Page 42 of Between the Boards
“Hey, boys.”
We all look up as Griffin steps aboard, tossing his keys into the console. His smile is thinner than usual.
“Sorry I’m late. Got stuck in traffic on the way back from the care home.”
“Traffic in this town?” Koa asks.
“Mountain goats,” Griffin deadpans. “The whole damn herd decided to cross at once.”
“Sounds like they planned it ahead of time,” I say, huffing out a laugh. “I’ve always thought those animals looked freaky.”
“Not as freaky as you do,” Zale mutters into his drink.
My jaw tightens and I take a slow sip instead of responding. Koa glances between us, his easy expression fading.
“You two are worse than usual tonight,” he says. “What’s going on?”
Griffin leans back in the seat next to Koa, a hint of a smirk tugging at his mouth. “According to Eliana…Colton and Kairi are dating now.”
Koa’s brows shoot up. “Oh.” He turns to Zale. “So you’re jealous?”
Zale scoffs. “I’m not jealous.” His gaze cuts to me. “I just don’t want my friend getting hurt when he takes off again.”
I stiffen. “What are you talking about?”
“You think relationships are easy?” he says, leaning forward, elbows on his knees. “As soon as things stop being fun, and everything gets real, you’ll bail. That’s your thing.”
Each word lands harder than the last and I have to tighten my grip around the can, aluminum bending slighting under my fingers, to stop from lunging at him.
“That’s what you do,” he continues. “And she’s the one who’s going to have a broken heart when it happens.”
I hate the way he says it like it’s an inevitable fact, and I hate that I don’t know how to argue with it because a part of me thinks he’s right, I’ve always been like this.
When my parents tried to lock me into the family business—I left.
When everything fell apart after Griffin got hurt—I left again.
I tried to start over in Bluewater Bluffs by joining the Rip Raiders. I tried to pretend that I didn’t miss this place, or the people in it. And when that blew up in my face? I came running back.
So no, he’s not wrong, and that’s the worst part.
“And I bet you’ll be right there waiting,” I say quietly, lifting my gaze to meet him, “ready to pick up the pieces.”
The tension radiates between us so palpable you can almost taste it, and I have no doubt in my mind that Griffin and Koa will have to separate us any second.
“Alright,” Griffin cuts in, holding up a hand. “That’s enough. We’re not getting carried away on my boat.”
Koa exhales and leans forward, grabbing another beer. “Yeah. Let’s not ruin this. Fin, talk to us. What’s going on?”
Griffin runs a hand over the back of his neck before taking the can Koa offers him. He stares at it for a second before taking a long drink.
“Their dementia’s progressing,” he says, voice quieter now. “Faster than we expected.”
The air shifts around me as Griffin stares at the floor with a distant look in his eyes.
“The care home said they’ll still try to accommodate them for the wedding,” he adds, “but the doctor doesn’t think they’ll even make it that far.”
Silence settles over us and we each look shocked with the news.
