Page 34 of Run Home

Cocking his head to one side, Griffin’s lips finally twitch with movement resembling an almost smile. Or, at the very least, not a grimace.

“You’re right. Sam is special—in a lot of ways,” Griffin says, and I finally manage to inhale a full breath. “You know that she’s had a hard time in the past. But you don’t know the full story. Stories, multiple. I can’t risk her getting crushed again if you’re not serious about this. I’ve never seen you have a serious relationship. Ever. No dating Sam just for some good times for a few weeks.”

Holding up both hands, I shake my head. “Griff, I would never do that to her. I’ve never been more serious about anything, and I’m not just saying that because I tend to not be serious ninety percent of the time.” He cracks a real smile at that. I say, “The party stuff is long behind me—you may not have noticed because you’ve had your own serious relationship to deal with.”

Griffin breaks eye contact and stares into space, as though scanning his memories for relevant information. “That’s true. I haven’t heard about you going out to clubs with the guys in a long time. I guess I was so wrapped up with Danae that I wasn’t paying attention. Which is probably how I’ve completely missed that you had feelings for Sam.”

“Maybe I should have told you sooner. I don’t know,” I say, “I don’t even know how Sam feels about me. But I know how I feel about her, and it’s serious. I want to be straight with her and ask her to give me a chance. But please believe that she’s not just a chance to me—she’s exactly what I want. She’s all I want for life, if she could ever feel the same way.”

Griffin’s tensed shoulders finally relax. “I believe you. Sam’s a grown woman, so she doesn’t need my blessing to date you. But I’m behind you, for whatever it’s worth. Just . . . take it slow. Maybe you’ve been thinking about this for a long time, but she needs time to get her feet under her in a relationship.”

He cuts off a bite of steak, so I follow suit and fork another bite of tuna into my mouth. Griffin says, “Take it slow, but also, you probably need to start it soon. As in, talk to Sam very soon. Because she hasn’t called to tell me anything about the gala. Which is completely unlike her to not fill me in.” He pauses to unlock his phone screen, then adds, “Not to mention that’s the face you were looking at her with all night. Sam’s an intuitive person, but it would take very little intuition to assume you’re in love with her based on this photo. So on her own, she’s likely overanalyzing everything about you and her and love and the entire universe in general.”

Groaning, I nearly choke on the bite of tuna. I cough and take a drink of water, then say, “You’re right.” Staring down at my plate of almost untouched food, urgency builds in my thoughts. “You’re right.”

Tossing my napkin on the bar next to my plate, I stand up. “You’re right,” I repeat a third time before clapping Griffin’s shoulder. “I’ll Venmo you for the food. Feel free to eat it. I gotta go talk to Sam.”

Griffin’s eyes crinkle with a full smile as he claps my back. “I’ll send you the whole bill.”

With great effort, I hold my muscles back from breaking into a sprint out of the restaurant. I’m less successful at holding my right foot back from the gas pedal.

This is my moment. I’m not going to miss it.

Chapter fifteen

Sam

ME

Hey Alice! Hope you’ve had the best day. If you’re free, would you be up for a quick phone call? I have some thoughts to run past you, if you have time.

But totally fine if you’re busy! We can always talk later.

ALICE

I’m free. Simon is out of town on a work trip, so I’m home by myself. Do you want to swing over here to talk in person? This sounds serious . . .

Is it serious??

ME

I’ll be there in ten minutes.

I’m exhausted. I’ve had two long days of practice clients, of asking questions about their lives and listening to the answers all while crafting great styles. I’ve hardly slept the past two nights, which means I should be going to bed early, not leaving my apartment at nine o’clock at night.

But I know I’ll spend another night tossing and turning in bed if I don’t get these thoughts out of my brain. I need to say everything out loud to someone.

Because Adrian is all I can think about.

When I pull into the driveway of Alice’s house, she’s already on the front porch waiting for me. I absently go through the motions of turning off the car, locking it, walking the few paces up the walkway to Alice’s porch. The second I reach her, I blurt, “I think I like Adrian. Adrian Ortiz. Not as a friend. I think I like my brother’s best friend.”

Alice gasps, a tiny sound loaded with the thousands of implications in my confession.

“Get in here right now,” she commands.

I follow her through the entryway to the living room and flop onto the gray couch.

“Am I losing my mind?” I ask, not pausing to allow her to answer. “I might be losing my mind. I am. I definitely am. Adrian is Griffin’s best friend. He’s my friend. He’s . . . he’s . . . Adrian. But suddenly he’s not Adrian. I mean, he is, but he’s not just Adrian. He’s the guy I can’t stop thinking about. But that’s crazy, right? I’m crazy. He’s popular and famous and can get anything he could possibly want. He’s not going to like me. I’ve gone insane. Tell me I’ve gone insane, Alice, or I’ll think I’m insane for not being insane.”