Unveiling Destiny

Chapter 10: Aria

"Wake up, sleepyhead!"

I groggily open my eyes and peer at my best friend. "I'm sleeping."

"Clearly. But your guy took it upon himself to make us all breakfast this morning, so get your ass out of bed and come eat," Katie says, tapping her foot impatiently.

Still waking up, I rub my eyes as I slowly comprehend her words. "Griffin did?"

"Unless you had another guy here last night," she says with a roll of her eyes.

Standing up, I flip her off and brush past her.

She laughs, following me into the kitchen, where I find coffee, bacon, and pancakes ready on the table.

Looking around in surprise, I find Griffin bringing a second plate of pancakes to the table.

"Good morning," he says with a boyish smile, giving me a lingering once over.

"Good morning," I respond, still taking in the spread in front of me. "You didn't have to make breakfast, you know."

"It was no problem at all. I met Katie in the kitchen this morning and asked if I could make breakfast as a thank you for letting me crash here last night. She said only if I was making for everyone, so-" he shrugs, gesturing to the food on the table.

Blake walks out of the hallway leading to Katie's room and interjects, "And it's much appreciated, bro. I'm starving after last night."

He not so slyly shoots a wink at Katie, who gives him a wicked grin in return.

Wanting to stop that conversation in its tracks, I interrupt. "Thank you, Griffin. You really didn't have to."

"I know. I wanted to," he replies sincerely.

My body warms under his gentle smile, and we stay there, gazing at each other, until Blake clears his throat.

"So, can we dig in?"

The spell breaks, and Griffin laughs at his friend.

"Yes, everything is ready, so let's eat!"

After a phenomenal breakfast, Katie and I find ourselves at the door bidding Griffin and Blake a safe, albeit quick, drive home.

The door is barely closed behind them when she whips around to face me.

"Spill! Now!"

I toss myself onto the couch, getting comfortable, before I give her the rundown of the night. She reacts in all the right moments, completely engrossed in my story.

"Well, I'm pissed," she grumbles when I finish.

Her reaction makes me giggle. "Why?"

"Number one, screw the couple who set their car alarm off to find it. Total cock block! Number two, girl-" she pins me with a look, "why did you make him sleep on the futon?!"

I take a deep breath, knowing she won't like my answer. "I slept on it and I'm actually really glad the car alarm went off. We were hopped up on emotions after our fight and I wasn't thinking straight. I'm not sure I would have been ready for what a make-out session would have led to. Which is also why I didn't invite him to sleep in the bed with me."

I bring my eyes to hers, begging her to understand where I'm coming from.

"The way he makes me feel scares me. I really like it. I feel warm and giddy and a bunch of other things I haven't felt in a long time. A bunch of things I'm not even sure Ethan ever truly made me feel. But I don't wanna ruin it by moving too fast. We barely know each other, and I don't want to open up too fast and get hurt again. Believe me. I would love nothing more than to jump his bones. He's incredibly attractive and my body feels all sorts of ways when he's around. But I have to start this as friends. Go slow. That way, I don't jump in too deep too fast."