One Week Later

"Can I open my eyes now?"

"Nope."

Griffin's hands were still pressed against my eyes, albeit softly, as he guided me.

"Now?" I asked.

"This is worse than when my sister keeps asking me if we reached yet during family vacation car rides."

"Are you calling me your sister?" I said.

"Hell. No. Please never say that again." Griffin's response made me laugh and I reached out with my own hands to touch his.

"Okay, now you can look," He said.

He moved his hands. My eyes widened at the sight of colorful hot air balloons surrounding the field; a gorgeous array of bright yellow, blue, and red hues. In the distance, I could see the lights of a Ferris wheel and dimly smell the sweetness of funnel cakes and the grease of freshly prepared french fries.

"Ready for this?" he said, his eyes twinkling at my reaction. "Because, Grey, you and I are about to go on a hot-air balloon ride."

"No way," I breathed. "This is..." I couldn't even think of a way to describe it. Beautiful? Amazing? "Perfect."

Our first date.

With the boy of my dreams.

Griffin reached out to hold my hand, and my smaller one fit perfectly in his. He led me to the tent at the front, using his other hand to reach into his pocket. He had already bought us tickets, which he handed to the girl at the front. I watched the interaction, and the realization came to me that this couldn't be cheap.

"Isn't this expensive?" I whispered as she shuffled away.

He frowned at me. "I can afford to treat you, Grey."

"No, it's not like—" I stopped, wondering why I had to open my mouth and ruin everything. I saw the prickle of hurt in his eyes and mentally chastised myself.

His face softened. "It was a little, but it wasn't crazy. I wanted to take you somewhere nice. Besides, I volunteer here so I get some perks too. So don't worry about it."

"You volunteer?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah, during the weekends in summer. I'm only a bad boy on weekdays," he smirked, and suddenly everything was okay again. I took his hand back and squeezed it, just to make sure. He reached over and adjusted the hat I was wearing so that it covered my ears.

"It might get a little chillier up there," he explained. "Although you can steal my sweatshirt if you get colder. Or use me for body heat in any way you'd like—"

He pulled me closer to him, laughing at my expression.

I wrinkled my nose at him and joked, "Watch it, Keely."

Translation: if I am cold, totally feel free to pin me down in the basket.

"Noted," he said, smiling anyway.

We selected a yellow and red balloon, and one of the crew members helped us get up and over the basket.

The guy looked at Griffin with recognition, and a big smile spread over his face.

"Hey Griff," he greeted. He glanced at me and his eyes sparkled. "You finally got a girl to put up with you?"

"Shut up, Lucas," Griffin mumbled.

"She's cute—" Lucas looked at me and Griffin scowled. 

I bit back a laugh.

"Thanks for helping us," Griffin cut him off, giving him a look. 

Lucas chuckled, unbothered by his response.

"Well, you kids have fun!" he said.

"He seems nice," I said, walking up to Griffin and placing my hands on his chest to steady myself and look up at him. He looked a little grumpy, but he placed his hands around my waist, pulling me closer anyway.

"Were you jealous?" I said, my mouth opening.

"Me? Jealous? Never."

"Liar," I teased. His lips twitched, and I could see he was holding back a smile.

As the balloon rose, I gasped slightly. It was a different feeling — like we were moving, but not really.

"Nervous?" Griffin immediately asked. I shook my head. I wasn't scared — the view was beautiful, and the ride itself was gentle. The sky was a brilliant light blue, and I could see the sunshine peeking out from behind the clouds. Up here, it was just us, like we could take a break from everything and just get lost in each other.

After everything that happened, it felt good to finally just be in the moment. I swallowed, remembering Justin's arrest a week ago. As much as it hurt to think that someone I had known so well had hurt Natasha, I could finally rest knowing Killer Cupid was locked away.

While I was watching the view, Griffin was watching me, with a smile that was half amused and half affectionate.

A pool of warmth settled in my stomach. Despite everything, so much had changed in the relationship between Griffin and me, and the sparks had only increased. He was the one person to truly get me, and we had come such a long way from the beginning. 

And it all started with a truth or dare. 

"What's on your mind?" Griffin's voice was soft.

"You didn't like me at first," I said suddenly, turning to face him. He raised an eyebrow, surprised at my comment.

I bit my lip. "I mean, that wasn't what was on my mind, but we never talked about it."

"I mean, at the party, the first time we ever really talked. But Willow dared you to kiss me, and I thought you were going to. Was it just to make Justin mad?"

He shook his head. "Don't get me wrong. That kid annoyed me from the start. But I wasn't going to actually kiss you."

"You weren't?"

"Not like that," he said. "I just wanted to see what you'd do if I leaned in. But I wanted to. I think I would've, if it was just me and you. But I held myself back because it wouldn't have been right. The time and place and you were with someone and..." He stopped, looking a little flustered.

"But I lied when I acted like I didn't want to get to know you. Because I did. From the first moment, I noticed you. And I think I always knew."

"Knew what?"

"That I was going to make you mine." His eyes took me in, waiting to see how I would react to that. I felt my heartbeat against my ribcage, but I tried to keep my face steady.

"So tell me then," I said. "Three reasons why I should make you mine."

Of course, I could name so many, but I wanted to tease him. He pretended to think and then nodded, leaning closer so I could see the little gray specks in his eyes.

"I wouldn't steal your fries when we go eat."

I laughed. "And?"

"I'd let you put on those romance movies you keep wanting to watch, even though they're not that good."

"They are good—" I tried to protest and then broke off, suddenly taken aback by his face only inches from mine. "And?" I said instead, softly, so quietly that he wouldn't have heard it if he was further.

"And," he said, his voice low, "I'm going to put a baby in you one day so it only makes sense that you do."

"Griffin!" I laughed. I raised my hand to push him, but he grabbed it before I could, interlocking our fingers instead. "My turn," I said, watching as his eyes shone in the sunlight, the brightest of blues.

"Three reasons why I should make you mine?" he said, a smile tugging at his lips.

"I make good cupcakes and I'll make them anytime you're sad," I said, holding up three fingers and putting one down. He nodded, acknowledging his appreciation for my baking skills.

"I won't freak out when you use your flirting to get out of bad situations," I continued.

His mouth opened as he feigned offense. "I don't do that," he said. Then, as an afterthought, added, "I can't help it, I'm charming."

I smiled at his response before putting the last finger down. "And reason three," I said, "There's no one better for you than me." I felt bold saying that, and I cocked my head at him, as if it was a challenge.

"You're not wrong there, Grey," he murmured against my ear before kissing me.

And he didn't stop kissing me. Softly, roughly, exploring every part of me in a way only he could, with the sky turning a pastel orange-pink shade behind us.

I had a list of things in my diary that I loved more than anything.

Stargazing. Long drives with no destination. The final part of an ice cream cone. Walks on the beach, bare feet touching the sand. The smell of the air after rain. 2 AM conversations.

And now, kissing Griffin Keely.

A/N 

Now we know how Griffin really felt about Haven in the beginning <3 I hope you guys enjoyed the cuteness, because things are about to go down and then it all comes down to the final chapters ;) 

I'm so excited for this! Hope you're ready ♡ Also if you're a silent reader, that's totally okay but please message me so I can thank you personally for reading :) 

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