Building Our Love (Griffin Brothers #2) by Crystal Perkins Read Free Book Online Page A

tempted.
    “Thanks for the
offer. I’m not sure I can talk about it yet, but I’d love to hang
out with you guys if that part of the offer still stands.”
    “Of course you’re
still welcome. I understand how it would be weird to tell us your
secrets after just meeting us, but I care about Ryan and would love
to help you out,” Yasmin tells me.
    “Even if I could tell
you, you couldn’t tell Scott.”
    “That would be rough.
I try not to keep any secrets from him.”
    “I understand that,
but this is something that can’t get out. I would love to have been
able to tell Ryan. We’d be together right now if I could.”
    “I’m trying to wrap
my head around all this, but you’re not making it easy.”
    “I know.”
    And I do know. But it
can’t be helped. I say goodbye to everyone, hugging Alex and
reminding her to call me if she needs me. I head back home since Ryan
has texted to let me know I should take the rest of the day off. As
usual, I have no idea if I should be happy or worried. I used to know
him so well, but now he’s hot and cold so often that I feel like I
may get whiplash trying to keep up. I’m looking forward to being
with the girls on Thursday. If it works out, I’ll finally have some
girlfriends to talk to and maybe shop with.
    * * *
    Ryan
    I picked up white roses
for Chloe on the way to work. They’re her favorite. I can’t wait
to see her. Now that I’ve made my decision, we can really be
together. I’ve missed her so much these past few years. She was my
best friend, as well as the love of my life. We used to watch movies,
laugh together, and just have fun. We told each other everything and
helped each other make hard decisions.
    Like when her mom died.
My whole family was there to support her, John, and her sister, Addy.
But, while I care for John and Addy, I was there for Chloe alone that
day. I kept people away from her when she needed to be alone and held
her as she cried at the edge of her mom’s grave. When the gathering
at my house became too much for her, I carried her up to my room and
fell asleep with her.
    She was there for me
when my internship was going downhill, too. The architect I was
working for was one of my idols. But he turned out to be a total
asshole. I found that out when he almost backed out of a project for
us to go do a building for one of our competitors. It would have made
my dad and the company look really bad. The publicity had already
been done, and everyone knew this guy was supposed to be doing our
job. But he was about to back out. I tried to talk him out of it, but
he said that he thought their project would be more prestigious. At
the last minute, Adam’s father decided not to use the guy for his
project. Yeah, that Adam. The one Chloe left me for. Before she left
me devastated, she listened every night and did her best to lift my
spirits.
    I can’t wait to have
that friendship back. The great sex we’ve been having is just an
added bonus. Unfortunately, things don’t always work out how you
plan them because when I get to work, I find Kevin sitting at Chloe’s
desk.
    “Hi Ryan. Chloe
called in sick today, so I’ll be covering for her.”
    “Oh. Um, thanks. I’ll
just be in my office until my first meeting.”
    “Those are some
beautiful flowers.”
    I forgot that I was
holding them. “Yeah.”
    “Would you like me to
put them in water for you until you go home later?”
    “That would be great.
Thanks again.”
    I hand him the roses
and go into my office, where I stay for the rest of the day. I need
to work out Plan B, which will have to include visiting Chloe at home
tonight. I consider taking her soup, but I know she’s not really
sick. She’s just possibly sick of me.
    The day goes by
uneventfully. Kevin does a great job, but he’s no Chloe. And not
just because I’m not interested in bending him over my desk. She
knows me and it makes work so much easier and fun. I grab the flowers
and head to her place. When I get to my