Found by You

by Victoria H. Smith

  He brought me in even tighter against his warm chest, leaning into my ear. “You can talk to me if anything is ever bugging you. You know that, right?”

  I did know that. I just wished I could make myself.

  Chapter Twenty

  Griffin

  I didn’t necessarily believe her, but with Roxie I was quickly finding out how she operated. Roxie Peterson was a runner, and if you didn’t feel her out and give her space when she needed it, she’d fade away, leaving you nothing but confused in her wake. Something was bothering her. That I knew, but for the time being I chose to put the issue on hold. We were bound to have some time this weekend to talk. If not, it could wait until we got back to campus. Right now, I’d just have to make sure she had a good time with my family. A good time with me.

  The way she lay in the backseat of the cab in my arms, her soft hair against my chest, she put on a strong illusion she was okay. This felt normal again, like us just chilling on the couch at her apartment. She had her eyes closed, though I knew she was just resting them. The tips of her fingers brushed the hairs of my arms wrapped around her. She couldn’t see the goose bumps on my skin, but they were there. I did the same to her; small beaded peaks lined her dark skin on the areas my fingers stroked. If I could sit like this with her forever I would, draw out the illusion that we were good, that we were okay, but the ride eventually had to end. My gram lived in the middle of nowhere, but every destination started always had its endpoint.

  The driver drove under the wooden arch that marked the path to my gram’s house. He took us to the wooden gate that surrounded Gram’s property. The walk wasn’t long from there; it was just through the gate and up to the house my grandpop built from the ground up before he died. The place was all wood and white-walled. I used to love the smell of the oak as a kid.

  The cab driver rattling off his total forced me out of the euphoria I had with Roxie. She leaned up out of my arms and she was gone. Hopefully not for long. I’d take her aside sometime today so we could talk. I paid the guy then led Roxie out to the gravel walk. My hoodie had sweat lining my back from the mild change in climate, so I stuffed it in my duffle bag after I retrieved it from the trunk. Roxie didn’t have much, just her purse, and she made her way alongside me to the door of my gram’s house, surveying the area with flickering eyes. Part of the reason she did that had to because of the rising sun. It killed when it was at its highest, and the other reason I was sure was because of my Gram’s beautiful property. Even after Grandpop died, she refused to downsize. My aunt Robin and her two kids moved in with her, making sure the hired hands took care of the horses, cattle, and other animals. Still, I knew the place to be too much for my gram. When Grandpop was around, it was too much for him. No one in my family was by any means well off, and the small ranch had always been the subject of arguments by the adults around the table. But this was Grandpop’s dream. Didn’t matter if he only broke even. That’s what he wanted, so in the end, they all supported him. That was what family did. Support each other.

  I came out of my thoughts when Roxie wobbled alongside me, and I noticed she had to stop a moment after we’d only taken a few steps. I put my hand on her back. “What’s wrong?”

  Leaning down, she removed her flip-flop. A rock was embedded in the rubber where her toes were.

  I cringed. “Ouch. You okay?”

  She pulled the rock out with her nail and put her sandal back on. “I guess these weren’t a good idea. It’s hard to walk and the rocks are stabbing me. My sneakers were in my bag.”

  Damn. My gram’s entire property was pretty much covered in this gravel. “We’ll get you something else to wear soon, okay? Don’t worry.”

  She simply nodded, tight-lipped as she stared at my arm, making me aware my hand was still on her back.

  I really didn’t get what this was, and I was about to ask her, demand why I suddenly wasn’t allowed to touch her freely, when the door of my Gram’s house opened. Both our heads shot up and a large woman who aided in taking care of me when I was a kid grinned at the two of us.

  Roxie

  The woman just about startled me out of my flip-flops, but I was happy she opened the door. Griffin removed his hand from my back when she did.

  In teal-colored capris and a flowery blouse, the middle age woman came out to the porch, waving and calling Griffin’s name with a wide smile.

