“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Shaw had an intense look of concern on his face as he peeled the label off of his beer bottle at our kitchen table.

“I don’t know what else to do.” I started to pace in a small circle. “I need to make sense of all this shit. It’s fucking crazy. After ten goddamn years, he decided to show up now. Why now? Why not ten years ago? Why not even five years? I just don’t fucking get it.” My mind was racing as Shaw sat there listening to my ramblings.

“He’s known this whole damn time about you and all of a sudden he shows up. It does seem so strange.”

I stopped dead, glaring at Shaw. “Where is the skepticism coming from? You’re usually the glass-is-half-full one that always sees the good in people. I am the cynical one that usually is so closed off and so fucking guarded that I can’t even flirt with the dude at the goddamn pool hall.”

“I just don’t want to see you get hurt.”

I shrugged. “I mean, it’s just dinner. There’s not too much harm in sharing a meal with the stranger that has my father’s heart…is there?”

Shaw chugged down the last of his beer. “Whatever you think is best. I just think it’s weird as fuck.”

“It is strange! It’s crazy as hell, but it’s just outrageous enough to be perfect. There’s something about him. I don't know exactly what it is, but it’s…” I trailed off, failing to find the right words to explain how drawn I was to Griffin. “Gah! I can’t explain it, but I have to get to know him. I need to do this, you know?”

Shaw nodded. “You know I will always have your back, and if you feel like this is the right decision then fucking go for it. You’re right, it’s just dinner.”

“Exactly,” I agreed, talking myself more and more into the decision.

“It’s not like you’re falling head over heels for this all-American hunk.” Shaw laughed to himself. “Now that would be some fucked-up shit. What if you married the dude that has your dad’s heart—is that incest?” His eyes started to water at the corners as his fit of hysterics took over.

“Don’t make this any creepier than it already is, dude.” I threw a dirty dishrag at his at face but he only laughed harder. “Shaw, seriously! This is already the most obscene situation of all fucking time.”

“Okay. Okay.” He took a few deep breaths while wiping the corners of his eyes. “On a very serious note, what are you gonna wear?”

I motioned to the outfit I had on: a plain tank top, skinny jeans, and combat boots—the usual.

Shaw shook his head. “Girl, I know this isn’t a date, but you have to at least put some effort into it.”

“I’ll put makeup on and a different shirt, but my boots and jeans stay on and my hair stays in a ponytail.”

Shaw got up from the table, holding his hand out to me. “Fine!” He started to walk toward my bathroom. “As long as I can pick out the shirt and do your makeup.”

I trotted after Shaw with Otis in tow. “You got yourself a deal.”

* * *

At five minutes to seven, my palms and pits were sweating. My hands were shaking. My heart was pounding. I couldn’t remember the last time I had been so nervous.

I still was in shock about everything that had happened. I’d never even thought about my father’s organs saving people’s lives. It was the farthest thing from my mind, and I was upset that it had been. Thinking back, I knew he had been an organ donor—it was why we weren’t with him when he took his last breath. It all clicked as I wandered back and forth in the gravel parking lot, waiting for Griffin to pick me up.

I was pissed at myself for not taking comfort in that fact years before. I would have been so much more at peace with my father’s passing if I had known for a fact that he had saved other lives. What a beautiful thought, and I had deprived myself of it for ten fucking years.

The roar of a Harley grew louder as Griffin made his way into the empty lot.

He pulled off his helmet and patted the seat. “Ready?” he called over to me.

I stalked over to the motorcycle, throwing my leg over and wrapping my arms around his waist. “Nice bike.”

“Thanks, but you need to put this on.” He handed me his helmet over his shoulder.

“What about you?” I asked as I fastened the strap under my chin.

“If we’re not going far, I’m not worried about it.”

“Just up the road. Feel like a beer and some darts?” It wasn’t like we had a lot of options for places to go in our small town, and being in a familiar place was going to relax me a hell of a lot.

“Sounds perfect to me.” He kicked the kickstand and we were off to Got the Shaft.

After a short ride, we walked into the smoky bar. Rhonda raised an eyebrow from the other end, dramatically mouthing, “Who’s that?”

I waved it off, yelling, “Hey Rhonda, two beers please.”

Griffin pulled my stool out for me and helped me up onto it. “Thanks.”

“This place is awesome.” He was looking around the rundown dive of a watering hole.

Rhonda set two longnecks down in front of us. “Twice in two days, I can’t believe my luck.” She smiled at me.

“Rhonda, this is Griffin.” They shook hands. “My dad and I used to come here when I was a kid. It’s kind of like my second home.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Rhonda.” Griffin was so polite and chivalrous—I could definitely get used to that.

“Holler if you need anything else, kids.” Rhonda scurried off to talk to patrons not too far down the bar from us.

“So, come here often?” Griffin turned to me.

“As often as I can.”

Silence fell between us. I didn’t know how to keep the conversation moving. I didn’t know what we should talk about.

I cleared my throat. “So, boxing? How’d you get into that?”

He rubbed the back of his neck. “Well, when I was a kid, my dad tried to get me to follow in his footsteps and play hockey, but that was a bust. The next sport he got me into was boxing, and it all clicked, I guess.”

As he explained, I took a second to take in his features—the short beard that covered his jawline, his bright blue eyes, the tattoos that covered his entire right arm, how his muscles filled out his t-shirt ever so nicely.

