Chapter 25

Anya

Griffin rushes from the room like it's on fire. Somebody was smart enough to call the authorities and Griffin's father, Mr. Cole, is being carted away in handcuffs.

This is not how I envisioned this night going. At all.

I head to the back server area, and Patrick stops me.

"Are you okay, Anya?"

I brush past him, trying my best to make it to the restroom. "Just get everything cleaned up," I tell him, making sure the guests are still being taken care of.

Patrick nods, and together with Tripp's help they head back into the room to take care of the party.

I push the bathroom doors open, and Callum follows me inside. "What are you doing?" I ask him, tears falling down my face.

Luckily for him it's late, and the bathroom has nobody in it.

He crosses his arms. "What were you thinking? Griffin?"

I roll my eyes. "First, you are not the boss of me. I can date whoever I want. And I will date whoever I want."

Callum leans against the counter, pushing a hand through his hair. "Do you know that this brewery is everything to me?"

I cross my arms over my chest. "Yeah, I know."

He shakes his head. "I don't think you do. I've never fought harder for something of mine ever. Like I don't know what I'd do if I lost it all." He studies me, like he has more to say, but doesn't know if he should. Then he continues, "Do you know I have nightmares all the time about losing this place?" He paces the small bathroom floor. "I don't know what I'd do. I'd feel like the biggest fucking failure."

For the first time in a long time I see my brother for the man he is. I always thought Callum had everything together. That he was so well put together, and just a grump because he thought he could be. Now I see it's not bravado that makes him this way, but lack of it.

He's scared.

Plain and simple. He's a man afraid of losing everything, and I can't fault him for that. But, he needs to know he can't put that weight all on his shoulders.

"It's okay to fail," I start off, "But you have to let us help you win. Life is all about winning and losing…" my words are cut off when he rolls his eyes.

"Please don't tell me it's how you play the game, or some bullshit like that."

I laugh lightly. "I wasn't. However, that works here too. You can't expect this whole burden to be on you. If we fail we fail as a team, as a family. But you have to enjoy it when you succeed, and although tonight is probably one of the major failures, I think the brewery will be fine. You've made something great here. You all have, and I'm so proud. It's why I wanted to come and work here, because I wanted to be part of this magical thing that you all created."

His face grows solemn once more. "I appreciate that, but why Griffin? We're like a family here. He's like my fucking brother." Callum's voice raises a little at the end of his sentence.

"Cal, he may be like your brother, but he's not like mine. I have a lot of brothers. Some would say maybe too many," we both laugh a little, "but I don't see Griffin like a brother to me. I love him."

Callum's eyes grow wide. "Love?"

"Yes," I say, squaring my shoulders, lifting my chin. "I love him. And he loves me."

Callum shakes his head. "Anya, I'm sorry. I just felt like it was weird that Griffin was like a part of our family, that you two would see it that way too."

"Well, we don't. But who knows, maybe one day he really can be your brother."

"Oh my god, are you two already talking about marriage?"

I smile wide. "No, but you never know."

"Does he feel the same? Having his father show up here tonight makes me worry about him. He ran out of here. When we were younger he'd shut down after an altercation with his dad."

"Do you think he will again?" I ask my brother.

Callum shifts on his feet, rubbing at the back of his neck. "I don't know. Maybe you should go and find him."

"What about the party?"

Callum smiles, and for the first time it's a real, legitimate smile. One I haven't seen him have in a long time. "I've got the party. I think we can turn things around."

"Ooh, give them my chocolates. Everything's better with chocolate."

My brother offers a large, boisterous laugh. "Sure."

When we exit the bathroom, there's only one place I need to be—with Griffin.

I head to Griffin's house, knocking on the door with both fists, but there's no answer. I've tried texting him numerous times, but he hasn't responded.

Where is he?

My mind tries desperately to think of where he can be, but I can't come up with anything. Did he go to his parent's house?

Maybe to talk to his mother?

Is he down at the jail?

I'm about to leave when I hear something in the backyard. I head through the gate, worrying about what I might find.

Please don't let it be a wild animal.

"What are you doing here?" Griffin's voice greets me, but it's so dark I can't see him.

"Where are you?"

"On the roof of the shed."

I glance at the shed, making out his lone figure up top. "Can you help me up?" I ask him, wondering if the little shed can even support us both.

He helps me up, showing me where to place my foot to be able to get up here. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to check on you. Callum said when you were younger and you'd have a fight with your father you'd retract."

"Retract?"

"Yeah, distance yourself from others. I don't want you to do that with me." I scoot closer to him, and he doesn't move.

"Why would you ever want to be with a guy like me? Can't you see I come from bad genes? I think you deserve better."

He's wrong, so very wrong. I've never wanted or needed someone like this. His past doesn't define him. He's nothing like his father. He never could be. Yet, he did keep us a secret because of a promise, which hurts.

"Are you kidding?" I reach for his hand, but he pulls away from me. "Griffin?"

"I'm serious. My family's a mess. I'm a mess."

"No you're not. Look at everything you've overcome in your life. Your family does not define you. You're not him. You'll never be like your father."

His eyes meet mine, shining in the light of the moon. "Anya, I feel like I've let everyone down. You. Your brothers."

I sigh and look up at the dark sky before glancing back to him. "Why did you lie to me? When I asked you about keeping our relationship a secret, why didn't you tell me about making a promise to Callum? Did you ever intend on telling anyone or did you think we could forever keep this secret?"

He shakes his head as he stares out into his yard. "I was scared, Anya. If I told you that Callum said you were off limits, you would've went crazy. You would've confronted him and I was terrified it would end our friendship and possibly end my career at Atta Boy." I go to interrupt, but he continues. "And the idea of losing you, I felt like I couldn't breathe. I'm no better than my father, keeping secrets and hurting everyone I love. I was trying not to let anyone down and in the end, that's exactly what I did."

The pain and regret is so thick in his voice that it's hard to listen to. It did hurt when it all came out at Atta Boy, but seeing how rejected he feels breaks my heart. He's had more rejection in his life than any one person deserves. I will never hurt him by making him feel like he's any less than he is.

"You haven't let me down." I reach for his hand again and this time he takes mine in his. "You haven't let my brothers down either. I had a talk with Callum. I think he's going to be okay with it." I bump his shoulder. "I mean, he's going to have to be, right?"

Griffin smiles, squeezing my hand tighter in his. "Yeah, he's gonna have to learn to get on board with it." He grips my face with the other hand. "I'm sorry, Anya. I never meant for everything to come out like this."

"I know you didn't and Griffin," I say, waiting for his eyes to lock with mine. "You are so much better than your father. You didn't keep a secret to hurt anyone, you did it to protect everyone, to protect us."

He nods and searches my face. "Never again, I promise you that. I will never keep a secret again. If you can forgive me I promise I will give you the world."

"I forgive you, Griffin," I whisper.

He rests his forehead on mine and lets out a ragged breath. "I love you, Anya. I want to be with you always."

I smile wide, kissing him square on the lips. "And I want to be with you too."