griffin and me. He made me want to be better. Be strong and brave like him.
I got Clare’s attention, giving her a hug before excusing myself from the conversation. We’d talk again before she left town, but I just wanted to thank her again for coming like I had when she arrived. After giving one to Destiny, too, I went over to Griffin, a smile on my face. I just couldn’t help it. He made me feel so happy. Just knowing he was around did that. I wondered if I did the same for him.
He saw me approach, and I had a feeling he did. His whole face lit up, those pretty blue eyes underneath his hat brightening. He gave the sparklers to one of the older teenagers and then met me halfway. Touching my back, he guided me the rest of the way to him.
He settled his long arms over the tops of my shoulders, just holding me. No words said. I tilted my head and our hats collided. The one flaw of those things.
Laughing, he removed his, his blond hair a bit flat but still gorgeous on him. I pushed it up and back into its signature messiness, which he thanked me for before placing a kiss on my cheek.
“What’s up?” he asked, pulling back. “Or did you just miss me or somethin’?”
I’d never grow tired of that Texan drawl that came out so strong when he was home. I pushed my arms around him. “I miss you, but I did come over for a reason.”
He eyed me, but followed my finger when I pointed behind me. To the guy by the salsa table with the rest of the people there. At the sight of his friend D, his face fell.
I didn’t think he’d be happy to see him. Not after how he told me he left things with him back when we were still in school. “Why is he here?”
Griffin didn’t take his eyes off him. “Gram invited the whole team to this thing.”
D crunched on a chip, gazing around. He spotted our eyes almost instantly. Giving a small smile, he pushed his hands into his pockets, heading this way.
Griffin groaned, brushing my back with his hand. He did this restlessly. “Hey. He probably just wants to say hi or something. I’ll make sure it’s quick.”
“It’s fine. It doesn’t bother me he’s here.” And it didn’t, but if his presence made Griffin upset, that didn’t sit well with me.
D made it over to us, nodding. “Hey, Griff.”
“Hi,” he said, though rather stiffly. He brought his arm around my shoulder. He did so almost in a possessive way, but I knew he was just letting him know I was with him. “You know Roxie.”
I gave a small wave, which he returned. After chewing on his lip a bit, he gestured to me. “I actually wanted to talk to you, Roxie. If I could.”
Griffin’s brows twitched up at the request, and I was quite surprised as well. I couldn’t imagine what he’d want to talk to
me
about. I mean, he hadn’t talked to me at all and Griffin and I had been dating a few months while they lived together.
Griffin’s expression went stiff, and he looked as if he was going to tell his friend no, but I didn’t see a problem with talking to him. I really had nothing against him. What was in the past was in the past for me.
“I don’t mind,” I said, telling them both.
Griffin gave me a concentrated look, as if to ask, “Are you sure?”
I placed my hand on his chest, popping up on my toes to give him a quick kiss on the cheek. He bent so I could, but didn’t take his eyes off D, and when the two of us walked away, I could still feel his gaze on my back. He’d be watching us. That I knew.
If D knew, he didn’t act like it. He didn’t take me far. Stopping near the fence that surrounded the ranch’s horses, he leaned his long frame against the post.
I did the same. I gestured to him. “Griffin said you accepted an offer from Indiana. Congrats. That’s great,” I said, trying to make this less awkward. It kind of was. Really, we hadn’t said much to each other. The longest conversation we had was when he was drunk and told me Griffin was sleeping with two women—at the same time.
He smiled, nodding. “Thanks. I wanted to stay in the Midwest. Be kind of near my family incase they need me. I’m from Chicago.”
I nodded, too. Though I was trying to keep this casual, it was damn hard. I really didn’t know what this was about. Thankfully, D didn’t seem to want to beat around the bush when he broke the silence.
“I may owe Griffin an apology,” he said, staring at the ground. Suddenly, he looked at me. “But I owe you so much more. Fuck, I owe my whole goddamn life to you. My career is my life. My family is my life. Because of you, I get to keep both.”
The guy really didn’t owe me anything. I didn’t do what I had for him. I did it for Griffin. I decided to let him know. “I’d do anything to protect Griffin. He needed me, and he wanted to help you. So I did.”
He nodded but didn’t look offended by what I said. He seemed to just accept that for what it was. “I’ve been a douche. A real big one. I didn’t understand you both at first, and Griffin told me he didn’t expect me to. He didn’t expect me to
get
it, and I think I know why. I was stuck. Stuck where I think he used to be, but somewhere along the line he got out. He saw the light outside of that world we were in. The one of manipulation, sex, and greed. He got himself out of that, but I was stuck. I couldn’t see beyond myself. Maybe if I had, I wouldn’t have gotten in so deep. I almost went to jail. I could have lost it all.”
I’d fortunately only saw a snapshot of that world. D was right. By the time Griffin and I began seeing each other, he’d already made his way out of it. He saw things for what they were. He did before it was too late. I looked at this guy before me. He’d been taken in by the system, yes, but his reasons for why started off as admirable. That I knew, and that had to count for something.