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“I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your problem, Molly.” His jaw tightens with stubbornness. “I shouldn’t even?—”
“Griff, I love you.” I use my sternest tone. “If I can ease some of this stress for you, I want to help.”
“Maybe.” Regret clouds his eyes. “If there’s anything left I need to box and store here, maybe you can help me do that,” he concedes.
“Okay.” I rub my hand over his arm. “Maybe she’s right and a change of scenery will be good for her.” It’ll definitely be good for Griff not to have to worry about her every day when he has so many other things to do.
“I hope so.”
“Jersey? I guess maybe she’ll be closer to you when you’re filming.” I swallow hard and try to keep an upbeat tone.
“Christ, I hope not. I didn’t even tell her about the show. The less she knows about what I’m up to, the better.”
Ah, that explains why she seemed so surprised to see me. I’m not even offended he hasn’t told his mother about us. He probably wants to protect me. Out of reassuring things to say, I wrap my arms around his middle and hug him tight.
He rests his chin on the top of my head and hugs me back. “Thank you,” he murmurs.
All out of words, we stay that way for a long time—saying nothing but feeling everything.
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Molly
After I finish my shift at Miller’s Farms on the weekends, I’ve been heading straight to Griff’s shop to help him work on my car. Today, I asked my friend Becky to drop me off after we clocked out.
She squints through the windshield, staring at the darkening sky. “Looks like rain. That sucks. I wanted to go to the drive-in tonight.”
“What are they showing?” I had other plans with Griff tonight, but maybe he and I can go to the drive-in tomorrow.
“Horror double-feature.”
“Oooh. I think I’d be too freaked out to watch horror movies in my car.” I laugh. “I need a blanket to hide under.”
She chuckles. “I thought you liked horror movies?”
“I do. In a controlled environment.” I cover my face with my hands and peek between two fingers. “Where I can hide.” Or cuddle close to Griff.
She laughs harder. “Please tell me you’re not planning to quit Miller’s after graduation. I know you’re starting your internship, but it’ll be so boring without you.”
A mixture of warmth and sadness spreads through my chest. “No, I’m taking your lead and going to try to work two jobs over the summer. I’ll work days at the office and take as many nights and weekends as they’ll give me at Miller’s.” Anything to earn as much money as possible for school and to keep myself occupied so I don’t miss Griff while he’s away. And whatever free time I have, I plan to help Remy at the bar whether he likes it or not.
“Oh yay!” She bleats a happy little noise. “We should tell Stacy we have the same availability, so she puts us on the schedule together.”
That would make the dreary shifts go by faster. “Let’s do it.” I point to the right. “It’s up here.”
“I can’t wait to see your Chevelle when it’s finished.” She flips on her blinker and slows the car.
“Me too.”
She pulls to a stop in front of the office, and I reach down to hook my arm through the straps of my backpack. “Thank you.”
“See you Monday!” She waves as I close the door.
I hitch my backpack over my shoulders and stare at the building. One of the garage bay doors is up. Griff’s low rumble reaches my ear. I can’t make out the words, but I follow his patient-but-annoyed voice.
At the threshold, I stop. Griff has a car up on the lift and seems to be mounting a tire on a Trans Am. Or at least he’s trying to. A man, who I assume is the owner of the car, keeps yammering at Griff while my man’s trying to pay attention to his work. Anxiety trickles through me. Doesn’t this guy know the garage is dangerous, and he should leave Griff alone to do his job in peace?
