For Our Son: A BWWM Parenting Romance For Adults (22 page)

Easing slightly upwards so as not to disturb her, Griffin looked at Erica
and reminisced. The previous night, they’d let their guards down with each
other in a way they hadn't in years. It was so incredible that Griffin was left
feeling like he knew her inside and out. Though she was still the same
stubborn, smart, strong-willed girl he’d dated in his youth, womanhood had
afforded her a certain self-assurance that only made her all the more alluring
to him.

In sleep, Erica sighed softly, and her hands automatically moved up to
clutch Griffin’s waist as if she were grabbing for a pillow.

Oh god,
was all Griffin could think. His
physical reaction to Erica’s touch was strong and purely male, so much so that
he had to take a few shallow breaths in order calm himself.

It was at this precise moment that Erica’s eyes gradually opened. She
looked around slowly and abruptly pushed herself upwards when she realized who
she was draped across. "Oh, Griffin!" Erica breathed out a sigh of
embarrassment. "Sorry, I just…I forgot where I was for a second."

Chuckling, Griffin said, "I guess we fell asleep last night,
huh?"

"Yeah, I guess so," Erica mumbled. Her senses returned with a
jolt as she realized she’d been sleeping on Griffin all night. "Sorry,”
she added. Griffin started to ask what for, but she cut him off and continued
speaking in a rushed tone before he could. "For sleeping on you," she
elaborated. "I’m so mortified. I don’t know what happened."

Visibly nervous, Erica stood up and began pacing back and fourth the
room. Through no fault of her own, she’d crossed some sort of invisible line of
decency with Griffin. Now all she could think about were the repercussions.

Bewildered by her reaction, Griffin stood up and walked over to her.
"Erica, calm down. It was an accident. Let’s just forget it, okay?"

Looking closely at his face, Erica saw that Griffin was being sincere in
that it was no big deal and immediately felt the fight go out of her. "I
didn’t drool on you too bad, did I?” she asked instead.

"Maybe a little," Griffin replied with a grin. For added
effect, he looked down at his shirt as if to inspect it for stains and laughed
when Erica gave him a light jab in the ribcage.

As if knowing that her presence would lighten the mood even further,
Avery came bounding down the stairs and stopped abruptly when she spotted
Erica. "You’re still here!” the child exclaimed as she rushed toward her.
“Yay!"

Acting quickly, Erica caught Avery before she could collide with the
floor. Placing the child on her hip, she proceeded to ask how she slept.

"Good. Yesterday was fun. Daddy I’m hungry," Avery said all at
once as her eyes turned to Griffin.

Erica giggled at Avery’s veer in topic. She was learning pretty quickly
that, for a four-year-old, Avery had plenty of vigor and was very chatty.
Following Griffin into the kitchen, Erica watched as he poured Avery a bowl of
cereal and prepared a small portion of fresh fruit for her.

"Want some?" Griffin asked Erica as he held up the box.

Erica shook her head. "No thanks,” she said as she watched Avery dig
in. “I should probably head home.”

"You’re going?" Avery asked. “Already?”

An enamored smile pulled at Erica’s lips as she watched the child give
her a milky pout. "I’m afraid so, sweetheart, but I’ll see you again real
soon."

"I’ll walk you out," Griffin volunteered. Together, he and
Erica left Avery behind to enjoy her breakfast and made their way toward the
front of the house. Watching as she slipped her feet into her shoes, he asked,
"So, what else do you have planned this weekend? Anything exciting?”

"Oh you know,” Erica said with a nonchalant shrug. “The usual. I
have a ton of laundry and grocery shopping to do, so I’ll probably just start
with that..."

"Oh, because I was thinking of taking Avery back to Golden Gate Park
tomorrow for that movie in the park event. They’re showing the Lion King.
You’re free to join if you aren’t busy.”

Giddy at the prospect of seeing him again so soon, Erica replied,
"Sure. Why not?" Then, in a moment of reconsideration, she asked,
"Are you sure you want me tagging along? I mean…I wouldn’t want to impede
on your alone time with Avery."

"Please, all we have is alone time. Besides, Avery loves you. She’d
want you to come.”

"Okay, I’d love to then," Erica responded as her heart warmed
over.

Erica and Griffin both looked down the hall when they heard a loud crash
and an even louder ‘ow’ sound from the kitchen.

"You’d better go see what that was about,” Erica said as she opened
the door. At that, Griffin nodded and quickly took off to see just what level
of mischief his daughter had gotten into this time.

The trip to Golden Gate Park the next day was wonderful. Erica packed a
picnic basket overflowing with the very best organic delicacies, and she,
Griffin, and Avery ate an early lunch under a tree near the harbor as they
watched the movie from a distance.

From this point onward, Griffin and Erica saw each other on a regular
basis. That entire summer, she accompanied Griffin and Avery on walks, to the
park, to festivals, and even to a few pop-up carnivals. Eventually she was so
used to being around them that when she wasn't she felt bereft.

Come Labor Day, Erica realized that her life was so consumed by Griffin
and Avery that she’d allowed her relationship with Lori and Sabrina to follow
to the wayside. Feeling guilty, Erica invited the women over for dinner one
Saturday night in September with the intention of making it up to them.

Lori was the first to arrive, and she came bearing a bouquet of beautiful
flowers for the hostess.

