Chapter 6

Griffin

I slip my shirt on and look in the mirror. A sigh escapes me as I pull it off, tossing it on the bed. I can't hang out with Anya wearing a shirt that says ‘Let Me Hear You Say Yes Chef.' To play it safe, I pull out a navy blue plain t-shirt.

Today Anya, Callum, and I are supposed to go have fun. She hasn't told either of us what the fun is, but I guess that's supposed to be part of the fun. I have no idea.

Honestly, until Anya pointed out that I don't have fun, I really didn't notice. For me, cooking is fun. It's my release. So, it never occurred to me that I should be doing other things.

I've given some thought to what Anya was saying about Callum feeling lonely. It struck a chord with me because he's the reason I wasn't lonely for most of my life. No one should feel lonely.

My phone alerts me and I grab it off my dresser as I leave my bedroom.

Paxton: Thanks for the invite today.

Callum: You can come and I'll go into work.

Pax, come with us.

Brock: What did I miss?

I chuckle, grabbing a water out of the fridge. The Atwood boys love teasing each other. It's always fun, whether I'm just listening or jumping in myself. I glance at the group chat, and see it's the one with Anya in it, not just us guys.

Paxton: Anya invited Callum and Griffin for a day of fun. I guess she doesn't care if we get to have fun.

Anya: Stop it. I'd never exclude anyone. Callum and Griffin need help having fun. You guys don't.

Brock: Oh burn lol

Callum: I don't need help having fun. I have plenty of fun.

No you don't and neither do I. Anya is right, we need help.

Brock: If you guys want to have fun, you should be asking me, not Anya.

Anya: Hookers are not fun.

Paxton: Your girlfriend dressing up like one is.

Anya: Gross.

Brock: Nice.

Callum: Too much information.

…

Paxton: Speechless, Griff?

Not exactly the image I need next time I see Hartford.

Brock: Stop getting sidetracked. What's this day of fun we were cut out of?

No idea.

Paxton: Oh shit, that would make me nervous. Anya in charge with no information. Good luck guys, I definitely don't want in on this.

I laugh, but suddenly I wonder if I should be nervous. What could she have planned? I'll be honest, I'm glad Callum is gonna be there.

Brock: One time Anya told me she had something fun planned and I had to end up taking her to the mall so she could hang out with Willow. And we all know I hate hanging out with Willow.

Callum: Anya Marie Atwood, I need details of what you have planned, or I'm going to work.

Anya: Wow, Brock. The mall was your idea, remember? You had a crush on some girl at the Sephora store. Callum, I'm taking you and Griffin to do ax throwing. Now can everyone stop texting so I can finish getting ready?

Ax throwing does sound kinda fun.

Callum picks me up and we arrive at Ax Attack. I never even noticed this place before and I drive by it almost every day.

"You ever been here?" I ask, looking up at the sign.

He looks at me and raises an eyebrow. "Seriously?"

I laugh and slap his arm. "Come on, throwing an ax is probably therapeutic."

"Working is therapeutic," he huffs.

I shake my head and open my door. "We need to learn how to have fun that doesn't include work."

He climbs out and we meet in front of his truck. "We were both content until Anya said differently."

I think about that for a minute. He's right. Until Anya said something it never occurred to me and now it's all I think about. I don't want to be a boring guy who dedicates his entire life to work. The thought of waking up one day, alone, is starting to become a thought that I can't handle because it happens. Look at Myrtle.

"I think she just brought to light what we've been denying."

It's what I want to believe, anyway.

"She's a pushy little thing. Being the only girl she isn't used to hearing the word no."

He shoves his hands into his pockets and I chuckle. He looks at me, lifting an eyebrow.

"Sorry, but I think if she's not used to hearing the word no, it's because she learned it from her oldest brother."

"I hear that word all the time," he argues.

"Maybe, but you never accept it."

A small grin hits his lips as he nods. "True."

"You guys beat me here. Must mean you're excited," Anya says, smiling as she looks between us.

My heart slams against my chest when her eyes connect with mine. The wind is knocked out of me as her smile grows bigger.

She looks beautiful.

Her hair is down, framing her face. Her makeup is a bit heavier than normal, giving her a sexy look. The tight jeans she's wearing are paired with a pink and black flannel that is unbuttoned with a black tank top underneath, making my dick take notice. Which is not a good thing.

"Yeah, as excited as I get going to the dentist," Callum says, snapping me out of my eye-fucking of his sister.

Fuck. I'm eye-fucking his sister.

Anya laughs and it vibrates through me as I try to collect myself.

"Let's go, you're going to love this," she says, pulling on his arm.

We walk through the door and I'm not sure what I imagined, but it wasn't this. It's a really cool setup. The entire place has a woodsy feel with lots of wood and string lights throughout. I'm also surprised at the vast variety of people playing.

There are couples who you can tell are on a date. Families with older children. Large groups and small groups. It's pretty intriguing.

We are brought to our area and I look around. There's what I can only describe as fencing separating the areas all the way to the ceiling. The back wall has two large wooden targets that are on a dark-wooden wall.

"Do not pass this line," the employee explains. He's an older kid, probably sixteen, or seventeen with a big mustache and a mullet. I think he's a Collins kid. They just recently moved to town, but I haven't met any of them yet. His name tag reads ‘Freddie.'

