His gray-blue eyes are waiting for mine.
I swallow another wave of jealousy.“You ready to cash out?”
“No, but I’ll take a water.”He tips his empty bottle in the air.
I draw a deep breath through my nose as my gaze lands on the number Abby had scrawled on a napkin.“I thought you were gonna leave with those girls.”
His brows come together in the center.“Really?”
“Well, you all spent about an hour becoming best friends.”I pour him a glass of water and slide it his way.He’s watching me carefully, and somehow I feel like he can sense my jealousy.
He accepts the glass, still watching me, then he shrugs.“They were nice.”
Just like they’ll be nice in bed later, my mind supplies for me.I keep my mouth shut though, because I’m worried I’ll betray the fact that I’m too jealous to function right now.I look back at the clock; I’ve got ten minutes left on my shift.
“I need to start closing out,” I tell him.“My shift is almost over.”
“I’ll give you a ride home,” he says before taking a sip of the water.“I know you rode your bike.”
My chest goes tight, relief mixed with anguish.I’m so grateful that I’m the one he’s going home with—for now.But I have no claim on him.Abby, or any other girl, could show up in his bedroom anytime between now and the end of summer.
Tell him how you feel.
The idea is preposterous.On a scale of one to Abby, I’m definitely closer to a one.The least desirable, the least put-together.I can’t bear to receive confirmation that he only sees me as a friend, or worse yet, deserving of pity.He’s doing for me exactly what he did for Piper, and that is all I need to know.
I’m cleaning up the bar, and when I get to Griffin’s spot, he’s prepared a little pile of trash for me to take away.I see Abby’s crumpled napkin mixed in with the straw wrappers and folded beer bottle labels.
“Don’t you want this?”I hold up Abby’s number.
He shakes his head.
I’m too curious not to probe.“Why not?She was so cute.”
He shrugs, his knowing gaze on me.I swear, he looks amused.Like he can see into all the jealous nooks and crannies of my heart.“Not my type.”
This blows my mind.Is he serious?Abby was gorgeous, fun, a social butterfly, and ready to go home with him yesterday.How could he not want her?Despite the sensitive topic, I’m too curious not to dig further.Even if it has the potential to hurt.
“That’s fascinating.She looked like the total package.Whatisyour type?”I can only imagine it’s whoever he was thinking of that morning while he jacked off.Ihaveto know who he pictures when he touches himself.
Griffin’s gaze on me is so intense that I almost need to look away.I’m not sure he’s going to answer at first and then he shrugs.“Smart.Sweet.Pretty.”
I snort.I can’t help it.“That’s it?That’s so vague.”
“How drilled down do you want me to get?”he asks with a laugh.
“I just thought you’d have more of an idea of Ms.Right,” I say.“Don’t we all?”
His gaze drifts as he contemplates, his jaw working back and forth.When he looks back at me, I’m rooted to my spot.“I do, actually.She’s brunette.With a touch of golden blonde.Super into books, like always reading.About five foot seven.Gorgeous thighs.”
There’s a buzzing deep in my core and spreading through my limbs more and more the deeper his words sink.At first I don’t comprehend what he even means, but then I start piecing it together.
But in case I needed help, he adds, “That’s my type, Casey.”His slate blue gaze is imploring.“You.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CASEY
The world stops spinning for a moment as I struggle to understand.The only thing I can focus on is the voice inside my head sayingdoes not compute.There’s no way he’s serious.Right?