Page 28 of A Little Secret

When the door swings open, I fall face-first into a very hard, very warm chest.

Whoops.

A pair of strong hands envelop my biceps, wrenching me away from Griffin’s chest as I crane my neck up at him. “Oops.”

“You good?”

I nod, and he lets me go.

“Did you catch it?” I ask.

“He’s back in the cage.”

“Terrarium.”

“Terrarium,” he corrects.

“Perfect.” I clear my throat and fold my arms. “Uh, thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“And thank you two times,” I add, pinching the edge of the shirt I’d stolen as if to say, “Exhibit B.”

“You’re welcome two times.”

I nod.

“You know, this is the most we’ve talked since SeaBird without being dicks to each other.”

“You’re a dick. I’m a bitch,” I clarify. “But, yeah, you’re right.”

“It’s nice,” he adds.

My head bobs up and down. “Yeah. Yeah, it is.”

“Maybe don’t tell Drew I saw you naked, though.”

I snort. “Probably a good idea.”

“And maybe don’t tell your brother, either.”

I smile. “Our little secret.”

He squeezes the back of his neck and rocks back on his heels. “If you need anything, let me know.”

“I will,” I murmur. As he slips past me, heading for the stairs, I call, “Hey, Griff?”

Glancing over his shoulder at me, he says, “Yeah?”

“It isn’t…personal. Okay?”

His head falls to his chest, and my stupid heart splinters.

“Not sure what other label fits, but whatever you say, Fin. As long as you’re happy, I guess.”

Then he takes the stairs two at a time, leaving me alone in the hallway in nothing but his T-shirt.

Tiptoeing back to my room, I peek around the corner and squint my eyes, searching the terrarium for a trapped little green monster. When I spot it, my body sags and I step over the threshold, closing the door behind me with a quiet click. I should shower again since Griffin touched me with his hands after catching the demon spawn. But I’m too anxious. The look in his eyes… The way his low voice sounded so…detached. It hurt.