CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
LONDON

“Ugh!” Griffin exclaims into the microphone, waving his hand in the air. This crowd has been exceptionally difficult, but I’ve never seen him react like this. “This isn’t request hour, people.” He gives the signal to play the next song in our set and starts clapping his hands over my head to redirect the crowd. “Come on!” He chants while jumping. “You love this song. You put it to number one for three months straight.” The energy is shifting, they’re starting to get amped up for the next song. “Let’s go!” That’s the cue for us all to kick it into gear. My anxiety is at an all-time high tonight. It’s probably because my parents are here, but I’m a nervous wreck afraid I’m going to fall on my face. Nick’s voice echoes in my head.

I close my eyes and try to push him aside as best I can, letting the music lead me. Griffin sounds like he’s reclaimed full control of the crowd, so I decide to sneak a glimpse of him in action. It’s his element up here and it’s an amazing thing to watch. As soon as I do, I’m reminded of why I play with my eyes closed. Tommy, Carter’s father, flashes in my vision. Stupid lights. They make everything so blurry and give my imagination way too much room to wander. I tuck my head down, focusing on the music and Griffin’s voice.

I can do this…

---

“Thanks for waiting for me.” He’s tugging a black ball cap over his still wet hair and wearing tight black jeans, which gives a very nice preview of the strength of his thighs. I know we agreed to give whatever this is between us a shot, but he still hasn’t even so much as kissed me, unless you count the friend-zone peck on the forehead the other night. And what is up with that white t-shirt? It gives me a perfect view of every ab muscle he owns. It’s not even fair. He eats pizza bites and drinks soda every freaking day and still looks like… that?

Ignore me. I’m stuck in a very awkward hormonal purgatory somewhere between drooling over Griffin and wanting to yell at him for telling the crowd off tonight, but that’s not my business. This is Griffin’s life, not mine. He can do what he wants.

“No problem,” my dad says first. “Where’s the food? I’m starving. We haven’t had a meal since breakfast.”

Griffin flips his phone over and taps the side button. “It’s already almost tomorrow. We need to get this man some food.” He nods and holds his arm out for me to take. It’s an adorable gesture and I can’t help but slip my arm through his. I’ve gotten used to having him around, but the last couple of days have made it much more than that. I’ve gotten used to leaning on him.

That’s terrifying.

It also feels like finally coming home.

I can’t win.

I have to remind myself to breathe.

In.

Out.

There we go.

“I need to ask you a question.” Where the heck did that come from?

He turns to give me his full attention. “Ask me anything.”

“Why did you tell the crowd to bugger off tonight?”

He chuckles, then snorts, then chuckles more. “Did you just say, ‘bugger off’?”

“You’re going to have to get used to my random word choices sooner or later.”

“I love your word choices. They’re actually the bright spots of my days.” He snickers and shakes his head. “I guess it was because The Machine is already asking a lot and the people out there don’t have the right to make it any more difficult than it already has to be.”

“You were doing it to protect me?” It’s both endearing and infuriating. “You could get a load of bad press for yelling at them.”

Griffin shrugs and his neck muscles flex as he does. A human should not have muscles there, should they? “I don’t really care. We get bad press all the time. Comes with the territory,” he says, looking at my parents. Probably looking for one of them to save him from their completely unhinged daughter.

“I don’t want to be the reason, though. If you do something stupid then that’s on you, but I don’t want you to do anything for the sake of protecting me that you’re going to regret later.”

“Never going to happen.” He slings his arm around and pulls me in close. “Trust me.”

Easier said than done, Mister Rockstar. Now is probably not the best time for this discussion anyway. My parents are staring at us and I think I hear several stomachs growling at once. “Are you going to tell us where we’re going?” It’s the first time since we started this thing that he hasn’t told me exactly what to expect next. It’s kind of weird if I’m being honest.

“It’s a surprise,” he says, with a wink as he pushes the door open for my parents to exit first. Carter is holding tight to my mom’s hand. I know he’s thrilled to have them here. It’s bringing a little bit of his routine back into the mix and I think he needed it. It’s also been really great for him to see that some changes to routine can still be fun and positive. It’s a balance. They’re already halfway across the sectioned lot heading toward the gate where Devon and one of the other security guards, Jason, are stationed. Griffin is waiting, like the gentleman he is, for me to go through the open door next. My feet don’t move.

It’s like I am stuck in mental quicksand. I’m telling my feet to move, but they’re not listening. Griffin’s eyes have me in a trance. There is a mischief in them I haven’t seen often and it’s kind of hot.

“Tell me,” I try again.

“Nope,” he shakes his head and clamps his lips into a tight line. “It’s like two minutes from here. You’ll know soon enough,” he says, with a crooked grin that makes me weak in the knees.

I think I’ve had just about enough of Griffin Miller holding all the freaking cards in the deck. Maybe it’s time to deal a new hand… I drag my hand down his chest slowly, letting my fingers linger over every defined muscle feeling them through the thin fabric of his t-shirt. “Please tell me,” I whisper, leaning close enough my lips brush against his ear as I let my fingers travel further south resting against the waist band of his jeans. I feel his body shudder against mine in response. It’s about time I tilt the scales in my favor. “I promise I’ll make it worth your while.” I bat my eyes and do my best to give him the works. I’ve never been great at this flirting thing, but I think I can make an exception in this case. Watching him squirm is absolutely, hands down, the best part of the night so far.

“Uhh…,” he swallows hard and stammers over his words, “I… That’s not playing fair.”

“I never said I played by the rules,” I whisper, letting my lips trace a soft line from his ear down his neck.

A moan escapes as he struggles to keep his composure. “Don’t you think we should catch up to your parents and Carter?”

Such a stubborn man. “Hmm…” I look up, forcing my gaze away from the way his muscles are clenched in response to my teases. His eyes meet mine, filled with hunger and desire. I knew it. “I guess we should go then.” I turn on my heel and strut out the door like a spoiled brat who was just told no for the first time. If he’s going to play games with me then there’s absolutely no reason, I can’t have a little fun in return.

“Damn it, London.” He groans and leans back into the door frame. “You’re brutal,” he says as his feet hit the pavement behind me, jogging to catch up.

I shrug. “You should have told me where we’re going.”

“C’mon, you two,” my mom calls back over her shoulder. They’re waiting at the gate and seem to have already made new friends with Devon and Jason.

 “I hope Devon hasn’t completely scared you off,” I say, cringing. I can only imagine what weird things Devon’s already told them.

“Hardly,” my mom chuckles. “He’s been very polite and assured us that you and Carter are under their protection at all times. It makes a mom feel good to know her daughter and grandson are being watched over.”

“They’re really good at what they do, Mom.” I smile and give her a sidearm hug while Griffin whispers something in Devon’s ear. “We’re safe. I promise. You saw the crowd tonight, Ma.” It was a great show. “The energy was intense and positive the entire time. Well, except for when Griffin told them all off.”

“Ahem,” Griffin clears his throat as he holds open the door to The Machine’s very expensive, very luxurious SUV. “Your chariot awaits.” He motions for us to load into the car, which we all do still with no idea where we’re going. He doesn’t even say anything to the driver. He just waits until we’re all seated and buckled in then takes the last seat, shutting the door like it’s some secret code.

I don’t know why I didn’t get the secret decoder ring.