I glance at the line, but as he continues to go over the rules my attention goes to the couple next to us. They are clearly on a date and I watch as she jumps into his arms after throwing her ax. They look so happy and I feel a ping of jealousy.

A happy couple isn't something I saw much of until I found the Atwoods. You can clearly see the love Mr. Atwood has for his wife. Hell, even how Paxton looks at Hartford. Everyone knew how much he'd always liked her, and now they're together.

"Here's your axes," Freddie says.

I turn my head and notice Anya staring at me. She tilts her head, curious as to what held my attention. Not willing to have any kind of discussion about it, I just smile and grab my ax.

"This is heavier than I expected," Anya says.

"It's an ax, Anya. What did you think it would feel like?" Callum asks.

I never really noticed how Callum belittles her, but recently I've been paying closer attention. He treats her like she's still a child sometimes, which couldn't be further from the truth. I don't even think Anya notices and if she does, it doesn't appear to bother her.

I wish I could say the same.

It bothers the fuck out of me. I don't view her as a child. I definitely don't view her as a little sister.

"It's a hell of a lot heavier than my knives, that's for sure," I say.

Anya laughs, while Callum shakes his head.

"I'm going first," Anya says, excitedly, walking up to the line.

"She's going to drop it. Don't stand behind her," Callum whispers, pulling me aside.

I stare at her, hoping she proves her brother wrong.

She has a tight grip on the handle with both hands and brings it behind her head. My stomach tightens with worry that she'll hurt herself. But she swings her arms forward and lets the ax fly. She's so excited, but it quickly fades as the ax falls before reaching the target.

"Damn," she says, turning around to face us.

"Nice try, little sister. Now watch how it's done."

She rolls her eyes, but laughs as Callum walks to the line. He throws his ax and it hits the top corner, just making it onto the target. He turns around smiling as he points to his shot.

"Beat that," he says, wrapping his arm around his sister.

I don't say anything as I step up to the line. I crack my neck and he chuckles behind me. He can laugh, but I'm about to show him how it's done. I wrap my hands around the ax and bring it behind my head. I allow my hands to slide down the handle a bit as I swing my arms forward. I let go and watch as the ax hits incredibly close to the bullseye.

"Holy wow," Anya says behind me.

"Beginners luck," Callum replies.

I turn around smiling as I point to the ax. "Now beat that."

We all laugh and now I understand why Anya chose this. Callum and I, hell all of the Atwoods, are all extremely competitive. She knew this would turn into just that and Callum and I would have a blast.

Which is exactly what happens.

Callum starts to take each throw more serious than the last. I can't help laughing each time I beat him, which pisses him off. Anya is still struggling, but every time I try to give advice, Callum just yells to throw it.

Anya steps up for her throw and Callum gets a phone call. "I need to take this," he says, walking away.

I watch him go outside before I turn to Anya. "Hey, wait," I say, stepping next to her.

She lowers her arms, now holding the ax with one hand. "What?"

"You're holding the ax wrong." I grab the handle of her ax, pulling it up while her one hand is still on it. "Wrap both hands around the handle." She does and I nod. "Good, but see how high up you have them, you need to move them down." She does, but not far enough, so I step behind her, wrapping my arms around her to reach her hands. I cover her hands with one of mine and move them down the ax. "Hold it here," I whisper, entirely too close to her. I can smell her sweet coconut scent and feel her body heat radiating onto me.

"Like this?" she asks, her voice soft.

"Just like that. Now when you bring your arms back, put all your force behind it and let go after you can see the ax. Keep your eyes on the bullseye. You can do this, Anya."

My breathing has increased, just as hers has. I feel a fire burning inside me, but it's different than normal. It's not trying to eat me alive. It's a feeling of excitement.

I step back, reluctantly, and when her eyes find mine, I smile and nod.

She does exactly what I say and her ax hits the target and sticks.

"Oh my God, I did it." She turns around, the pride and excitement beaming off of her is infectious. "Griffin, I did it." She runs and jumps at me and I catch her, wrapping my arms around her small body. Her arms cling to me tightly and we fall silent.

The excitement quickly turns into something else and I'd be lying if I said I didn't like it. She feels good in my arms. Like she belongs.

I can feel her warm breath on my neck and it's like a shock against my skin. A soft sigh escapes her and I close my eyes, soaking it all in.

"Thank you," she whispers.

"You did great, Anya."

I tighten my hold briefly before I let her go.

I don't want to let her go and that's exactly why I do it.

She smiles up at me, a small blush on her cheeks as she straightens her flannel shirt. Our eyes are locked and she opens her mouth to say something, but Callum interrupts.

"You guys almost ready? It's fun and all, but I wanna pop in the brewery before it closes," he says, looking between us.

I clear my throat and nod. "Yeah, let's just go a couple more times. I think Anya would like that."

"Yeah, okay fine."

We spend another half hour throwing and Anya hits the target each time. She never gets a bullseye, but her excitement each time she hits it feels like she does.

I was reluctant to go out tonight, but as we get ready to leave, I don't want to. I want this fire that started before to continue to burn and I know when we leave, it will extinguish.

"I told you guys it would be fun," she says as we walk outside.

"It was all right. Not something I want to do all the time," Callum says.

I grin as I bump my shoulder to hers. "It was fun and I would do it again."

And again and again. As long as she's there too.

If she offers another night of fun, I'm all in.