the chip in my hand, thinking about what Dad had just told me. It was odd that she hadn’t mentioned anything to me.
“Something else on your mind, Griffin?”
The commercials ended.
“Nah. The game’s back on.”
“Believe it or not, I can watch and listen at the same time. I’m not that old.”
“I know, Dad.”
“So, what’s eating at you?”
My dad and I were close, and besides the one talk he’d given me about the birds and the bees a couple years too late, we didn’t really talk about sex. I talked about women I dated, but we avoided bedroom stuff.
But if I trusted anyone, I trusted my father. More than Blake—that was for sure. And even more than Caleb, who was definitely more knowledgeable than Blake.
“I’m worried that Madeline didn’t tell me about her conversation with Mom for a different reason.”
“What would that be?”
I finally dunked my chip in the dip, so I had a reason to avoid my dad’s eyes. “We kind of started sleeping together.”
I popped the chip in my mouth and waited for a response, but my father was silent.
After swallowing, I looked over to see my dad watching the game.
I frowned. “Did you even hear what I said?” I asked.
My dad smiled.
Of course he had heard me.
His eyes left the television. “I heard you. I was waiting for you to stop freaking out about admitting what you told me.”
“I’m not freaking out.”
“You sure?”
“Yes.”
“Okay. Good. Then, we can talk about this. So, why do you think Madeline didn’t say anything?”
“Now that we’re sleeping with each other, it has kind of limited either of us dating someone else.” Although, to be fair, one week ago, we’d only spent one night together. It was possible I had misunderstood Madeline completely.
“So, you two aren’t dating?”
“No. We have made it pretty clear that we’re friends, having fun.”
“And is this what you want?”
“Yes.” I think. “What does that have to do with Mom and Mads?”
“Perhaps Madeline wants to be more than friends, and your mom made her feel guilty.”
It was something to consider, but after the conversation we’d had in the dressing room yesterday, I didn’t think it was true. “I don’t know. She’s never said she wants more. And she’s had the opportunity.”
“Hmm.”
I sighed. “What does ‘hmm’ mean, Dad?”
His eyes widened. “Nothing. It’s just a hmm. I’m simply thinking.”
I looked down. “Do you think I made a mistake?”
“I can’t tell you that, son. Does she make you happy? Do you like being with her?”
I looked at my dad. “Yes, but that’s always been true, or she wouldn’t be my closest friend.”
“Okay, then how do you feel about no longer sleeping with her? How would you feel if she started dating someone else?” He lifted a hand. “You don’t have to answer me. This is just something I want you to think about. And maybe you don’t know, and that’s okay. But when you do know, maybe you should make some decisions about where to take your friendship.”
I nodded as I sat back on the couch and thought through my dad’s questions.
I would be disappointed if we weren’t sleeping together anymore. Sex with Madeline was better than with anyone else. And as far as her dating anyone else, I didn’t like the idea, but it didn’t make me jealous. Harris standing in Madeline’s living room flashed across my brain.
Harris was different. He was a dipshit who didn’t deserve her. I hadn’t been jealous.
“You okay over there?” Dad asked.
“Yeah. Just thinking.”
“Don’t think too hard, or you’ll miss the game.”
This was my dad’s way of telling me not to stress myself out. “Thanks, Dad.”
“You’re welcome, son.”
Twenty-Seven
Madeline
I hit play on my remote and grabbed the popcorn bowl.
After leaving Griffin’s, I had come home and done some cleaning around my house. Then, I’d cooked myself a healthy dinner, and my reward was sweats, popcorn, and Netflix. I had slowly been binge-watching an older TV show with several seasons, and I was excited to see what happened next since I hadn’t been able to watch for several days.
I was only about ten minutes into my first episode when there was a knock at my door.
I groaned and reluctantly got off my couch. Turning on the porch light, I looked through the small window in my front door to see Griffin standing on my steps.
I unlocked the door and opened it. “Did I miss a message from you?” I asked.
“No. I didn’t tell you I was coming over,” he said as he stepped inside. “It was a last-minute thing.”
“Okay.” I shut