Pieces of Us - Carrie Elks Page 0,65
on us, hero.” She winked.
Griff rolled his eyes. He’d only walked into Déjà Brew to grab a caffeine fix on his way to the pier, where Mike had been keeping the Ocean Explorer going for the day. But Lorne had seen him walk in, and told half the shop owners on the boardwalk and Main Street, because now Griff was surrounded by their concerned faces.
“I knocked on your door this morning,” Deenie said, as Griff took a mouthful of coffee. The bitter liquid washed over his tongue. “I wanted to check on you on my way to work, but you didn’t answer.”
“I wasn’t there.” He glanced at the door from the corner of his eye. Three strides and he could be out of there. Shame his muscles ached too much to make a run for it.
“Oh.” Deenie’s lips formed a perfect circle. “Were you with Autumn?”
“You can’t ask him that,” Ally said, leaning across the counter. “What kind of gentleman would admit to it?”
Deenie clamped her hand over her mouth. “Sorry.” Her voice was muffled. “I only wondered if she looked after you.”
“Yeah, she looked after me.” His voice was low. The memory of her washed over him. Those kisses, her touch, the way they couldn’t pull their gazes away. It made his chest feel tight.
“She’s a lovely young woman,” Frank Megassey said. “And she’s doing a lot of work for the charity day. I know she’s from New York, but I hope she sticks around.”
Yeah, well so did Griff. The thought of her leaving felt like a slap in the face.
He lifted his coffee cup again, and noticed Ally staring at him, her brows drawn together. “What’s up?” he asked her.
She shrugged. “Nothing.”
“Oh come on. You can’t look at me like that and then say nothing.”
Ally licked her dry lips. “I’m just glad you’re okay, that’s all. When I heard you were out there…” Her voice faded as she shook her head. “I was scared.”
“We all were.” Deenie nodded. “Wallace had to hold me back from going down to the beach. He said I’d be a liability.” She wiped the corner of her eye. “Promise me you won’t do anything like that again. I don’t think my heart can take it.”
They were all staring at him, waiting for him to respond.
“I promise I won’t save anybody’s life again,” he replied, deadpan. Ally looked away, stifling her laugh.
“Now stop that,” Deenie said, swatting his arm. “You know what I mean.”
“I do.” Griff nodded, his face serious. “And I’m not planning on taking any broken down boats into the ocean again. It was a favor for a friend. I knew the boat was unseaworthy as soon as I stepped on it, but I figured we’d get it to the marina before anything happened.”
“Sam should never have asked you to go.” Deenie folded her arms over her chest. “When he’s better, I’m going to have words with him.”
“He’s an old friend.” Griff shrugged.
“Of your dad’s.” Deenie sighed. “Not yours. You don’t owe him anything.”
“It’s over now,” he told her. “I’m here and I’m okay.”
“I’m so glad you are.” Her voice cracked as she hugged him tight. “And you should call your parents. Let them know you’re okay.”
“I already did,” he said gruffly.
“Oh.” Deenie’s eyes softened. “What did they say?”
He attempted a smile. “I think I disturbed their sleep.” It was crazy. A thirty-something guy shouldn’t hurt when his parents treated him like shit;. It shouldn’t matter at all. And yet his heart ached at the memory of that phone call. Another rejection to add to the already-long list.
Frank clucked his tongue as though he didn’t know what to say. Then Deenie hugged Griff again, her arms barely reaching around his waist.
“They love you,” she said softly. “Even if they don’t show it. Who could stop themselves?” She smiled up at him. “You’re adorable.”
It was a strange echo of Autumn’s words from that morning. Yet it didn’t soothe the pain completely. It was always there, like a low-level sound. A constant hum that reminded him he wasn’t wanted by those who should love him the most.
“I should go,” he told them. “Mike is waiting for me.”
“Of course.” Deenie nodded. “Would you like to come over tonight? Or I can bring some food to you if you prefer.”
“Can I have a rain check?” He gave her a gentle smile. “I have plans.”
“I bet you do,” Ally said, laughing.
He lifted his eyebrows at her, and gave Deenie a hug, then shook Frank’s and Lorne’s hands.