Epoch (Transcend Duet #2)(82)

My head inches side to side, eyes wide.

He chuckles. “Why not?”

“Reasons.”

“Reasons … okay.” He withdraws his proffered hand. “I’ll call you and get you some money or figure out a way to properly repay you.”

“Okay.” I clear my throat because I sound like a squeaky mouse. “Okay.” That’s better.

“Later then.” He walks away.

“Oh … no …” I whisper to myself.





CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE





There is no way this is possible.

Fifty states.

Thousands of cities.

Even more grocery stores.

The most heartbreaking part? It’s been a week since I saw him. A week since he asked for my number. He knew my number … it hasn’t changed. Why didn’t he give me his number? Oh … that’s right, I’m not allowed to call him or know where he lives.

Griffin could be in New Zealand by now. It was an act. Not fate. Not a sign.

Wrong place. Wrong time.

I’ve been to that same store twice since then. He probably now shops at a different store. There’s a Harley dealership here, but I won’t go there. I won’t call.

This past year didn’t rob all of my pride.

At least my furniture arrived, giving my apartment more of a homey feel. Too bad my fresh start already feels stale. It’s going to be a long six months, constantly thinking I could run into him—hoping for it and fearing it at the same time.

I busy myself with design work, join the fitness center down the street, and contemplate applying for my teaching certification here in Utah. I want to teach, but I have a six-month lease.

Aside from the whole avoiding Griffin thing, I love it here. But hide-and-seek is not my favorite game. Then I think … it’s a huge city. He’s doing his best to avoid me, if he’s even still here. Seriously, he could be in New Zealand.

I go back to fate. If I’m meant to stay here, I’ll find a teaching job. It will be a sign.

So that’s what I do. I move forward with my new life.

*

“Swayze!” my mom squeals when I answer my phone, feet propped up on the balcony railing as I sip my wine.

“Geesh, what is it?”

“I shouldn’t tell you this, but I think you need to know. Don’t freak out.”

I chuckle. “Like you’re doing?”

Her long exhale whooshes through the speaker. This must be serious.

“I had lunch with Sherri today. We rarely talk about Griffin … she’s very secretive. But I asked how’s he’s doing. Nothing specific. She said he’s good. Then she asked if she could be honest with me, like a friend, not like your mom. I said yes.

“She said it’s been rough for him, he likes his job, but he doesn’t really have anything outside of his job. But … are you really ready for this?”

I take a big gulp of my wine. “I think so.” I’m not sure. I didn’t tell her I saw Griffin. Did he tell Sherri we saw each other?

“Last week he went on a date. It’s the first date he’s gone on since you two split. Sherri said it went well, and she’s happy for him. I’m happy for him too. And I want you to be happy as well. He deserves happiness too. I know, deep down, you want that for him.”

A week ago. Was that before or after he saw me? That explains why he hasn’t called.

Wow. This is a special kind of pain. Deserving? Probably. But it still hurts.

Fate is not awesome today.

“Yeah.” It’s all I manage to get out of my mouth. Of course I want him to be happy, but for a millisecond, I wondered if I fit in that equation again. False hope.

“There’s one more thing …”

Oh good. There’s more.

I tip back the rest of my wine, desperate for every last drop.

“She asked about you. I told her you rented a place in Salt Lake City. She turned ghost white. The next thing I knew, she was making up some excuse for why she had to get home. Swayze?”

“Mmm-hmm?” I keep my lips bit together.

“I think that’s where Griffin is at. I think he’s in Salt Lake City too.”

“Yeah…” I run a hand through my hair “…I actually ran into him last week. I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want you getting your hopes up.”

“Are you serious? When? How … what was said?”

“Not a lot. In hindsight, it felt like the official goodbye we never had.” Half-truth. At the time it felt like the start of something. I misread it. So, yeah, in hindsight, it was a goodbye.

“That had to be hard.”

Not as hard as this.

“A little. I’m good. I’m hoping to find a teaching job. I really love it here. And it’s a big city. I think the chances of running into Griffin again are pretty slim.”

“It’s amazing how much life changes in a year.”

I nod, too emotional to say much.

“I’ll let you go. I’m planning on paying you a visit next month.”

“That sounds great. Love you.”

“Love you too.”

I toss my phone onto the chair beside me and pour another glass of wine.