I watched Griffin’s back as he stalked away, biting my bottom lip to keep from crying. “I messed up,” I whispered.

Parker patted my knee. “You didn’t. There’s no more powerless feeling than when someone you care about is in danger. Everything feels out of control. And some of us don’t handle it so well.”

I looked over at Parker. “I’m not sure that’s all it is. He was mad that I wouldn’t give up the house. Like it was an insult somehow.”

A smile stretched across Parker’s face. “He wants you with him. Safe. Where he can keep an eye on you.”

My stomach churned. Did Griffin want me? Or had he just become fixated on keeping me safe?

38

Caelyn

For what felt like the millionth time that day, I jumped as the screen door to the store slapped against its wooden frame. “I swear I’m going to break that door in half,” I muttered.

“What did it ever do to you?”

I let out a little squeak as I caught sight of Max making his way from the back room, arms full of produce to restock. My cheeks heated. “Sorry. I’m a little jumpy today and ready to take it out on that poor defenseless screen door.”

He chuckled but sobered as he took in my face. “Everything okay?”

There was something about Max’s focus. It was intense and seemed as if he could read any expression like he was fluent in body language. I broke the stare. “I’m fine. Just a long few weeks.”

“Well, I was going to hit up The Catch after closing with some friends. Why don’t you join us for a beer or two?”

I studied Max for a moment. I couldn’t tell if this was simply a friendly gesture or something else. I got asked out occasionally, but it had been a long time. Some small part of me wanted to say yes. Not because I had any interest in Max, but because I felt a burning urge to stick it to Griffin. Ever since the conversation with Parker, he’d receded into his old scowly, grumpy ways. Only now, it was worse. He’d barely said two words to me since yesterday afternoon. And when you lived in the same house and ate all of your meals with someone, that was a feat.

I blew out a breath. No matter how much of a jerky grumpypants Griffin was being, I couldn’t do it. Because even at his scowliest and most grunty, I still loved the bugger. Falling in love with a man who might never be able to give me what I needed could be the biggest mistake I’d ever made.

“Uh, Caelyn?” Max began. “Are you all right?”