26. Griffin

Chapter Twenty-Six

Griffin

Well, what are you planning to do?

I shook my head to myself when I considered Holly's question. My plan appeared to be hoping I would be able to see Tish again that very night.

Me: Can I stop by tonight?

I had to wait a solid half hour before she replied. I didn't even want to admit to myself that I felt impatient with the wait.

"She's working," I told myself as I finished a workout on the treadmill in the small gym at the fire station.

Tish: I'd love to see you.

I was smiling down at my phone when Chase's voice reached me. "Who's that?"

I glanced up, still smiling. "Just a friend," I hedged. "What's up?"

"Was thinking you should come out to dinner with me and Hallie soon? You can come to our place."

"I'd love that." As soon as I said that, I hoped he wasn't planning on tonight.

"You still staying out at Archer and Phoebe's place?" he asked.

"For the time being. I'm scouting around for some property or a house to buy."

"I actually know of one. It's down the road from our place."

"How about we pick a night for me to come out for dinner and I'll take a look at the place on the way over?" I asked.

"Sounds like a plan. Let me check with Hallie about when. With a kid, we gotta work around that," Chase explained.

"Do you know if it's listed with a realty place? I can check to see when I can schedule a showing and let you know. Of course, I can come out for dinner anytime."

Chase waggled his brows. He pushed away from the doorframe. "I'll text you, and maybe you can fill me in on that." He gestured toward my phone.

I chuckled, relieved he left it at that. I knew this thing with Tish was fresh, really fresh, but I didn't want her to be my secret.

That evening, I turned down the road that led to Tish's place, mentally clocking that it was pretty close to where Chase and Hallie lived. I shouldn't be wondering if I was going to buy a place near Tish, but I was.

A few minutes later, as I was walking up the steps at her place, the door opened and Allie came walking out. I'd seen her at the station a few times since our first encounter here. She narrowed her gaze when she saw me, eyeing me skeptically.

"What are you doing here?" She actually closed the door behind her and crossed her arms.

"Stopping by to see Tish. Is that okay?"

"I guess so," she grumbled.

The door swung open behind her. "Griffin is here to see me. He changes diapers," Tish offered with a grin.

Allie's expression relaxed a little. "Okay, then."

"Have I passed the test?" I teased lightly.

"Maybe," Allie said with a shrug as she jogged down the stairs. Seconds later, she rounded the side of the house to cut through a path in the trees.

I looked over at Tish, and for a beat, my heart seized before kicking fast. She looked beautiful. She was still wearing her work clothes, a fitted blouse that flared around her hips, and a fitted skirt that came to her knees. Electricity sizzled like fire through my veins. Her hair was pulled back tightly. I wanted to bend her over on the closest surface I could find.

Just as I was thinking that, the sound of Teddy letting out an irritated wail broke my train of thought. Tish spun around, tossing over her shoulder, "Come on in!"

I closed the door behind me, kicking off my shoes and hanging my jacket up before I followed her into the living room. Teddy was in his playpen. Tish leaned down to pick him up, and he immediately stopped fussing.

"He's tired," she explained when she glanced over.

Teddy's brow was furrowed and his cheeks were a little red. "How's daycare going?"

I stopped beside them, and he looked up at me, studying me for a beat before he curled his head into her shoulder.

"They say he's doing well." Tish circled her palm on his back, murmuring in a soothing tone. "I just fed him. I predict he'll be asleep any minute now."

I watched as his eyes blinked before falling closed. "I think he's on the way."

"Let me put him down," she whispered before turning and walking down the hallway.

I felt as if she had a string attached to me. I wanted to follow her, but I didn't. I waited with leashed impatience.

"I forgot to stop by the store," she announced as soon as she returned.

I studied her for a beat before stepping close and doing what I wanted. I slid an arm around her waist and dipped my head to brush a kiss over her lips. "You could've asked me."

Her breath came out in a puff. "I'm adjusting."

"To what?"

"Teddy being in daycare, figuring out my work. I feel like I'm constantly forgetting something. Although honestly, I've felt like that since I had him."

"I bet. Being solely responsible for a human who's dependent on you for everything might lead to a little bit of pressure and a small adjustment in life."

She bit her lip as she smiled up at me. "Just a small adjustment."

"Let me see what I can scrounge up for food. I can always make more mac and cheese," I offered. "If you'd like me to run to the store, I'll do that."

"I feel bad about asking you to go to the store. I have mac and cheese and yogurt and oatmeal and a bunch of breastmilk." She waggled her brows.

I chuckled. "How about we do mac and cheese? I can go by the grocery store tomorrow."

"Griffin, you can't do all the things," she protested.

I held her gaze. "Tish, you're busier than me right now. Any day now I might get called out to a fire. We're headed into the winter so that probably won't be the case. I'm doing training and getting to know the crew and admin stuff." I paused and took a quick breath. "Fuck," I muttered to myself.

"What?"

"I keep forgetting to take care of some HR paperwork. I hate doing paperwork."

"I love paperwork!" Her tone was so earnest I couldn't help but sputter a laugh. "I can do that while you make dinner. Or, I'll make dinner while you do the paperwork."

"I'll trade those tasks any day," I said with relief whooshing through me.

"Where is the paperwork?"

"On my front seat. Maisie reminded me today."

"You go get it. I'll start boiling the water." She grinned up at me.

I jogged outside to get it. Paperwork made me anxious. It didn't matter how many years it had been since I'd learned how to deal with dyslexia, it still stressed me out.

A few minutes later, Tish was working on my paperwork while I got started on the mac and cheese. She beckoned me over to give her some information. I sat down while the pasta was cooking. She traced her finger along the line before she glanced over.

"You seem really stressed about this paperwork," she pointed out.

I wanted to play it off, but I decided honesty was my best option. "I have dyslexia. It was a huge stressor in school for years until they figured it out. I know it has nothing to do with intelligence, but I still hate paperwork."

Her gaze softened. "My friend in school had dyslexia. School wasn't fun." She shrugged. "Everybody's brain is a little different. We all have our strengths. I can't even imagine doing what you do. I can't keep my day organized since I've had a baby, but toss me some paperwork and I'll make a spreadsheet for you all day. I'll organize everything. Any time you need help with your paperwork, I'll help."

The tension in my chest eased. "It feels so stupid to care, but when I ended up behind in school and nobody understood why for years, it's always in the back of my mind." I could literally feel the tightening where the tension started to bundle at the base of my neck.

She nodded. "I bet. Like I said, I'll help. Now, let's finish this."

I recited the demographics she needed while she quickly entered everything in tidy handwriting.

"Thank you," I said with feeling.

"You're welcome." She leaned over and pressed a kiss on my cheek, just as the water began to boil over.

A few minutes later, we were eating and she smiled over at me. "This is mostly my diet. Mac and cheese, ramen, and soup. I need to expand my horizons somehow."

"You're a single mom with a baby. That's a lot of work."

"I don't mind the work. Not at all, but it's a lot. I was afraid to shower at first, which seemed crazy, but—" She rolled her eyes.

"Doesn't seem crazy at all to me. I have a question." I was nervous to ask this, but I knew I needed to.

"Ask."

"Do you want us to keep things with us private? The other day at the coffee shop, Holly noticed I totally have a thing for you and asked me about it."

Tish was about to take a bite and lowered her fork. "Of course Holly would ask." She smiled sheepishly. Her cheeks went pink. "What did you tell her?"