  He called her Aunt Robin, his face lighting up as he led the way up to her. He dwarfed her in height, his large arms going around her width in a huge hug. She clearly hadn’t seen him in a while. She looked so happy to see him.

  He pulled me to him by the arm and presented me to her. He looked just as happy as she did. “Aunt Robin, this is Roxie.”

  The delight on her face couldn’t be more genuine. She shook my hand, holding me there. “Sweetie pie, you are a sight for sore eyes.” She cupped her mouth. “We were afraid he’d bring that skinny bitch.”

  I blinked. Holy crap, she was talking about Tanya.

  Griffin sucked in a breath. “Er, uh, my aunt is kind of blunt. You’ll find that out pretty quickly.”

  She put her hands on her hips. “You’re the one who brought her, Griffin,” she drawled, that Texan twang to her voice in full volume. She looked at me. “The girl wouldn’t eat nothing. Simply nothing. Like she was too good. You eat, don’t you, darlin’?”

  I gazed down my front. Either she wasn’t looking at me or she really was asking. Genuinely. I smiled. “I think so.”

  This made her grin. “Good. Good. Then you’ll fit right in. We eat around here. Let me tell you. You want anything while you’re here just let me know and I’ll whip it up for you.” She gazed around me at all angles. “Griff, where’s this child’s bag?”

  He rubbed the back of his neck. “Mistake at the airport. They lost it. It’s coming in the morning. I’m gonna run her out to Walmart later for the stuff she needs until then.”

  The fact Griffin was at home was already settling in. His voice was definitely dragging a bit, and he’d only spoken to his aunt for a few minutes. He wasn’t lying about his accent peaking when back at home. It really was cute.

  His aunt groaned, pushing her hand through her frizzy, strawberry blonde curls. “Those fuckers. Can’t do anything right.”

  I bit my lip. This woman was so crass, but I had to say I liked it. She seemed real. Like a person who let you know about yourself and I had nothing but respect for that. I didn’t want anyone walking on eggshells if they didn’t approve of me and something told me this woman wouldn’t hold back.

  His aunt led us inside and she took Griffin’s bag, saying she’d set it in the barn where the boys would be staying. I thought she was joking, but it turns out she wasn’t. The boys were in the barn, girls were in the basement, and the married people had the spare rooms of the house. It killed me that I was happy Griffin and I would be separated for the night. He apologized for that and I had to pretend I was disappointed.

  Griffin’s grandma’s house was fabulous. Hardwood floors, huge brick fireplace, marble counters, and hand carved furniture. I expected the house to be filled with folks, but his aunt said everyone was outside socializing and eating potluck. She led us as far as the backdoor before taking off. Griffin placed his hands on my shoulders before we went out.

  “Hey, if you feel uncomfortable or awkward at all, just let me know, okay? We can take a walk or whatever. Get away. I’m sure this will be overwhelming for you since you don’t know anyone and my family can be kind of,” he paused, searching for the word. “They’re just laidback. Kinda like my aunt. Though, I think she’s the worst, so you should be good.” He gave a short laugh.

  I smiled. He shouldn’t be embarrassed about them. They reflected who he turned out to be. They had to be good people. We didn’t all have that. Great people who affected our lives. He was quite fortunate. “It’s fine. She’s actually pretty cool. I’m sure I’ll be okay. Don’t worry about me.”

  I reached to open the door, but
he didn’t let me go. Instead, he pulled my forearm, dragging me out of the view of the glass door that led to the back. My body covered in chills when he placed his hands on my cheeks. He leaned his forehead gently against mine, his breath moving over my mouth.

  “It’s been so hard not being able to touch you,” he said. “Not seeing you for days.”

  I closed my eyes as he brushed his lips along my temple to my hairline. He breathed me in, his breath so warm and husky, and my blood fired, bubbling awareness all over my body. I missed him so much. God, how could I do this…

  Swallowing hard, I forced myself to back away from his hands. “Let’s go meet your family.”

  The hurt twisting his face did the same to my insides. Thankfully, he didn’t push me about how closed off I was being, and in the back of my mind I wondered if he was scared to.

