For Our Son: A BWWM Parenting Romance For Adults (24 page)

When Griffin awoke the following morning, he was greeted by a familiar
set of hazel eyes that seemed to be surveying him in his sleep.

"Morning," Erica whispered.

"Morning,” Griffin said in return.

"How’d you sleep?"

"Wonderful. You?"

"Good."

Unsure of what to do next, Erica looked past Griffin and out the window.
"It looks like it’s going to be a beautiful day. We’d better get up. We
said we’d meet everyone at nine for breakfast."

Hoping out bed, Erica tugged back on her nightgown with haste and started
rummaging through her luggage.

"Okay.” Griffin sighed regretfully as he stretched. "I would
have liked to spend the day with you in here though."

"Me too, but we can’t,” Erica said as she started for the bathroom.
“Come on, lazy bones. Up and at ‘em. I’ll hit the shower first.

"Er?" Griffin called out. "We’re okay right?" His
voice was full of worry as he watched her stop and straighten her back. In his
opinion, she was acting way too cavalier given what had transpired between them
last night.

Refusing to turn around and look at him, Erica stood stock-still and
bowed her head. "I hope so. I mean…last night was great, but…where does
that leave us?"

Erica listened as Griffin rose from bed. She felt his warm hands rest on
her shoulders as he came up behind her, and she held her breath in preparation
of his response.

"I love you," Griffin whispered.

At that, Erica spun around to look him in the eyes. "What?"

"I said I love you,” Griffin repeated. “I always have.”

A wide smile broke out across Erica’s face then. “I love you too,"
she said as happy tears filled her eyes.

Smiling, the couple embraced each other with desperation and longing.
After a while, Griffin pulled back slightly and placed a soft kiss on Erica’s
lips.

"I’m so relieved,” Erica said once they finally released each other
long enough to talk. "I’ve wanted to say that for so long. It was killing
me."

"Killing you? How do you think I felt? This whole friendship thing
has been excruciating."

After more kissing and hugging, the pair got ready to meet with their
friends. An hour later, after a short but satisfying quickie, they walked into
the dining room hand in hand.

"Looks like you two have finally come to your senses,” Evan
exclaimed as Griffin and Erica took their seats at the table.

"Yeah, are you guys, like…official now?" Lori asked with a huge
grin on her face.

"Yes,” Erica and Griffin said at the same time. Looking at each
other, they burst out laughing.

It was a long time coming.

Chapter nine

Griffin looked over at Erica as the car veered down the highway. She
looked exceptionally beautiful in her gorgeous red party dress, and he loved
the way her hair looked when she wore it down. The pair were on their way to
the Christmas party her company was throwing. It was a huge event that was
being held at the posh Four Seasons hotel downtown.

Erica looked over at Griffin when she felt him staring at her and smiled.
Admiration shone in her eyes as she gazed at the man she so loved.

Upon returning from the Palm Springs getaway, Griffin and Erica’s
relationship had grown by leaps and bounds. Now that they had nothing to fear,
the couple relished in each other’s company and were closer than ever as a
result. They’d even went as far as reintroducing each other to their parents,
and all were accepting.

Erica thought her parents would resist Griffin given what had transpired
between them in high school, but it was obvious that they had come to the
realization that he made their daughter happy. To them, that was all that
mattered. In time, they even grew to love Avery, so much so that it was safe to
say they looked at her like a grandchild.

Erica’s parents were even happier when Griffin spoke to them privately
about his intentions to marry Erica. He had bought a ring a few weeks after the
trip and was planning on purposing over the holidays.

"Are you excited about the party?" Griffin asked Erica. He was
trying hard to sound unfazed, but she could tell that he was unsure of how he
would be received by her colleagues. He had complained more than once about
feeling uncomfortable amongst such wealthy people, but Erica told him he was
just being paranoid.

"Griffin, relax. I don’t work with snobs, and yes, to answer your
question – I am excited. I think we’ll have a great time." Wanting to
comfort him, she leaned over and kissed his cheek just as they pulled into the
hotel’s underground parking lot.

Once inside the banquet hall, the couple took a seat at a table with a
few of Erica’s co-workers. After dinner was served, conversation amongst the
workers started in earnest. They mainly spoke about work, but when that grew
stale the topics ranged from luxury cars, to upscale homes, to the hottest
international vacations spots.

To Griffin, everyone but Erica seemed fake and pretentious. He had no
idea how his girlfriend could stand working with such snooty people.

Erica, on the other hand, was right in her element. Even so, it bothered
her that Griffin didn’t seem to be enjoying himself. Wanting to make him feel
more like a part of the group, she tried to include him in the conversation,
but her tactics to get him to open up all failed. No matter what she said or
did, Griffin just didn't seem the least bit interested in contributing.

The evening went from bad to worse when one of Erica’s co-workers, Tom,
inquired about Griffin’s job. Erica had to knock Griffin lightly in the ribs
with her elbow to get his attention, and even that did little to jolt him from
his daydream.

