I had a pretty good idea that I was falling in love with her before she left Florida five weeks ago. Since then, every day, she does something or says something that reminds me of why she’s perfect to me. She asks about baseball, my family, my classes, and even my friends. We have meaningful conversations, and I’ve missed her. I knew she was important to me, but it wasn’t until I opened the door to her parents’ house earlier and laid eyes on her in person that I knew how important.
I’m in love with her.
I fell hard, and I fell fast, and I’m not scared of it. I know we’re young and that us living so far apart will get harder before it gets better, but I know deep in my soul that it’s all going to be worth it in the end.
“You good?” she asks.
Pulling back, I stare into her eyes. It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell her, but I refrain. “I’m more than good.”
“Thank you for coming all this way for one night.”
“You don’t have to thank me for coming to see you, Peyton.”
“It’s a long way for such a short amount of time. I was sad and even a little angry that I couldn’t be with you today.” She lifts her head to look at me. “You are the best present I’ve ever received.”
I kiss her because what do I say to that other than I love you? I can’t, and I’m afraid to tell her and scare her away, so a kiss it is.
“We’ll take what we can get when we can get it,” I assure her.
“This is hard, Griffin.”
“Yeah,” I agree.
“But I’d rather be like this than not have you at all. I can’t…” She stops.
“What were you going to say?” I push her hair out of her eyes.
“I can’t imagine my life without you in it.”
“You don’t have to. I’m right here. And when I’m not…” I place my hand over her heart. “I’m right here.”
“Yeah,” she agrees with a small smile. She places her head on my chest, and we drift off to sleep.
CHAPTER 17
Peyton
Karina is staying with her parents tonight, which means I have the apartment all to myself. Her grandma is visiting from out of town. I’ll stop by there tomorrow to say hello, but I wanted to give them family time tonight. She argued that I was family, but to be honest, I just wanted to watch Griffin’s game on TV and call it a night.
Unfortunately for me, that means I have to head to my parents’ house. We don’t get the college sports station showing his game, but they do. My dad gets every damn sports channel imaginable. I’m hoping I can sneak down to the basement and watch the game in peace and slip back out. I want to drool over my man in peace.
When I pull into the empty driveway, the house is dark, but I know my parents, and I’m not willing to risk walking in on something I shouldn’t ever see. I should have texted my mom earlier, but I forgot. Pulling my phone out of my purse, I fire off a text.
Me: Hey, I’m here. Are you all home?
Mom: No, we went out to dinner. I wish I knew you were coming. I could have cooked, or you could have come with us.
Me: I’m good. I want to watch Griffin’s game tonight, but I don’t have the channel. I know Dad gets all of them.
Mom: You don’t need to tell me why you’re home, Peyton. It will always be your home if you are nineteen or ninety.
Me: Love you. I’ll be in the basement.
Mom: Love you too.
Clutching my keys and my purse, I make my way into the house. I don’t bother turning on any of the lights. Instead, I head downstairs and flip on the TV. The game starts right now, and I still have to find the channel. Reaching for my phone, I pull up my last message with Griffin, where he tells me what station. I find it easily and turn up the volume so I don’t miss anything. Moving to the small kitchen area, I pop some popcorn and grab a Dr Pepper from the fridge.
My eyes have been glued to the screen every inning. Griffin has pitched a hell of a game so far. They’re in the ninth inning, and he’s still on the mound. His arm is fire tonight. He winds up the pitch, and the batter strikes out, and I cheer for him like I’ve been doing all night. I know he can’t see me, but I can’t help it.
“What’s with all the ruckus?” Dad asks with a smile on his face. He plops down on the couch beside me and helps himself to some of the popcorn that I abandoned a few innings ago.
“Griff’s pitching a great game,” I tell him. I go on to give him some highlights, catching him up to speed.
Dad sits with me through the end of the game. “He’s good,” he comments. There’s surprise in his voice.
“See, I told you he wasn’t some cocky asshole.”
“Lady,” he warns, and I stick my tongue out at him. I’m nineteen, and I can cuss if I want. I open my mouth to tell him just that, but the reporter on the TV says Griffin’s name and pulls my attention away from my father.
“I’m Tiffany Banks, and I’m here with freshman Griffin Anthony. Great game out there, Griffin. How’s the arm?”
He smiles. “Thanks, Tiffany. The arm is great.” He smiles, and I can imagine everyone there seeing his pearly whites on the jumbotron and swooning just like I am sitting here in the basement next to my dad.
“You seem laser-focused out there tonight. Care to tell us what your secret is?” Tiffany, the reporter, asks him.
“She’s no secret,” he tells her.
“She?”
“My girlfriend, Peyton. I know she’s at home in Nashville watching me tonight, and well, I guess this game is for her.” He looks away from Tiffany and stares into the camera. “I miss you, babe. I’ll be calling you as soon as I can get to my phone.” He winks, and I swear I feel like my heart will pound out of my chest and the butterflies in my belly are going to wreak havoc.
“Lady, look at you,” Dad says softly. “You’re glowing.”
“He’s so good to me, Dad. I know the long distance will be hard, and I’m not sure if that’s why you don’t like him, but we’re making this work. I really care about him.”
“I can see that.” He puts his arm around my shoulders and pulls me into a hug. “It’s not the long distance that bothers me. Both of your sisters and even your mother and me had to do something similar.”
“Then what is it?”
“Nothing,” he admits. “There is nothing that I can find wrong with him. I tried to make him uncomfortable, but he stood his ground, which I’m sure you’ve seen.”
“Yep. Parker even sent me the video,” I tell him.
“I just have a hard time with my girls growing up. As the youngest, you’re my baby, and I thought I had more time before someone took you away from me.”
“He’s not taking me away, Dad.”
“I know that too.” He grins. “But I liked being the only man in your life. All of your lives, and I know that this is the progression of life, but I don’t have to like it.”
“You’ve adjusted well with Cameron and even Holden. Just wait. In a few years, you’ll have a house full of grandkids to spoil, and you’ll be glad we all found men who will love us the way that you love Mom.”