Page 75 of Run Home

“Bájale dos!” I tell him to calm down. Sam is still plastered against my chest, trembling. Assuming that she’s embarrassed—or worried that Drew really would tell Griffin—I rub her back and say, “Don’t worry about it, cielo. I’ll make sure Drew doesn’t snitch.”

She nods against my chest, then takes a deep breath. She’s pale when she looks up at me, and I worry that maybe I did let things get out of hand. Making a mental note to dial it back the next time I kiss her, I gently brush my knuckles down her cheek. “I’ll miss you. I’m sorry I don’t have time to walk you out to your car.”

Sam swallows hard and lightly shakes her head, clearing away whatever worry she had. “It’s okay. This was a better use of our moments,” she says, and I can’t stop myself from kissing her again, keeping it short this time.

I’m aching to tell her how I really feel. To open the floodgates of every pent-up “I love you.” I need an instruction manual to tell me when I’m allowed to say it without taking the pace of our relationship too fast.

Instead of saying the words out loud, I bring her left wrist up to my lips and kiss the small bird tattooed there. Her eyes soften as she smiles, and I hope she understands what I’m saying without saying it.

I love you.

Chapter twenty-nine

Sam

GRIFFIE

Hey, sis. You have time to meet me for dinner tonight or tomorrow? We haven’t caught up in a while.

ME

Well, you’ve been a little busy with the whole wedding and honeymoon thing. You shouldn’t have had time for me.

GRIFFIE

I have time now. You free?

ME

Tonight is better than tomorrow. I’ll even go to Capital without putting up a fight.

GRIFFIE

Good thing because I already made reservations there for both nights.

ME

You would.

GRIFFIE

7:00 ok?

ME

Yep. See you then.

After a full day of styling hair and listening to clients’ stories, I stop at my apartment long enough to change into Capital Grille–appropriate attire and drive to the Plaza to meet Griffin. He was right that we haven’t caught up just the two of us in a while. It’s been a little odd to transition from years of seeing each other practically every day to hardly having any one-on-one time. I’m happy that he has new priorities with Danae and Jason, and I’m happy that I have new demands on my time between work and dating Adrian.

But I’m also excited to spend some solo time with my big brother tonight.

I find a parking spot close to Capital, so I don’t bother with the valet. When I check in at the host stand, the hostess leads me to a table in the back corner of the restaurant instead of the bar.

This isn’t just catching up. There’s an agenda to this conversation.

As I slide into the booth across from Griffin, I catch the flicker of apprehension in his eyes that he swiftly covers up with a smile.

“Hey, Sam!” he greets.