"Huh?" Griffin asked as he looked over at Erica.

Trying to mask her embarrassment, Erica smiled and told him that Tom was
inquiring about his work.

"Oh, I’m a television producer. I’m one of the production managers
behind the soap ‘Red Street’."

"Sounds interesting," Tom replied, but it was clear from his
expression that he had no idea what Griffin was talking about.

Feeling defensive and confrontational for seemingly no reason, Griffin
pursued the topic. "Do you watch the show?"

"I don’t, but I’ve heard great things about it. It’s pretty
impressive that you’re in the entertainment industry. Good for you,” Tom said
as if at a loss for words.

Tom sounded condescending even to Erica, and she immediately grabbed hold
of Griffin’s hand beneath the table. "Griffin’s show is great. It won
three daytime Emmy’s in its first year alone.”

Feeling good about defending her man, Erica smiled at Griffin only to
discover that he looked quietly furious.

Much to Erica’s relief, the conversation quickly turned to other things
after that. Trying to act as normal as possible, she asked Griffin if he was
okay. He only nodded then looked away from her. Deciding that she would deal
with him later, Erica continued conversing with her co-workers as dessert was
served. After the meal, everyone started to abandon the table to hit the dance
floor, and she tried her best to get Griffin to do the same.

"Come on, let’s dance,” Erica urged. The music was loud and
throbbing, and she wanted nothing more than to put the whole dinner disaster
behind them.

Unfortunately for her, Griffin had other plans.

"Nah, I’m not in the mood," he said without looking at her.

Erica sighed heavily. "Okay, what gives?" she demanded. “I can
tell something's bothering you, Griff. Just save me the guessing work and tell
me what it is.”

Shaking his head, Griffin turned his eyes on her and stared at her for a
moment before getting up and walking toward the nearest exit without answering
her.

Confused, Erica got up to follow him, but she quickly became distracted
by the sight of her boss talking to Tom and an attractive blond woman she
didn't recognize.

"Erica, come over here a minute. I want to introduce you to my
wife."

Seeing no tactful way out of the situation, Erica changed direction and
walked over to her superior. Plastering a smile on her face, she engaged him in
a bit of small talk until he finally took his wife off to dance. Once alone
again, Erica attempted to leave to find Griffin, but she was once again stopped
– this time by Tom.

"Erica, can I talk to you for a sec?"

"Sure,” Erica said as she swallowed a sigh. She needed to find
Griffin. The last thing she wanted was to waste more time talking to Tom.

"I hope I didn’t offend your boyfriend at dinner,” Tom said in a
guarded tone. “I think I may have come off a bit pompous. I want you to know
that wasn't my intention."

"It’s fine. Don't even worry about it,” Erica said with the hope
that her lackluster response would end the conversation before it even began.

Looking down at his drink, Tom shrugged, but he refused to let off that
easily. "I hope I didn’t cause any problems between you two..."

Not wanting to deal with any more hurt feelings, Erica rushed to respond,
“No, Tom, you didn’t cause anything. Just…forget about it, okay? I have to run.
I’ll see you Monday.”

At that, Erica quickly walked to the door in search of Griffin. She found
him sitting on a bench in the lobby with a scowl on his face.

"There you are. Why’d you take off like that?" Erica asked as
she sat down beside him.

"Are you serious?" Griffin asked as he looked at her. "I
felt like an idiot in there. Half the time I had no idea what you guys were
even talking about. It’s a party. Who the hell talks about financial stuff at a
party?" he inquired.

"Griff, come on. I tried to keep you in the loop, but every time I
looked over at you it was like you weren’t even paying attention. You didn’t
even make an effort!"

"Yeah, maybe because I didn't feel like it. It was like Thanksgiving
all over again." 

"Griff, what do you want from me? At your company party you guys
were talking about stuff I couldn't relate to, but what did I do? I made the
best of it and I had a good time,” Erica said as she struggled to remain calm.

"Well sorry I can’t relate to you and your high-roller friends,”
Griffin muttered. "Maybe you’d be better off with that guy Tom."

"What?" Erica asked in a near shout.

"Oh don't play dumb. I saw you and Tom in there all chummy-like.
He’s an intellectual. He’s high society. Maybe you should be with someone like
him."

Tears sprang to Erica’s eyes as she listened to Griffin rant, but she
refused to let them fall. “Tom was asking about
you
, Griff. He wanted to
make sure there wasn’t any misunderstanding from dinner." Erica’s voiced
cracked as she spoke. "I don't get it. How could you say something like
that to me?"

Rising, Griffin looked down at Erica and shook his head. "Look,
Erica…all tonight did was make me aware that I can’t give you what you deserve.
I can’t give you fancy cars or a seven figure beach house in Malibu. I can’t
provide
any
of the things a guy like Tom could."

Standing abruptly, Erica neared in on Griffin as he tried to leave. “I
could care less about money, Griff. You should know that. But if that's really
what you think of me, then…maybe you're right. Maybe we shouldn't be together.”