A Little Secret (The Little Things #4)

Chapter 12

CHAPTER TWELVE

GRIFFIN

I t’s weird. Barely saying a few sentences to each other for weeks on end, then being crammed in a car with a person. I’d almost forgotten how much she makes me laugh, even when she isn’t trying. Part of me wants to hold it against her. The fact that she cut me off. That she threw away our friendship, all because a guy told her to. The other part? I get it. I don’t like that I get it, but I do. I care about Fin, even when I shouldn’t, and today was a reminder of all the thoughts I’ve shoved aside for years, all because she was dating someone else. Knowing they’ll have to stay locked up for the rest of my life is a bitch.

Then again, maybe it’s for the best. I’m leaving, and if the Tornadoes reaching out is any indication of a timeline, it’ll probably be sooner rather than later. That is, if I didn’t already fuck up my opportunity with them by bailing on our meeting we had scheduled.

Fuck, I can’t believe I bailed on them.

They’re going to be pissed. I’m still not sure if I made the right call. I mean nothing to Finley, yet my future might be on the line for this little…road trip .

What the hell am I doing here?

Finley’s always had me wrapped around her little finger, but this? This is a low point, even for me. We make it seventeen hours until my ass can’t take it anymore, and we find a hotel. I debated making reservations last night when I suggested this insane plan but decided against it because I didn’t know how far we’d make it on the first day. On the one hand, I’m glad we made it as far as we did. On the other, thanks to the ten bathroom breaks that convinced me Finley has a bladder the size of a pea, it’s late, and this is one of the only hotels in town with an empty room.

To say the place isn’t a five-star hotel would be a massive understatement, but considering the circumstances, I’m not too picky. Thankfully, Finley isn’t, either.

Musk fills my nostrils as I juggle our bags down the hall and toward our room, grateful Finley at least had the courage to hold the terrarium so I wouldn’t have to go back to the SUV. I’m exhausted. The last forty-eight hours have been a bitch to wrap my head around, and the idea of a bed and pillow sounds almost as good as a solid orgasm.

Almost.

Balancing the bags, I wave the electronic key in front of the lock and twist the handle. The door opens with a loud creak, and our bags hit the floor as I flick on the light. “Well, shit.”

Finley peeks around me, her arms still wrapped around Frankie’s terrarium after we played Rock, Paper, Scissors to see who would carry it to the room, and since my arms were already full of our bags, she only threatened to cut off my balls twice before giving in and taking it with us.

“There’s only one bed,” she notes.

“I’m aware there’s one bed. That's why I said shit .”

“Rude.” She smacks my back, steps around me, and sets the glass cage on the dresser next to the television, shivering in disgust. Once a healthy distance is between her and the terrarium, she turns back to me and crosses her arms. “First of all, I’m a delight to sleep with. And secondly, we’re both adults. I think we can share a bed.”

“And what would Drew say if he knew?” I counter.

“Fuck Drew. Oh, wait,” she winks, “I already have.”

“Yeah, and look where it got you.” My attention drops to her flat stomach.

Sticking her tongue out at me, she snaps, “I think it’s a little too soon for that kind of humor.”

“Yet, you make it so easy,” I return.

“Har, har. Now, enough chatting. I’m exhausted.” She covers her yawn with her hand, takes off her sandals, and slips beneath the covers.

As I stare at her, dumbfounded, she rolls toward me. “I’m sorry. Is there a problem?”

“You’re not gonna brush your teeth or pee or…?”

“Excuse me, sir, but I believe neither of those things is any of your business.”

Folding my arms, I challenge, “Oh, so your bladder is finally empty after the last ten pit stops?”

She grins back at me. “Maybe.”

“What about your meds?”

“What about them?”

“Did you take them yet? Prenatals, anti-seizure?—”

“Yes, Dr. Thorne. I’m aware of which meds you’re referring to.”

“And?”

“And I took them when we stopped for those burritos. Now.” She pats both sides of the bed. “Do you prefer one side of the bed to the other? Or…?”

Seriously, is the girl trying to kill me ?

She’s sitting in the center of the bed with the sheets already pooled around her waist and her eyes glazed with drowsiness as she peers up at me.

“I’ll be sleeping on the floor,” I announce.

“Why? ‘Cause I’m so scary?”

