Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 56256 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 281(@200wpm)___ 225(@250wpm)___ 188(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56256 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 281(@200wpm)___ 225(@250wpm)___ 188(@300wpm)
“What about Brock and Millie? I think they’re cute together.”
My mother shakes her head. “No, Brock needs a challenge, and Millie needs somebody who can appreciate her.” My mother winks at me, and I glance at the clock on the oven.
“Oh shoot, I need to get going.” I give my mother another quick hug, and grab the box of chocolates to make my way to the brewery.
Make sure the tables are set up perfectly.
Tripp: Or what?
Griffin: Don’t be an ass, Tripp.
Tonight is so important for the future of the brewery. I can’t play around.
Callum: Agreed. And don’t worry, I’m personally making sure everything is up to par.
Thank you. I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.
Griffin: Can’t wait.
I glance down at the group chat, rereading Griffin’s text for the fifth time. Did he really mean for everyone to read that? The chat went silent as soon as his message delivered, and now I can't help but wonder if everyone is thinking it's weird. Is it just me overanalyzing, or did Griffin just drop a bombshell?
I hate that my mind is overthinking every single thing. What are my brothers thinking right now? The uncertainty is driving me crazy.
But at the same time, I feel this overwhelming urge to tell everyone about us. Why should we hide our relationship? I understand how hard it must be for Griffin to tell my brothers, but at the same time, I don’t see them caring whether we’re dating or not. They've always wanted me to be happy, right?
It’s none of their business, I remind myself. It’s nobody’s business but our own. Yet, a small voice inside me whispers that maybe, just maybe, sharing this part of my life could bring us all closer. Or, it could complicate everything.
I shake the feelings away and try to focus on the task at hand—the party.
I pull up to the brewery with tons of time to spare. We’re going to pull this party off without a hitch. The local paper ran a story yesterday, calling our brewery as a ‘new up and coming hang out spot’ and it did an expose on Callum and Griffin. It said Griffin, and I quote, ‘was a master in the kitchen.’
I’m so proud of him, and my mother is talking about getting the article framed. She wants to hang it up in the dining room.
I rush inside the brewery, dropping off the box of chocolates in the party room before I head around to say my hellos. Not that I even have time for that, but I can’t deny the fact that I’m bursting at the seams to see Griffin.
When I step into the kitchen he’s having a quick meeting with the other chefs.
“I want tonight to go smoothly. If you need anything you make sure I know about it before it becomes a problem. We’ve got everything prepped, so I don’t see running out of things a problem.”
The other chefs nod, and Griffin smiles at me when I step up closer.
“Remember, if Anya needs anything you make sure the party is top priority,” he says, dismissing them afterward.
“How’s it going?” I ask him.
“We’re good to go for tonight.”
I smile, wanting desperately to mention the text. To talk about everything that’s going on between us. “I need to print out the menus in my office.”
“I’ll come with you,” Griffin says, following me out of the kitchen.
It's not unusual to have him come with me to print out the menus, so nobody even questions us as we walk into my office. I fire up my computer, starting the printing job and then I lean back in my chair as Griffin stands over me.
“I’ve missed the fuck out of you,” he says, knowing nobody can hear him except me.
“My mother knows about us,” I tell him, more so to gauge his reaction to the news.
The look of surprise on his face is unexpected. He almost appears afraid. “She’s not going to tell anyone, is she?”
I stand from my chair, crossing my arms. “Would it be so awful if she did?”
Griffin’s eyes search mine, a mix of worry and confusion. He steps away from me, plunging a hand into his dark locks. “Um, yes, Anya. I’m not ready to tell anyone just yet.”
I park a hand on my hip, frustration bubbling up. “And when will you be ready? Once I pop out a few kids? Will you be ready then?”
He steps closer, his eyes blazing into mine. “No, I just…I don’t know. I want to tell everyone…” His words trail off when there’s a knock on my office door.
I open it to find Tripp standing there. “There you are,” he says, walking into my office. “Callum sent me here to find the tablecloths. Do you know where they are?”
I let out a frustrated breath, trying to push down the turmoil roiling inside me. “Yeah, they’re in this box.” I move to the shelf behind my desk, pulling out a big box of tablecloths. “Here.”