"Aw, thanks. Come in,” Erica said as she ushered Lori inside her
townhouse.

After hanging her jacket up in the closet, Lori entered Erica’s kitchen
and took a seat at the breakfast bar. "Smells good. What’re we
having?" she asked as she sniffed the air.

"Baked manicotti, salad, and for dessert – tiramisu."

"Oh god. I’m gonna die and go to carb heaven,” Lori told Erica as
she licked her lips.

Laughing, Erica checked the pasta in the oven and then placed the flowers
in a vase. "So, tell me what’s going on with you? How’s work?"

"It's great!" Lori replied as she pulled a piece of garlic
bread from a loaf and popped it inside her mouth. An audible ‘mm’ quickly
followed. "It’s tough with all the deadlines, but I love it. I actually
have to go to L.A. next week for a shoot."

"Wow, sounds exciting. Good for you." Erica paused as she
searched the kitchen drawers for tongs to toss the salad with. "So, any
new guys I should know about?"

"Ha, I should be asking you that."

Erica swiftly looked over at Lori. "Griffin and I are just friends
if that's what you're getting at. Plus, Avery’s adorable. I can’t get enough of
her."

"Yeah, well, it seems like you can’t get enough of her dear old
daddy either..." At Erica’s shocked expression, Lori carried on.
"Come on, Ri. When are you two going to stop acting like there's nothing
there and get together already? It couldn't be more obvious that you’re
destined for each other."

"Lori!" Erica cried out. "Where are you getting this from?
I definitely no longer pine after Griffin like I used to, nor does he with me.
We're just friends. Nothing more, nothing less.”

Loving Erica’s heated reaction, Lori pressed on. "You're
delusional,” she pointed out with finality. "Griffin wants you, Ri. He
wants you more than I want that manicotti. How can you not see that?"

Erica could only shake her head in frustration.

"And you want him," Lori continued. "Don't deny it. I saw
the way you two were looking at each other when we got together to plan our
trip to Palm Springs."

"That's not true…" Erica protested, but she was cut off by the
sound of the doorbell. Grateful for some reprieve from Lori’s pestering, she
practically ran to the door to buzz Sabrina up.

Erica didn’t move from her post near the front door until Sabrina was
safely inside the house. She needed time away from Lori and the third degree
she was dishing out. Though she disguised her attraction to Griffin with a mask
of indifference that fooled almost everyone, it didn't fool Lori. Not even a
little bit. The fact of the matter was, she'd always been able to read her best
friend like a book, or in her case – the September issue of Vogue.

After letting Sabrina in, Erica walked back into the kitchen.

"So, what are we talking about?" Sabrina wanted to know as she
hopped onto the empty stool beside Lori.

"Griffin," Erica and Lori stated at the same time.

"What about him?" Sabrina questioned as she looked from Erica
to Lori with a huge smile on her face.

"Nothing," Erica said firmly as she pulled the casserole out of
the oven.

"Yeah right," Lori chided in. She looked toward Sabrina for
encouragement. "Help me out here. Whenever you see Erica and Griffin
together, it looks like he wants to rip her clothes off, doesn't it?"

"That it does," Sabrina agreed. She’d allow sought great
delight in risqué conversation. "Remember when I ran into you guys at the
mall last week?" she asked Erica.

Cornered, Erica nodded.

"Well, I could have sworn Griffin was going to throw you on the
floor and have his way with you right then and there. The man has a thing for
you. There's no ands, ifs, or buts about it."

"See?" Lori stated triumphantly.

"Look, ladies, I hate to be a party pooper, but there's nothing
going on between Griffin and I. We made a pact to remain friends, and so far,
it’s going great. You guys need to get your minds out the gutter.”

"Suuure,” Lori teased.

Rolling her eyes, Erica grabbed the manicotti and headed toward the
dining room. "Anyway, that’s enough of that. It’s time to eat."

The rest of the evening was easygoing, and Erica was grateful that
neither one of her friends brought up her relationship, or lack of one, with
Griffin again. Still, her mind kept wandering to what they’d said.

Is it true?
Erica wondered.
Does Griffin feel
the same way about me as I do him? And if he does...how do I found out?

Chapter eight

Throwing another blouse inside her overnight bag, Erica looked at her
list to make sure she hadn't forgotten to pack anything crucial. Satisfied that
she had everything she needed, she zipped up her bag and carried it to the
front door.

This was the weekend that Erica, Griffin, Evan, Julie, Sabrina, and Lori
had booked to spend at Desert Isle Resort down in Palm Springs. Feeling her
mind wander, Erica marveled over just how quickly the summer had flown by. Now
the days felt shorter, Avery was in school, and Griffin was back in the studio
full time. It definitely took a little getting used to, which was why Erica
felt like this weekend was well deserved.

Folding a dress in half and placing it inside her luggage atop the rest
of her clothing, Erica smiled as she remembered the sleepover she’d had with
Avery the weekend before school started.

Avery was ecstatic at the prospect of sleeping over at Erica’s house, and
the two girls had a great time doing things that Griffin would never permit
Avery to do on a regular basis. They had so much fun that when Griffin came to
retrieve his daughter the next day, the little girl cried because she didn’t
want to leave. She even declared her love for Erica. Erica loved Avery too, and
she knew that she would be devastated if there ever came a day when the child
wasn't in her life.