Epoch (Transcend Duet #2)(3)

“Swayze?”

I turn. Nate catches up to us just before we reach the stairs. He gives Griffin a stiff smile. I’m sure it’s the normal reaction to seeing a stranger taking off with his baby.

“Hey, I’m so sorry about this morning.”

He shakes his head as if to brush off my apology; his gaze shifts to Griffin every few seconds.

“Nate, er Nathaniel … I mean Professor Hunt …” Nothing awkward about this. I’m starting to sweat. “This is Griffin. Griff, this is …” Don’t fuck it up. “Professor Nathaniel Hunt.”

Too late. I fucked it up, and the expressions on both of their faces confirms it.

“Nathaniel.” Nate holds out his hand.

Griffin shakes it. “Nice to meet you.”

“So is everything okay?” Nate asks, looking only at me.

“Yeah.”

“No. Yesterday Swayze’s neighbor—her friend—was found dead in the apartment above hers.”

I shoot Griffin a slight scowl.

“Jesus … I’m so sorry. Swayze, why didn’t you tell me? You shouldn’t be watching Morgan today.”

Griffin has an I-told-you-so expression pasted on his face.

“I’m fine.” I’m as far from fine as one could be. “Griffin took the day off to help me out, even though he didn’t need to take the day off.”

Griffin’s expression doesn’t change. He thinks he knows what’s best for me. And if I weren’t so stubborn, I’d admit that it’s true.

“So …” I shrug. “We’re fine. Morgan will have double the attention. Double the care.”

“Unless, you distract each other.”

I try not to read into Nate’s comment, but there’s an underlying tone to it that bleeds distrust. Does he not trust me because of what happened to Erica? Is it Griffin? Does he really think I’d let anything happen to Morgan?

“We’re good, Professor. But thanks for your vote of confidence.”

Nate inspects me for a few more seconds before giving Griffin one final glance. “I have to get to class. Thanks for coming to get her.”

“It’s fine.” I shake my head like it’s no big deal. “See you later.”

*

“So this is the house my mom gushed over,” Griffin says, carrying Morgan’s infant carrier into Nate’s house.

“It’s just a house.” I wash my hands at the kitchen sink.

“You have no desire to live in something like this?” He deposits the carrier on the floor and inspects the great room.

No. And neither does the Nate I remember.

“I want to live with you.” I take Morgan out of the carrier.

She fists at her eyes and mouth, arching her back as I bring her to my shoulder. It’s weird seeing Griffin in Nate’s house, such a clash of my worlds.

“Having just enough?” He gazes out the window to the unarguably impressive yard, green and meticulously manicured. “Because that’s what living with me is—having just enough.”

Easing into the recliner, I grin. “Yes.”

“Two small bedrooms and a dinky kitchen?” Griffin moves on to inspect the mantle. My tatted bad-boy-looking man wears the hell out of those faded jeans and black tee that looks a size too small with his cut chest and thick arms.

“Yes.” I chuckle, finding his glimpse of insecurity adorable.

“Used vehicles? Detached garage? A do-it-yourself lifestyle?”

“Do I really have to answer you?”

He glances over his shoulder, hands tucked into his pockets. “No.” He shoots me a grin before turning back around. “What’s up with the camera in the corner?”

“Nanny cam or security … I haven’t figure it out yet.”

“He’s watching us?”

“Potentially.”

“Audio too?”

I laugh, looking directly at the camera. “Yes. The professor is a little creepy.” Nuzzling my nose into Morgan’s neck, I find my baby voice. “Isn’t your daddy a little creepy? Yes … I think he is.”

She giggles.

Griffin turns with a grin on his face. “She’s cute.”

“Yes … she’s adorable.”

He folds his body onto the sofa, fingers interlaced between his widespread legs. “Are you ready to tell me who Morgan Daisy Gallagher is or was?”

I shoot a nervous glance at the camera. Nate should be in class, but … “It’s complicated.”

“Well, good thing we have all day.”

I hate these stupid cameras.

“Swayz, out with it. You completely lost it with that guy yesterday over the girl in that picture you showed us. I’m sure the police will revisit you as they investigate this guy. I need to know what’s going on.”

He’s already said too much.

“We’ll talk later.” I nod toward the camera, giving him a tight smile. “Okay?”

Impatience tugs at his mouth, but he lets it go. I don’t like how the thoughts in my head wedge their way between us. It scares me. The grim reaper disguised as little memories, crooking his finger at me, beckoning me to surrender. What if the day comes where I can’t separate who I know I am from the impostor’s voice in my head?