“Did you always want to be a mechanic?” he asked, and I snapped out of my gawking, hoping he hadn’t caught me staring at him.

“I used to help my dad fix up old cars in our spare time. It was his hobby, and I just took it one step further. It helps me feel closer to him in some small way.”

“That’s really amazing. Don’t see a lot of chicks doing what you do. I like that.” He shot me a crooked smile that melted my panties on the spot.

“It’s challenging sometimes. Men don’t take kindly to women knowing more about engines than they do. Makes them uneasy.”

“I can’t even imagine how much flak you have to put up with.”

“Add in the fact that I am a young shop owner, and forget about it. I’m lucky most of people in this town know how good with cars my old man was and have learned to trust me over the years.”

“I’m sorry for just barging in on you this morning like I did.” His eyes were looking everywhere but mine.

I put my hand on his shoulder, more for myself than to comfort him. I needed to feel him, needed to make sure he was real and not something my brain had conjured to bring me solace. “I honestly am so glad you did it the way you did.”

Griffin shifted a little, scooting his seat closer to mine. “Yeah? Are you just saying that?”

“No. If you had called or beat around the bush about it or something, I probably would have told you to stick it where the sun doesn’t shine and hid from reality in my little bubble.”

Griffin put his hand on my knee as he sighed. “I get that. Well, then thanks for hearing me out.”

“Don’t mention it. So, how’d you find me?” I had been curious about it all damn day.

“I figured out who my donor was by reading all the papers and shit from the day I had my surgery. That was the easy part. Then my sister-in-law and our friend convinced me a few weeks ago, on my birthday that I needed to seek you out to get some closure. A PI helped me put the missing pieces together, and here I am.”

“I’m glad you did.”

“So what is the deal with Shaw?” Griffin’s shoulders were tense as he chewed on his lip.

“Well, to ease your mind, Shaw is gay and has been my best friend since I can remember.”

Griff let out a long breath as his back and shoulders relaxed. “I was just curious.”

“Uh huh. I’m sure you were.” I playfully shoved his shoulder as his cheeks turned red.

“Hey, Olive?” He started to fidget with the soggy napkin under his beer.

“Yeah?”

“So, I know this all may be weird…” He kept fighting for the words as his face and neck got red. “But I just wanna show you the respect of being completely honest with you. I haven’t ever felt a connection with anyone the way that I feel with you right now. I get this overwhelming calm when I am near you, like it’s right where I am supposed to be. God, you must think I am one fry short of a happy meal.”

I put my hand onto his chest, and electricity shot through my body as I felt his heartbeat quicken. “I completely agree.”

A loud cough came from behind me. Griff and I both looked at the intruder and I sighed. “Larry, what do you want?”

He was standing with one foot resting on the rung of the stool next to mine. “Hey, Olive. Who’s your friend?”

I could feel Griffin tense up next to me as he grabbed my hand. “Griff, meet Larry. We went to school together.”

I turned to glance at Griffin. His jaw was churning as he nodded. “Hey man, how’re you doing?”

Larry crossed his arms over his chest, trying to look tough but he just looked like a douche. “Tryin’ to figure out why you’re here with my girl.”

I laughed out loud immediately. “Get over yourself, Lar. I don’t know how many times I have told you that you’re wasting your damn time.”

Griffin put his arm around me. “I think the lady has spoken, man.”

I liked that Griffin was being protective but not freaking out. I could tell he wanted to react a little more to Larry rudely interrupting our night, but he held back.

I waved to Larry. “See you around. I have a date to get back to.”

His shoulders deflated as he walked away without another word.

“Date?” Griffin raised an eyebrow at me.

I threw my hands in the air. “I really don’t know what else to call this,” She pointed between us before continuing, “and it sound normal.”

“Touché.”

We shot the shit for most of the evening, shooting darts, playing pool, drinking beer, and getting to know each other. I knew it wasn’t the dinner Griffin had in mind, but laughing at how terribly he played pool and crushing him at darts felt so natural. It didn’t feel like I was hanging out with a stranger; it felt like a reunion of two long-lost friends.

“One more shot!” I cried out, running up to the bar where Rhonda was starting to clean up for the night.

“One more and then we are calling it quits.” Griffin sank down onto the barstool next to me.

“Don’t tell me you’re turning into a lightweight on me now, Griff,” I slurred, leaning into his side as he wrapped his arm around my waist.

“Nope, I just want to be able to get us back to your place safely and then find a motel to crash in for the night. It’s getting late.”

Rhonda poured two shots of chilled Jack for us. “I haven’t seen you smile like that since you were a kid.” She chortled before printing out the bar tab for us.

“Well, it’s the prettiest damn smile on the planet. We need to figure out how to keep this shit up.” Griffin winked at me before grabbing our shot glasses and handing me mine. “May the best of our past be the worst of our future.”

We downed the amber goodness. “Okay, take me home or lose me forever.” I flung my arms around his neck, kissing his cheek.

We said our goodbyes to Rhonda and hopped back onto Griffin’s Harley.

“Can I drive?” I chirped in his ear as the engine roared to life.

He shook his head. “Next time, not after a night of drinking.”

I crossed my arms over my chest. “I ain’t drunk.”

He laughed. “I promise I will let you drive another time.”

“Fine.” I gave in, wrapping my arms around his broad body and breathing in the faint smell of whiskey and cologne mixing on his shirt.