Found by You (31 page)

“Griffin told me you only went into the scheme because your mom was struggling,” I told him. “You could have gone to jail, though. That was worth the risk?”

Pushing his hands into his pockets, he gave me a smile. “For fam? Yeah. Definitely.”

His eyes shifted behind me. I turned from the fence and saw Griffin heading our way with a determined look in his eyes.

D gave a small laugh. “He awaits.”

I smiled. “I guess so. He can be kind of protective.”

D cocked his head. “A match made in heaven then?”

I never thought about that. I guess he was right.

*

The light clicked on in Griffin’s grandma’s living room and my eyes flickered up from my laptop monitor, adjusting to the brightness. I was graced with a handsome grin before me. Griffin closed the front door I assumed he came in through quietly. Once he did, he eyed me curiously, no doubt wondering why I was sitting here in the dark by myself. I guess I just didn’t notice.

He came over to the couch. Taking a seat next to me, he draped his arm behind my neck. I closed my laptop, and his eyes twitched.

I laughed, thinking he might be assuming the worse. “I promise I wasn’t doing anything bad on this before you came in.”

His grin suddenly went hellacious. He dipped his head, leaving a kiss on my neck. “Maybe I want you doing something naughty. If you’re taping it only for me of course.”

I pushed his chest, and he chuckled. He moved his hand up and down his peck, where my hand hit, pretending to be hurt with a pouty lip.

I shook my head. “Did you and D just finish up?”

Griffin’s party wrapped right after the fireworks showing in the backyard, but his friend stayed. Clare and Destiny left shortly after the showing. I saw them off at the gate as they were staying at a hotel before flying out early the next morning. While I helped clean up after the bash, Griffin and D walked off to talk. This didn’t surprise me. D said he owed Griffin an apology. I had a feeling that’s what the talk was about. When I was done cleaning, I wandered around and found the two sitting on the porch. They were chatting, talking about life, their careers, and where they were headed. Silently, I backed off to give Griffin his space and ended up on the couch with my laptop.

“Yeah,” he said, brushing his fingers against my shoulder. “I told him he could stay. Gram has a couple spare rooms since only you and me are staying tonight. Pop and my brothers headed back. D said he already had a hotel room, though. It was good to see him. I’m glad he came.”

I put my hand on his leg, squeezing. “I am, too.” And I really was. D was one of his best friends, and I was glad it worked out.

Griffin settled his hand on mine, lacing our fingers together. “I’m gonna come right out with this, Roxie,” he said, letting out a breath. “I want you to come with me to Florida. I know it will be different, and I know I’m asking you to rearrange things, but I thought about the alternative. I can’t just be away from you, baby. Only seeing you on holidays and
maybe
short weekends when I can. It hurts me even thinking about it. I know it’s selfish, but I need you with me. I just do. I can’t help it.”

He looked so worried, his eyes not making direct eye contact as he rambled. He actually feared I wouldn’t say yes. That I wouldn’t come with him.

I lifted our hands, kissing the back of his once. “What if I want to stay where I am?”

I said what I had to mess with him and was quickly going to let him know that when he said, “All right. If you don’t want to come that’s okay. I’m sure I can figure something else out. A way to be closer to you—”

I kissed his lips both long and full, letting him know I wasn’t serious, yes, but also so much more than that. I was letting him know I wanted him and needed him, too. Maybe even more than he needed me. Griffin changed something in me. He made me demand for more. I’d never been able to do that before. Take what I wanted, and I wanted him. I had to have him, too.

“Of course I’m coming with you,” I said between kisses. “I have to. I need you.”

His mouth moved into a smile. He slid his tongue between my lips, taking what he needed too. Eventually his mouth landed on my cheek, my neck next. “Good,” he said. “Good.”

We were lost in the other for a while before Griffin feared his grandma walking in on us. He slipped his hand into mine. “Ready for bed?”

We had separate rooms, but I had a feeling he’d end up in mine for part of the night. I kissed his hand. “I’ll be just a minute. I have to respond to an email.”

He kissed my hand back and then towered over me when he stood. “Don’t be long. I’ll be upstairs.”

Slowly, he released my hand and left me to my computer. I let out a breath after he left. It could have been from him and my love for him or from what I was about to do. I had a feeling the release was a little bit about both.

My heart racing, I opened the monitor. On the screen was my open email. Just like I told him. I just hadn’t told him who sent the one I was reading. I’d read it what seemed like a million times. Sometimes it made me cry. Other times filled me with an extreme anger that again led to tears at the painful memories it brought me. The apology on my screen was years old. Its contents were filled with sorrow and pain from the sender, and also extreme remorse for what he allowed to be done to me. It ended with pleading words for me to respond. To just let him know I got the email. Not that I forgave him, but to simply let him know I was there. That I’d heard his words.

Lifting my hand to my mouse, I clicked
reply
. I started with two words…

Dear Dad
.

Today a basketball player told me something that resonated with me. He risked it all this year. His freedom. His everything. When I asked if it was worth it he said it was. He said it was for family.

This email was my first step. Maybe a way to get that back with the man who raised me. One day, long ago, I felt that too with him. It was so long ago… but it was there. That connection, that bond. That feeling of love and family that I hadn’t been able to feel for so long until I met Griffin. Maybe one day, I’d find that again with Dad. I just had to let him know I’d heard him.

That I knew he was there.

