Chapter 5

      Seated in front of the stage, Griffin tapped his foot to the music. It had been a while since he’d been out like this, relaxing and listening to a live band. He made a mental note to change that going forward. It was fine to stay focused on work, but Griffin realized that he also needed some downtime to relax. It wasn’t healthy to hold on to pent-up emotions and energies.

      The room exploded in applause when the song ended.

      Onstage, Colin took the microphone. “It’s wonderful to be back home in Philly,” he said.

      “Welcome home,” someone in the audience yelled out.

      He laughed. “I have a special treat for you tonight. Who remembers the tall, cool dude that used to sing with us?”

      Several people in the audience clapped and screamed in memory.

      Colin laughed. “Well, we have Griff in the audience and—”

      The sound of applause drowned out the rest of

      Colin’s words.

      Smiling, Griffin met his friend’s gaze and shook his head. He had not come here to perform. It had been years since he had been on a stage. He had planned to just come out, listen to music and reconnect with old friends.

      Colin refused to take no for an answer. “You hear that applause—that’s for you, bro,” he told Griffin. “C’mon…”

      Griffin rose to his feet and made his way up to the stage.

      Colin handed him the mike.

      Music filled the stage and its surroundings.

      Griffin moved to its beat and began to sing. He soon felt as if he had never left the stage and he allowed his love for music to take over.

      * * *

      Marissa could not believe her eyes when Griffin walked up on the stage. She had no idea he could sing.

      “I don’t believe it,” Marissa uttered.

      “What is it?” Cheryl asked. “You know him?”

      She nodded. “That’s Griff.”

      “The guy you work with? The one you’ve been telling me about?”

      “Yes,” Marissa responded.

      Marissa was very entranced by the bass timbre of his voice. Griffin had never shared this side of himself with her before. Obviously, they were not as close as she had imagined.

      As if drawn by an invisible web, Griffin met her gaze.

      His eyes registered surprise, but he never interrupted his singing.

      “He has a nice voice,” Cheryl said.

      Marissa agreed.

      Griffin received a standing ovation and thunderous applause as he thanked everyone and left the stage. Instead of returning to his table, he walked over to where she and Cheryl were sitting.

      Marissa spoke first, making the introductions before saying, “I didn’t know about this side of you.”

      He met her gaze and then smiled. “This is the first time I’ve been on a stage in forever. When I left the band, I never really thought much about it. It just became a part of my past once I passed the bar.”

      “You never really talk about your life.”

      Griffin shrugged in nonchalance. “There isn’t a lot to tell.”

      “Well, I guess I didn’t know you as well as I thought I did.” Marissa tried to hide the disappointment she felt. She had shared so much of herself with Griffin, even her personal feelings and insecurities.

      Apparently there was much to Griffin that he’d kept private.

      “I enjoyed your singing,” Cheryl told him.

      “So did I,” Marissa interjected after a moment. “You can really sing.”

      “Thank you both,” Griffin replied with a smile. “I didn’t know that you liked places like this, Marissa. I figured you were more of a jazz lover.”

      Cheryl chuckled. “Marissa…she hates jazz.”

      “No, I don’t,” she countered. “I just like classic R & B more.”

      She was saved from further embarrassment when the band took a break and Griffin introduced them to Cheryl and Marissa.

      Marissa was thrilled that she had decided to come out with Cheryl. She was really having a great time. It was nice to see Griffin relaxed and having a good time. She really liked this side of him and wished he would display it more.

      Marissa was in love with Griffin Jackson and there was a time when she had hoped he felt the same way. But it soon became obvious that he did not return her feelings.

      So what else could she do?

      After their one night together, Griffin told her that their making love had been impulsive and ill-advised. He decided that they should keep their relationship professional.

      Wounded, Marissa had simply agreed. She told Griffin that no one would ever know what had happened that night, and that it would never happen again.

      However, it did not stop her heart from aching for him. But Marissa was not going to force herself on Griffin. She tried to keep her distance as much as she could when they were in the office. They were exceedingly polite with each other, careful not to exchange more than casual pleasantries.

      In the beginning, Marissa tried to convince herself that this was all for the best. That was before she saw the plus line in the home pregnancy test.

      * * *

      It had never once occurred to Marissa that she was pregnant. She and Griffin had used a condom the night they made love, so she had no real reason to suspect anything. She had ignored the symptoms for weeks, chalking up the missed period and the constant nausea to stress.

      By the time Marissa decided to take a pregnancy test, she was about nine weeks along. Stunned beyond words, she had no idea what to do. A baby was the last thing she needed right now, and she was sure Griffin would feel the same way.

      She knew that many early pregnancies ended in miscarriage, so Marissa decided to keep mum. There was no point in alarming her family or Griffin unnecessarily.

      For a brief moment, she had even considered terminating the pregnancy, but once she heard the baby’s heartbeat, everything changed for Marissa.

      You are my baby. I am going to do everything in my power to protect you.

      There were two questions that stayed at the forefront of her mind these days. How was she going to tell Griffin?

      Should she tell him?

      Marissa’s eyes traveled downward. Eventually she was not going to be able to hide her pregnancy anymore. She was already struggling to wear clothes that would camouflage the roundness of her belly. Marissa had also taken to carrying large handbags—something she used to avoid because of her five-foot-two-inch frame. She still favored high-heeled shoes, but she had to consider lowering them some during her pregnancy.

      Her mind traveled back to Griffin.

      Marissa was dreading his reaction, and silently rationalized that she had not told him because she could never find the right time.

      She couldn’t just blurt it out, but Marissa vowed to tell Griffin as soon as the time was right.