  He crossed his arm in front of me and opened the door that led to his life, his family. I didn’t know what I expected to see in that backyard. I supposed a bit of intimidation. I had always known Griffin’s beauty. He had it inside and out. I guess I expected the world of Stepford back there. Perfect, pretty people, and I’d be the eye sore. What was out there were real folks, though. All sizes, all shapes, all ages, and all heights. I’d say a few dozen or so covered the area. A line of kids stood up on a wooden fence, pointing to the horses inside, and babies wearing nothing but diapers and a smile ran after wild kittens. And the majority of them wore Stetson hats and cowboy boots. This Midwestern girl was really seeing Big Texas pride.

  A small group of folks sat in lawn chairs near the fence that caged the horses, and those were the people Griffin guided me toward. I tried not to look goofy as I walked the chunky gravel, stiffing my ankles during my strides. I could kick myself for not wearing sneakers and suddenly felt very overdressed in my sundress. Griffin’s family sat very casually in jeans and cut offs.

  I made it to the group without wincing from the rocks cutting into my feet and gave a silent prayer of thanks.

  This group consisted of many faces, but Griffin immediately bent to hug the oldest in the bunch. She also donned a pair of Stetson boots under her long dress.

  “Hey, Gram,” he said to her.

  The woman brought the sunshine I loved out on his face, and he did the same to her. She kissed his cheek. “Griffin, you got here quicker than I thought.”

  He kissed her back, rising up to his full height. “We took a nonstop flight.”

  A grinned creased his face when he gazed my way. He did this despite what I put him through this morning. He was still proud to have me. The group noticed, and I became the center of attention under multiple sets of eyes. Staring at the varying faces, a sudden realization dawned. I had no idea why it took this long, but the fact I was the only person of color here flashed before me. Back on campus, I was quite used to being only one or two in a group of many, but I was in a familiar environment. One where I felt comfortable. But I’d never been to Texas before…

  “Here’s my Roxie,” Griffin said, pulling me both out of my thoughts and over to him by my elbow.

  I didn’t want to freeze up like a deer in headlights, but being naturally reserved, that couldn’t be helped. I had no idea what to do. I was on display, open for judgment.

  And they readily gave it. Though surprisingly… not to me.

  “You actually dating this string bean, Roxie?” A tall man with a beefy build gave his hand to me. He had a very familiar face. Reminiscent of one I found so handsome since the first day I saw him on campus. This man looked a little older than Griffin, though not by much at all. His messy, sun-stroked hair peeked out from under the cowboy hat tipped back on his head.

  Griffin’s eyes lifted to the sky at the comment. “My older brother, Brody.”

  “And the best looking,” he said, giving a flirty wink that heated my face.

  “Outside of me of course.” Another large blond rose from his own chair. I shook his hand next. “Hayden,” he said. “The oldest. Good to meet you.”

  The pair of these men looked like linebackers. They had Griffin’s height, but they were much thicker. More like workers than players on the court.

  I mentioned it was good to meet Hayden, and he gestured toward the woman sitting next to his chair. She had a baby on her lap who was messily eating a popsicle. He introduced the pair as his wife, Karen, and daughter, Sarah. After that, the names of the group started to blend into one another. Uncles, Aunts, cousins, and second cousins, but there was one thing I didn’t miss.

  To these people I was just Roxie. Griffin’s girlfriend. To them, there was nothing different about me at all. I shouldn’t have been surprised. If they were kin of Griffin it only made sense. He always accepted me. Always…

  A beautiful boy who looked eerily similar to the man I was just thinking about came over from the distant food table when Griffin called him. Seriously, he and Griffin could have been clones. Same height, same build, and strong features. The only difference was he had thick curly hair instead of straight.

  Griffin wrestled him under his arm. “Meet my mini-me, Colton. Colt’s headed off to Texas State next year. A ball scholarship just like his awesome older brother.”