Epilogue

Griffin

The loud buzzer marking the end of the second quarter and the start of halftime sent a charge into my already rapidly beating heart. I’d been on edge all night. Amped to hell. My team and I were up in points, and I had more than my fair share of games my starting season to get used to my new career. Those weren’t the reasons my nerves were shot, my legs completely noodles—though I definitely didn’t let that shit show on the court. My reason for being nervous was that girl located courtside, the one standing up in her seat, cheering with the rest of the fans. She always got so psyched at these games. Excited just like the thousands of others watching the game. The difference between them and her was I knew she wasn’t cheering for the game. Hell, my girl still didn’t like basketball. She couldn’t hide it. I didn’t care, though. She was there for me. She cheered for me. Tonight, the crowd would be cheering for her.

I didn’t know when she realized the audience’s eyes were no longer on the halftime show, but on her. Perhaps it was when our team’s dancers came out. Doing their normal routine, yes, but this time with a new addition. A large sign in their hands.

I could see Roxie clearly reading what they were holding from my zoomed in view of her on the scoreboard screens above the court. I waited for her mouth to drop open before I left my team on the sideline, receiving pats on my back along the way.

I crossed onto the court, the dancers parting for me. Meanwhile, Roxie was looking every which way. I assumed to seek me out, but she didn’t have to do that. I was coming for her. She didn’t have to do anything but let me get to her.

Finally, her gaze moved to the division of the dancers on the court—or I guess I could say the reason why they were dividing. Me.

She had her cute little cap on backwards, dressed to the nines in my team’s colors. I got her jersey customized. On the back it said,
Roxie Elbowa
. I asked her before I ordered it if she wanted it to say what I always thought she was,
Super Girl.
In the end, she got both, but tonight she wore the name she used on her roller derby team. The one she rocked like a badass with her derby sisters on her own court back in college.

She watched me come to her, and one of the dancers broke the line, guiding her onto the court by the hand. The sign I had made followed behind me. She read it one more time, her green eyes watering.

Marry me, Roxie Peterson? How does a fall wedding sound?

I grabbed her hand, getting down on one knee in my basketball shorts, and her eyes went to me, her small hand shaking in mine.

“You can change the date of the wedding if you want,” I told her, opening the black box I had in my other hand. I got her a diamond with emeralds around it. They reminded me of her eyes.

“Just say yes,” I finished, praying for the best. I’d put her on the spot, the world around us, but I wouldn’t have done that if I didn’t know. That this was right. The timing, the moment… everything. Now, we just needed to make what was already in our hearts official. God, I’d been the sappiest guy in the world since I met her. But shit, did I fucking love it.

Her shaky “yes” gave me permission to put the ring on her finger. I stood, bringing her with me, tight in my arms.

“I love you, Griffin,” she said, holding onto me tight, her voice like a warm song in my ear.

The crowd deafened around us, but I still heard her. I always would. I’d always
see
her.

Forever.

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Acknowledgements

Gosh, there are just so many people to thank with this project, but I have to start with the ladies (and maybe some gents) at VC! You all made this story possible for me. Your motivation and constant support pushed me through the writing process, and I don’t have words for how grateful I am for that. You’re all rockstars and I love you! I also need to thank Ms. Laverne Thompson. Your excitement for this story and editing notes helped me make this story what it was. I’m simply in awe of your greatness! My stellar beta readers Wendi and Andrea. You guys rock! Seriously, I love you both. I give you full, unfinished books and expect you to read them within an extremely tight deadline. You are this story’s Super Girls. To my street team members, thanks so much for all your help. You do so many kind and time-consuming things for me and I’m forever grateful. To Wendi, my eARC party leader extraordinaire, you’re in your own league my friend. The time you dedicate to help warms my heart. I’ve thanked you so much but it never seems enough so here’s one more: thank you for all you do!

I also have to give a shout out to Raven St. Pierre. Your wonderful spirit is just infectious to be around. Thank you for your constant support and amazing positivity. So great to be in this writing game with people like you! Taylor, my editor, this is our third project together and I adore you and your work. You’re so talented and I’m so happy to have worked with you. Georgie, Georgie, Georgie, my cover artist extraordinaire! You. Are. Stellar. You really brought Roxie and Griffin to life. Can’t wait to work with your again on future projects! Special shout out to my friends and family. You’re always there and that means more than you could ever know. To my wonderful hubby: thank you, thank you, THANK YOU! I hearts you lots for all you do for me. Another one down, hon, and I have you to thank for that!

And lastly, but of course not least, YOU. The reader. You are everything. Simply everything. Thank you for letting me do what I’m able to. Thank you for every message, every review, every comment, and every email. You inspire me. You truly do.

About the Author

Victoria H. Smith has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. She puts it to good use writing romance all day. She resides in the Midwest with her MacBook on her lap and a cornfield to her right. She often draws inspiration for her stories from her own life experiences, and the twenty-something characters she writes give her an earful about it.

In her free time, she enjoys extreme couponing, blogging, reading, and sending off a few tweets on Twitter when she can. She writes new adult fiction romance in the sub-genres of science fiction, urban fantasy, and contemporary, but really, anywhere her pen takes her she goes. She’s also co-founder of NA Alley, a group fiction blog dedicated toward the spread of the ‘new adult’ fiction category.

Links:

Website
:
http://www.authorvictoriahsmith.com/

Group Blog:
http://naalley.com/

Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/AuthorVictoriaHSmith

Twitter
:
VictoriaSmith76

Email
:
[email protected]

Books by Victoria H. Smith

NEW ADULT MULTICULTURAL ROMANCES:

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Found by You

NEW ADULT CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE:

Holiday Fling
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