Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 56256 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 281(@200wpm)___ 225(@250wpm)___ 188(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56256 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 281(@200wpm)___ 225(@250wpm)___ 188(@300wpm)
The excitement quickly turns into something else and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t like it. She feels good in my arms. Like she belongs.
I can feel her warm breath on my neck and it’s like a shock against my skin. A soft sigh escapes her and I close my eyes, soaking it all in.
“Thank you,” she whispers.
“You did great, Anya.”
I tighten my hold briefly before I let her go.
I don’t want to let her go and that’s exactly why I do it.
She smiles up at me, a small blush on her cheeks as she straightens her flannel shirt. Our eyes are locked and she opens her mouth to say something, but Callum interrupts.
“You guys almost ready? It’s fun and all, but I wanna pop in the brewery before it closes,” he says, looking between us.
I clear my throat and nod. “Yeah, let's just go a couple more times. I think Anya would like that.”
“Yeah, okay fine.”
We spend another half hour throwing and Anya hits the target each time. She never gets a bullseye, but her excitement each time she hits it feels like she does.
I was reluctant to go out tonight, but as we get ready to leave, I don’t want to. I want this fire that started before to continue to burn and I know when we leave, it will extinguish.
“I told you guys it would be fun,” she says as we walk outside.
“It was all right. Not something I want to do all the time,” Callum says.
I grin as I bump my shoulder to hers. “It was fun and I would do it again.”
And again and again. As long as she’s there too.
If she offers another night of fun, I’m all in.
Chapter 7
Anya
“They look great, dear,” my mother says as I pop the last of the chocolates out of the heart molds.
“Do they?” I ask her, tilting my head to give them a better inspection. “I’m hoping they’ll be good enough for an anniversary dinner I’m hosting tonight at the brewery.”
My mother beams. “I love that you’re working there. You’re such a smart woman.” My mother brushes my hair out of my face.
“I just wish Callum would see that.”
My mother steps back, leaning against the kitchen counter. We’ve been making chocolate candies all day for the event tonight. “He will. How was the axe throwing with him?”
I think back to the other night when Griffin wrapped his arms around me to show me how to grip the axe. Shivers wrack my body at the memory, and thankfully my mother was looking the other way, snagging a chocolate off the plate and popping it into her mouth.
I smile wide. “I saw that,” I say, with a raise of my brow.
“So, how was it?” my mother asks again.
“It was fun. Callum and Griffin even smiled a few times.” I laugh at remembering the two of them competing.
“That’s good. I’m glad you brought Griffin along.” My mother snatches another chocolate and pops it into her mouth.
“Mom?” I park both hands on my hips. “I’m not going to have any left for the party.”
My mother laughs. “Is Griffin working the party?”
I spin around to continue working on the chocolates as I shrug. “I guess. He works all the parties.”
“I think he has a little thing for you,” my mother says, and I turn back around to meet her eyes. She winks, and smiles wide. “I think he’s always had a little thing for you, Anya.”
I shake my head. “No way.” Has he? Has he always had a crush?
No, I would know if Griffin were harboring feelings for me, and he’s definitely not. He’s like a…my thought falls away as I try to think of the perfect word for Griffin. He’s not like an older brother. No way. He’s much too good-looking and hot to be a brother. Not saying my brothers are ugly, but gross, they’re my brothers.
I don’t view Griffin like that.
Is he a friend?
I mean, I guess you could call him a friend. Even though we’ve never really hung out except for the other night with the axe throwing.
“Pretty soon smoke is going to come out of your ears,” my mother says.
I glance up, lost in thought. “What?”
“What are you thinking about?”
I shake my head. “He doesn’t have a crush. We’re friends.”
My mother grabs another chocolate and pops it into her mouth, and utters the word “good,” as she walks out of the kitchen.
I glance at my phone and notice the time.
I’m going to be late.
I rush around the house, getting dressed and getting the chocolates packed up so I can transport them to the brewery. On my way, I think about what my mother said. If it’s true, then how do I feel about him?
I mean, he’s Griffin. I’ve always thought he was gorgeous, but that’s all it’s ever been.