In a completely different way, Griffin understood it all. But his wounds were so much deeper. He’d lost his entire family, including the sibling he’d tried to save. And instead of an island prying into his life, the whole world had. I couldn’t imagine the kinds of scars that left behind.

I felt a pulling sensation in my chest, a deep tugging. I wanted to be the one to help ease those hurts for him, tend the marks left behind. I closed my eyes for the briefest of moments. I could be there for Griffin, be his friend and his sounding board, but I needed to hold that deepest part of my heart back. Because if I let that piece free, I would fall. And Griffin wasn’t in a place to catch me.

A throat cleared, and I looked up. “Patti.”

“Daydreaming again, are we?” she asked, brows raised.

Straightening my spine, I forced a smile. “Just thinking as I clean. What can I help you with? Would you like a sandwich or a salad?”

“Neither. You know I make my own meals.”

I held back the eye roll I wanted to set free. Patti said it as if she deserved a medal for cooking her own food. “Anything else I can help you with?” Mentally, I was screaming, why are you here?

She straightened the purse on her shoulder. “I wanted to see if Mia would like to come over and play with Mallory this weekend.”

I did my best to keep my expression pleasant. “That’s kind of you to offer, but we have plans this weekend.” Patti’s daughter, Mallory, was too much like her mother: a know-it-all and a tattletale. Mia was not a fan.

Patti raised a brow. “Oh? What are you up to?”

The gleam of interest in her eyes had me going on alert. “Mia has gymnastics, and we’re spending some time together as a family on Sunday.”

“At Griffin Lockwood’s? I’ve heard you’ve been spending quite a bit of time out there.”

I stiffened. The gossip mill was working overtime apparently, and of course, Patti was at the center of it. “Have you now?” I wasn’t going to give her anything. It was none of her dang business, and it pissed me right off that she was talking about Griffin behind his back.

Patti’s expression sobered. “Is that really wise, Caelyn? I know you’re not a mother yet, so your instincts might not be as finely tuned as the rest of us, but he has a violent history.”