Page 101 of The Curveball
He doesn’t want to comply, but there is the curiosity factor at play. It’s impossible for him to resist, and I know that much about him. He’ll look. In the background I hear him shuffle around, click a few buttons. It takes another five minutes before his soft curse slips out.
“Are you seeing what I’m seeing?” I grin, even if he can’t see me. “Griffin did nothing to Clay. Do you see how Clay made himself look like he’d been messed up? Do you see it, Dad?”
A pause. A long blow of a breath. “I see them. What do you expect me to do?”
“First, you’re going to withdraw any asinine charges you or Clay are thinking of filing against Griffin. Second, you’ll make the donation like you promised, now because it caused a great deal of stress for the man on an important night. Third, you’re going to admit we were right about Clay.”
“Wren—”
“Sad, but I know the last one will be hardest for you. It’s fine. I’ll wait for it when you finally realize he’s shady. But the other two you will handle this morning, or I start talking, Dad. I will absolutely go public about what happened not only last night, but I’ll explain the reason my boyfriend was so heated. I’ll tell people what happened with Clay. How will that look on Pierson Co.? That’s what matters, right?”
I let the words settle between us. The little girl inside me hopes he’ll apologize, hopes he’ll do a thousand different things.
What he says is a gruff, “I’ll take care of this before noon. Any other demands?”
I shake my head and accept I can’t keep killing my heart trying to get through to the man. It’s not my job anymore. I don’t need his validation. I have enough with a beautiful man who needs me right now as much as I need him.
“No more demands, Dad. Make sure it’s done.”
I end the call, and an hour later I’m feeling human again as I reach for my keys, thinking of all the things I’ll say to Griffin when once more, my phone rings.
I groan, thinking it might be my dad calling back, but my stomach knots up at the name. “Marti? Hi.”
“Hi, Wren. Look, I’m sorry to bother you, but . . . I don’t know what else to do. Griffin is, well, he’s sort of freaking out.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Gi-Gi. She had an allergic reaction to her medication.”
“Oh, my gosh. Is she okay? Is he at the hospital? Griffin hates the hospital.” I’m shouting things at her that I’m certain his cousin already knows, but all I can think of is getting to him.
“She’s okay. Now. Yes, she had to go to the ER, but she’s fine. She’s sleeping at my mom’s. Griffin, though, he’s not answering us. I know how he gets about his mom, and, well, I think you might be the only one he’ll listen to.”
I nod even if she can’t see, and sprint to my car. “I’m on my way.”
CHAPTER32
GRIFFIN
I can’t move.My chest is too tight, and all I can think of is my mom’s skin turning red, her shallow breaths, the beeping of the machines. I didn’t handle anything well, shouting at doctors, trying to understand what they were telling me. Only once I had her safe at my aunt and uncle’s house did I allow myself to leave. To go home and crash.
When I woke up on the couch a few hours later, I reached out for Wren.
She wasn’t there, and I shut down all over again.
I read the texts from my family, trying to spark some sort of life into my system again.
Marti:Griff, please let us know you’re okay.
Enzo:She’s okay, bud. Call us.
I haven’t called anyone.I can’t stop pacing in my kitchen. I’ve scrubbed counters, doorknobs, walls, all to keep moving, to avoid the sullen nothing I go into when I feel too much. I probably look a little deranged. Sweatpants, hair on end, damp spots on my T-shirt.
My mom is fine. She’s not dying. It was an allergic reaction to an ingredient in the meds. The doctors caught it; they’ll fix it.
I still don’t have Wren.
My chin drops, and I let out a shuddering breath. I didn’t hit Clay. I need nothing more than to have Wren believe me, but she won’t respond to my messages.