“You want to know something even weirder?” I ask her.
“What’s that?”
“Feeling it,” I say as my phone vibrates again. Reaching over on the nightstand, I grab it and swipe at the screen. I have several text messages from Griffin and one from Oliver.
Griffin: Morning, beautiful
That one was sent two hours ago. They just kept coming at random from then until now.
Griffin: Do I get to see you today?
Griffin: How about breakfast?
Griffin: Peyton?
Oliver: Girl, you’ve got my boy all tied up in knots. Can you put us all out of our misery and reply to him? Even if it’s to blow him off.
I laugh at that one. “Who is it?” Karina asks.
“Griffin, and then one from Oliver.” I hand her my phone, so she can read the messages.
“Damn, girl, that must have been some stellar snuggling.” She laughs.
“Stop.” I take my phone back from her and reply to Oliver first. I can’t have Griffin thinking I’m falling at his feet, even though I kind of am. There is just something about him.
Me: Just woke. Ever heard of sleeping in?
Oliver: She’s alive.
Oliver: Your boy is waiting for his reply.
His message is followed by a string of laughing emojis and a picture of Griffin sitting on the couch, staring down at his phone. I show my screen to Karina, and she laughs. Pulling my phone back, I type out a reply to Griffin.
Me: Just woke up. Do you not sleep?
Griffin: Not last night.
Me: Everything okay?
Griffin: I’m not sure.
I don’t know him well enough to pry. I bite down on my bottom lip, trying to think of what to say, but his next message comes in before I can.
Griffin: I couldn’t stop thinking about you.
Griffin: That’s not me.
Griffin: What are you doing to me?
Butterflies take flight in my belly. I want to tell him I thought about him too. I stayed up way later than I should have, which is why I slept in this morning. However, before I can contemplate my reply, I get another message. This one is from Oliver.
Oliver: What kind of spell did you cast on my best friend?
It’s followed by a picture of Griffin sitting on the same couch. Only there is a sexy grin pulling at his lips as he smiles down at his phone.
Me: Are you calling me a witch?
Oliver: No. But you are responsible for that goofy-ass grin.
I’m now wearing a goofy-ass grin of my own.
Me: I’m not sure you’re right, but I’ll take the credit.
I close out of his message, switch back to Griffin’s, and type out a reply.
Me: If it makes you feel any better, I thought about you too. I’d say we’re even.
Griffin: Can I see you today?
Me: What did you have in mind?
My phone rings, and I drop it as I’m fumbling to answer the call. Karina laughs and picks it up from the bed between us and hands it to me. “Hello,” I say in a rush.
“Peyton,” Griffin greets. “Come to my place today. We can swim and just hang out.” He expels a breath as if he’d been waiting hours to invite us over.
“Your place?” I look at Karina with wide eyes, and she nods, pointing at her chest.
“Yeah. I can swing by and pick you and Karina up.” I love that he included my best friend without me having to ask.
“I’m not sure what we’re getting into today,” I tell him. “I’ll talk to Karina and let you know.”
“I’m in,” Karina calls out, moving to practically lay on top of me. “Whatever it is, Griffin, we’re in,” she says again with a mischievous glint in her eye.
Griffin’s deep laughter fills my ears. “Tell me what time to be there, Peyton.”
“Give us a couple of hours? I want to talk to my sister for a bit, and we both need showers.” That doesn’t sound too desperate. I do want to check in with Parker, but I don’t need to. I just want to make sure things are still solid with her and Holden. I’m sure they are, but I’d still feel better checking in with her.
“I’ll be there at noon. You wanna give me your room number so I can pick you up properly?” Griffin asks.
“Is this a date?” I counter.
“It’s whatever you want it to be, Peyton.” His reply is soft, almost as if he’s uncertain.
“That’s not what I asked you, Griffin.”
“I want it to be,” he admits.
I’m smiling so big I can feel my cheeks stretch. “We’ll meet you in the lobby.”
He chuckles. “I can live with that. I’ll see you soon, Peyton.”
“See you soon.”
“Oh, and Peyton,” he adds quickly, which has me pulling the phone back to my ear.
“Yeah?”
“This is most definitely a date.” With that, the line goes dead.
“You’re blushing,” Karina states the obvious. I can feel the heat in my cheeks.
“He says it’s a date. He wants us to come to his place and swim. The guys will be there.”
“See.” Karina sits up and points at me. “I told you. There is something there. It’s been fun to watch.”
“We spent one day with him and his friends.”
“One day, the entire day, and the connection was instant. We can all see it. Hell, even Oliver sees it.”
“He’s just being a good wingman.” I’m not sure if I’m trying to convince her or myself.
“Come on, Peyton. You know better,” she scolds.
“Fine. I’ll admit there’s a connection, but that’s all it is. He lives here. I live in Tennessee. It could never work.”
“Never say never, my friend.” She tosses off the covers and climbs out of bed. “I’m going to run to my room, check in with the parental units, and shower. I’ll be back here by noon so that we can go to the lobby together.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
“Aren’t you glad we went shopping for those new bathing suits you said we didn’t need for this trip?” she asks as she makes her way to the door.
“Thank you for insisting I purchase five new pieces of swimwear,” I reply sarcastically.
“You’re welcome,” she singsongs her way out the door.
Pulling myself out of bed, I pick out my clothes for the day, trying hard not to think about Griffin as I do, and head to the shower.
Thirty minutes later, I’m walking into the living area of the suite to find my sister on the couch, holding her e-reader. “Good morning,” I say, taking a seat next to her.
“Hey, where’s Karina?”
“She left to shower and get ready. We met a few people yesterday, and we’re going to spend the day by the pool with them.”