“No, because Dylan says you move around a lot when you sleep, and I don’t feel like getting kicked in the balls at two in the morning all because I’m sharing a twin bed with you. But thanks.”

“Whatever. One, this isn’t a twin bed, it’s a…wait, what’s the size bigger than a twin but smaller than a queen?”

Rubbing at my tired eyes, I grumble, “I have no idea.”

“You’re right. All that matters is you’re wrong, and it’s bigger than a twin.”

“Get to your second point, Finley.”

“And twoooo,” she drags out, “Potentially being kicked is still better than attempting to sleep on the hard ground covered in stained carpet, don’t you think?”

I glance down at the carpet in question, noticing a large brown spot. Yeah, this is not my night. My expression pinches, and I look back at Fin, lying, “You make it sound like an easy decision, but they're closer to a tie than you think."

“Exactly,” she preens. “Although you do make a good point about Drew not being a fan of…” she wiggles her fingers between us. “ This . So, let’s do toes to nose,” she decides.

I snort.

“Is that a problem?”

“Even if we’re toes to nose, our genitals are still?—”

“Ew.” Her nose wrinkles. “Did you really just say genitals? ”

“Would you prefer I call it my cock and your puss?—”

She lifts her hand into the air and squeezes her eyes shut. “Nope, that’s worse.”

With a dry laugh, I scratch along my jaw, eyeing the opposite side of the bed warily. “Call it what you want, but they’re still lined up no matter how we sleep.” I lift my chin toward the bed. “Go to bed. I’ll sleep on the floor.”

“Griff—”

“Sleep,” I push.

She shifts onto her back and stares at the ceiling as I flick off the lights, grab a free pillow from the bed, and crouch, preparing to set the pillow on the ground. I hesitate at the last second. She isn’t kidding. There’s definitely a stain on the carpet, and I sure as shit don’t have to see it to know it’s there. Does brown have a smell? Honestly, I think it might.

My face sours as I contemplate my shitty life choices that led me here. If I want any actual rest tonight, sharing a bed with Fin isn’t a bad idea. The question is whether or not I have enough willpower to keep my hands to myself. Then again, I’ve done it for years, so…

My phone buzzes. Pulling it out, I find a message from Tina. She’s a junior. Gorgeous brown skin. Wide smile. Caramel eyes. We’ve known each other for a while now, and even hooked up a few times in the past, though not recently. Not since Finley moved in. I told myself I was distracted by hockey, and my abstinence had nothing to do with my best friend's little sister living under my roof. Hell, I’m still telling myself that, but it’s getting harder and harder to believe the lie. Especially now. When I’m stuck sleeping on the floor of a run-down hotel.

Tina

Hey, you. You up ?

“Hey, Griff?” Fin murmurs.

I turn off my cell and set it down on the rock-hard ground, my face scrunching. What is that? Guilt? Shame? The feeling spreads in my gut as I set my pillow down and stare at the ceiling.

“Yeah?” I answer.

“Thanks for today.”

I sigh. “Anytime, Fin. You know that.”

“I do,” she replies. “Which is why you’re my favorite.”

“Sure, I am.” I laugh. “Smartass.”

“Mm-hmm.” She hums. “And, uh, Griff?”

“What, Fin?”

“You ready to give in and sleep next to me?”

“Not sure it’s a good idea.”

“Yeah, but really, it is. And I’m talking from a selfish standpoint.”

“How do you figure?”

“Well, since you’re driving me and my unborn baby all day tomorrow, I need you to get a good night’s rest.”

With a low laugh, I stand up, tug off my shirt, and lay down on top of the covers. Toes to nose, no matter how ridiculous her suggestion is. “Fine. You win.” I shove my hands behind my head and stare at the popcorn ceiling. “Get some sleep, Fin.”

“One more thing,” she rushes out.

With a groan, I mutter, “What is it?”

“If, uh, if it wasn’t for the baby…” Her words hang in the air, and my body turns to steel. Fuck, I could finish her sentence in a million ways, and so could she. The question is…how does she want to?

“What is it?” I push.

“I’d never choose to have you out of my life. Seriously. You mean a lot to me, Griff. ”

My eyes close, heavy with defeat. There are so many things I could say, but they’re too late. I’m too late.

“You, too,” I murmur, turning onto my side and giving her my back. “Get some rest.”