Effortless (Thoughtless, #2)(174)

At first, Griffin didn’t notice. A crooked grin on his face, he walked up to her and nonchalantly shoved his tongue down her throat. Anna made a slight noise and her knees seemed to buckle a little. My stomach turned at the sight. Dad looked about ready to clock Griffin.

Evan and Matt behind Griffin were staring at Anna wide-eyed.

Clearly, they’d noticed what Griffin hadn’t. They both looked up at me. I waved a greeting, then nodded at their unasked questions. Yes, she was 492



really pregnant. Yes, the jackass kissing her was the father. Both of their mouths dropped open as they looked back at Griffin.

Finished mauling Anna, he wrapped his arms around her. That’s when he seemed to notice that there was more of her to hug. Looking down, his light brows furrowed in confusion. “Uh, Anna?” Stepping back from her, he poked a finger into her stomach. “What happened to you?”

Anna batted his hand away, her lips tightening in a classic, hormonal mood swing. “You happened to me…ass hat.” Griffin twisted his lips, like he didn’t understand. Matt smacked him over the head. “Dude, I told you to wrap it up! Don’t you ever listen to me?”

Griffin sneered at his cousin behind him. “What the f*ck are you talking about?”

I cringed at Griffin being so crude in front of my father. Dad, his face pale as he realized just who his grandchild’s other half was, stood up.

His thinning hair seemingly graying by the second, he poked Griffin in the shoulder. Annoyed, Griffin twisted back around.

Lifting his chin, our dad calmly told the bassist, “You will watch your language around my daughter, especially when she’s carrying your child.” He raised his eyebrow to Griffin, to drive that point home, in case Griffin was still confused.

Griffin shook his head, then finally the light turned on. His eyes widening, he stared at Anna’s stomach in absolute horror. “You’re pregnant?”

Anna smirked and rolled her eyes. “God, I hope our daughter somehow gets Kiera’s smarts…otherwise she’s doomed.” Griffin’s face softened as he looked up into Anna’s eyes. “Daughter?

We’re gonna have a girl?”

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A slight smile crept into his face and Anna’s eyes moistened. She shook her head. “I don’t know yet, I just feel like…I feel like we made a girl.”

His face more serious than I’d ever seen it, Griffin slowly put his hand on Anna’s stomach. Her eyes welled so much I doubt she could even see the father of her baby anymore. Surprisingly, Griffin’s eyes were a little moist too, as he ran his thumb over the bump. I hoped and prayed the baby took this opportunity to kick, so he would feel it.

Everyone around us was silent as Griffin stared at Anna’s belly. Then, so soft I almost missed it, Griffin murmured, “A girl…I’m gonna have a little girl?”

Tears dripping down her cheeks now, Anna whispered, “I don’t know if I’m keeping her.”

My mother took a step forward at hearing Anna admit that; she hadn’t admitted it to anyone but me. Dad grabbed Mom’s arm, though, stopping her as he watched Griffin intently. Mom bit her lip, looking like she wanted to start in on a four hour speech. It was her first grandbaby after all.

Griffin snapped his head up. “What? You can’t give away my kid?” He looked around the bar until he found Kellan, watching from behind Matt and Evan. “She can’t do that, right, Kell? Don’t I have a say?” I had to swallow the lump in my throat at the look on Griffin’s face. I’d never, ever seen him look so…panicked. It was like he’d just been offered something he really wanted, and then had it snatched away. He looked terrified.

Kellan started to answer him, but Anna brought her fingers to Griffin’s cheek, forcing his eyes back to hers. Griffin was shaking when she spoke.

“I won’t…if you want to keep her…if you want to do this with me…I won’t give her up.”

I held my breath, waiting for his answer. I noticed my mom and dad clenching hands as they waited, too. We all wanted this baby, but it wasn’t our choice. Apparently…it was Griffin’s.

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He swallowed, then looked down at her stomach again. After what seemed like an eternity, he looked back up at her. “Can we name her after my grandma?”

Anna started to sob, then nodded and threw her arms around his neck.

Griffin smiled, inhaling a deep breath as he held her back. The rest of the band glanced at each other, smiling. Through my own tears and sobs, I heard Matt lean down to Rachel by his side. “One of us should probably tell her that Grandma’s name was Myrtle.”

I laughed through my sobs, grateful that at least Griffin would have his more sensible band mates to help raise this baby. Thank God for that.

I turned away from the happy couple when I heard Griffin murmur,

“Can we still screw when you’re like this?” I noticed a group of people that had quietly entered the bar during that dramatic moment. My jaw dropped as I stared.

An older, middle-aged man was standing awkwardly by the bar.

Dressed in a nice, black, collared shirt and khaki slacks, he seemed like he could be heading out to one of the golf clubs around the area. Lean and muscular with a head full of thick, sandy brown hair, he was one of those men that you knew would age well. He’d still be attractive at sixty.