  Groaning, Colton attempted to elbow Griffin, fighting to get out from under his arm, but Griffin was quicker. He shifted out of the way and got him in a headlock, giving him noogies until he caved and stopped fighting.

  Griffin ruffled the poor kid’s hair for good measure and then made him bring over two chairs for us after he greeted me. He brought one more back for himself.

  “Where’s Pop?” Griffin asked, settling into his chair next to mine.

  “It’s called working a job, boy.”

  The group turned to where a man, even larger than the other three boys I met today, came down the back porch. His build was most similar to Brody’s, the biggest of the brothers, and he had a blond goatee and the skin of his face appeared weathered and worn looking from under a blue baseball cap. The patch on his cap read, Carter’s Construction, and I noticed the same patch on Brody and Hayden’s collared shirts. They must all work together.

  Griffin’s three brothers stood tall from their chairs for this man, as if in the military. Griffin was included in the organized line. They did it so fast I nearly felt the need to join them. The other women didn’t stand so I refrained.

  He was showered with shakes of respect, and Colton, the youngest brother, asked him if he wanted a beer. He waved him off and Colton gave him his chair willingly. He ended up heading over to the horse fence with some of the younger people.

  “Who’s uh…” he said gruffly, gesturing toward me as he relaxed with a huff into his seat.

  I shot to attention and was relieved when Griffin handled the introductions yet again by saying, “Pop, this is Roxie. My girlfriend.”

  The man leaned out of his seat, tilting his hand to me, which I accepted. His hand was hard and calloused, matching the expression he gave me during the shake. With his lips tight, he released my hand, moving back into his chair.

  “So, Roxie, where did you and Griffin meet?” The question was asked by Hayden’s wife, Karen.

  I was still kind of frozen by Griffin’s large father, but I managed to answer. “The uh, laundry room. Our campus laundry.”

  Brody and Hayden exchange a look, then zapped it Griffin’s way. Brody tipped his chin at Griffin. “Leave it to this ape to be romantic. You could have at least taken the girl out for dinner, Griff.”

  Griffin shook his head while the two brothers ragged on him, laughing in taunts. Karen swatted her hand at them around the baby in her lap. “She said that’s how they met. Not their first date.”

  Brody and Hayden still jostled Griffin with taunts, and a small smile cracked my face. These guys liked to handle each other. The camaraderie made me wish I had a sibling, but then I was reminded of not so good times. Ones where I technically had that type of relationship, however brief the time. I locked those memories down like I had before, rubbing my
hands restlessly on my knees. My gaze wandered, and I caught Griffin’s dad. He eyed my way as if he were studying me.

  “What are you going to school for, Roxie?”

  My eyes flashed, and I stared ahead of me. Griffin’s grandma had asked me the question, her voice small, but her gaze strong and attentive. Showing her respect, I made sure she had mine. “Education,” I said. “More specifically I want to work with charities and private organizations who help bring education to people with hardships. Those people living on the streets and down on their luck.”

  Griffin wasn’t staring at me when I said that, instead he watched his grandma who sat in front of him, but his lips turned up at the information. We talked casually about our education, but I never specifically went into details of what I’d do with mine.

  “That’s quite nice, Roxie.” Griffin’s gram looked pleased. “What made you decide to go that route?”

  This question came to me a lot when people found out what I was going to school for. My friends. My professors. My answer had always been easy. “These individuals need teachers, too. Someone to fight for them. I guess I just see myself as being one of those people.”

  Griffin’s gram tilted her head of white hair. Though her gaze was still attentive, a warmness lined her aging eyes and it was aimed at me. The expression moved feeling in my heart, but another shift within my view took my attention. Griffin’s dad crossed his leg at the knee, seeming like he wanted to look anywhere but in my direction. Did I offend him some way?

  The questions continued and I couldn’t dwell on the matter like I wished I could have. These people asked me all kinds of things about myself like they really wanted to know me. They could have just been trying to be polite, but that didn’t seem like the case. Griffin’s aunt Robin joined us at some point and asked where I planned to work after graduation.