Beyond the Team (Out of Reach 4)

I expect the kiss to be urgent, but he takes his time. Seconds bleed into minutes, and I know we have to stop. “Griff,” I say against his lips.

“I know,” he says, hugging me. “I know you have to go, and I hate it.” He kisses me one last time, this one just a simple press of his lips to mine before he lowers my feet to the ground.

“If it’s meant to be, it will be,” I tell him.

“You can’t talk like that. You have to stay positive. We are meant to be, and we will be,” he counters with a small tilt to his lips. “Come on. I’ll walk you back to Parker.”

When we reach my sister, she gives me a sad, knowing smile. She knows what I’m feeling. She’s leaving her boyfriend here as well. Relationships are hard, but if both parties put in the work, it can happen. I know this. I grew up a witness to this very thing.

“We’ve got this,” I tell Griffin.

“There’s my girl.” He kisses me one last time before pulling away and hugging my sister. “Call me when you land,” he says, stepping back.

“Definitely.”

“Okay. I’m going to turn around now. I need you to start walking away. When I do it, I might not ever leave.”

“I’ll see you soon,” I tell him.

He points at me and grins. “That. I’ll see you soon.” He turns and, without looking back, begins to walk away.

“Come on. Let’s get moving. He’s right. If we don’t, it’s just going to prolong it and make it worse.”

Together, we make our way through the airport and through security. By the time we reach our gate, tears well in my eyes. I swallow them back and take a few deep breaths before I turn to face my sister. “Thank you, Parker. You convinced Dad to let me come with you, and I would never have met him otherwise.”

“You’re welcome,” she says, putting her arm around my shoulders and hugging me close. “Griffin seems like a good guy.”

“Yeah,” I agree. He’s a good guy who somehow managed to capture my heart in a matter of days.

CHAPTER 12

Griffin

It’s been a week since she’s been gone. A week of calls and text messages. A week of missing her like crazy. This is going to be harder than I first thought. Not because I can’t stay faithful, but missing her is torture. There is an ache in my chest, a hollow hole that can only be filled by her presence.

I hate it.

But I want her. All I have to do is remind myself that she’s the prize in all of this, and my gut settles. We knew this was going to be hard. We knew this was going to be a challenge. I just didn’t realize it would feel like this. Like a piece of me is missing.

“You want to head over to my place?” Oliver asks.

We just wrapped up practice, which means we’re done for the day. All of our classes are early mornings to save time for games or practices in the evenings. “Yeah, but we need to stop to grab something to eat. I’m starving.”

“That’s the only thing I hate about moving back to campus—missing Mom’s cooking,” Oliver comments.

“Right? This makes me sound like a dick but come on. My dad’s a chef. I’m a food snob.” I shrug, and he laughs.

“How about the deli just outside of campus?”

“My mouth is watering just thinking about their roast beef sub. I’m in.” We quickly gather our bags and head to the parking lot. Being roommates, we often ride together, and today was my day to drive.

“Have you talked to Peyton today?” he asks once we’re in my Jeep and on the road.

“Yeah. Every morning.”

“Look at you and that goofy-ass grin. I was sure it would have worn off by now.”

“Why?” I laugh.

“Because she’s there, and you’re here.”

“Yeah, that’s hard, but I have to stay positive about this.”

“You really like this girl, don’t you?”

“Do you think I’d put myself through this if I didn’t?” Oliver knows me better than that. I’m not sure where this conversation is going.

“No.”

“Spit it out, man. What’s on your mind?” Oliver and I have been best friends for longer than I can remember. Long before either of us really understood exactly what a best friend was. He’s like a brother to me.

“Nothing.”

“Try again,” I tell him.

“I’m envious of you.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Peyton’s great. I mean, I didn’t get to spend a ton of time with her while she was here, but I can see how happy she makes you even living states away. I can’t help but think that would be nice, you know?”

“You’ll find her when you least expect her,” I tell him. “I didn’t expect Peyton, yet here I am.”

“We’re young.”

“Doesn’t mean my heart doesn’t work.” I laugh.

“Is your heart involved?”