What If by A. J. Pine

Author:A. J. Pine [Pine, A. J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Travel, New Adult, entangled, A.J. Pine, What If, If Only, Embrace, college, Romance
ISBN: 9781503280113
Amazon: 150328011X
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Published: 2014-11-17T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

Griffin

Megan sits on the porch, e-reader in hand as she rocks on the glider. My parents and my other sisters play Bridge in the living room. In the resulting quiet, I stand in the opening that separates the kitchen from the great room, watching from a distance as my niece observes Maggie sketching the bowl of fruit perched on the table, one meant to be viewed but not eaten.

“She’s lovely,” a voice says from behind, and I flinch, as if caught doing something I shouldn’t.

“Geez, Nat. Keep some Tic Tacs in your pocket or something so I know you’re approaching.”

She whacks me on the shoulder. “Explain yourself,” she demands.

I know what she means to ask, but I buy myself a few seconds by playing dumb.

“Explain what?”

My reluctance to face her coupled with not taking my eyes off the pair at the far end of the kitchen table gives me away.

“You have never brought anyone other than Davis to brunch before. I gotta say, I prefer Maggie, but it still doesn’t explain your motives.”

“My motives…” It’s not a question but more of a challenge, to see how far she’ll go figuring it out on her terms before she gets me to speak.

Then she’s quiet.

For over five seconds. The silence builds until I have to face her, knowing she’ll hold out until I do.

“No answer I give is going to satisfy you,” I say. She grins.

“I’d accuse you of being self-serving,” she says, “using her as your latest distraction.” Then she waits a beat. “If it wasn’t for the way you look at her.”

I sigh. Or maybe it’s a groan. Whatever it is, it’s joined with the word “fuck” under my breath.

“Didn’t I just use her, though?”

Nat shakes her head.

“I don’t think you meant to, sweetie. That wasn’t your intent.”

I study the slats in the wood floor, the hint of guilt still there despite my intent. Not only guilt for letting her be a distraction, but for wanting her to be something more when something more has never been what I’m willing to give.

Nat pokes me in the chest.

“Hey. When are you going to give yourself permission to be happy? I’m not only talking about her.” Nat inclines her head toward the kitchen.

“I already freaked her out by bringing her here today,” I say. “It was way too much way too soon.”

Nat shrugs. “Happy,” she repeats, and I laugh.

“Says the girl who’s been on her own since, I don’t know, always? Didn’t I learn from the best? Didn’t I learn from all of you where rocking the boat will get you?”

Nat’s the one to look away now because she knows I’m right. She knows how things work around here.

“You’re going to enlighten me on happiness?” I ask. “You play the system as well as I do.”

“Vi makes me happy, asshole. Vi is enough.”

She’s right, about the asshole part. “Who are you trying to convince?” I ask. “Me? Or yourself?”

I never said my power of deflection didn’t get others caught in the wake.

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