Six Days: Book One in the SIX Series (3 page)

           
“Hey Addie,” Johnny said, putting an arm around my
shoulders, interrupting my thoughts. “I’m really glad you came tonight.
Everyone has been hearing so much about you from Mallory, so I’m glad you were
able to come and meet some people.
Are you loving
it
so far?”

           
“Of course,” I mused, hoping he hadn’t noticed my flush
cheeks.

           
“You look really nice tonight. Have you met everyone?” he
asked, nodding towards the main room.

           
“Um, well, a few people here and there I guess. Seems
like everyone here knows each other pretty well,” I replied, shrugging my
shoulders. I felt a little awkward and out of place.

           
“Well, I’ll give you the rundown. We mostly all know each
other from school,” Johnny said, leading me from the open kitchen into the
living room. “I think you already met Stephanie and Tyler at the shop earlier
this week,” he said pointing, “and this is Mo and Carrie. They’re some old
friends from college but they live in San Francisco now. They’re just
visiting.” The two strangers nodded at me politely and then resumed their
conversation with each other. “Then you know Meg and Steve already, and that’s
Griffin over there.” Johnny pointed to the handsome guy still on the phone, the
guy I had been eyeing just moments earlier. “It’s a good group of people. I
think you’ll fit right in, if you’ll have us,” Johnny said, giving my shoulder
a squeeze.

           
“Everyone seems really nice so far. And obviously Mallory
is so
great,
she’s really taken me in. It’s no wonder
she has such great friends,” I replied.

           
The front door opened to a guy with short reddish-brown
hair and a big smile. “Mike!” Johnny yelled across the room, leaving me to make
his way over to the door. “He’s an old roommate of mine. It’s been awhile since
I’ve seen him,” Johnny said over his shoulder while walking towards the door to
embrace his friend.

           
All of these names started blending together, and I knew
I would never remember them all if someone asked me to reference them later. I
glanced around the room and noticed everyone was talking to someone. Well,
everyone but me. I just stood there, uncomfortably swirling the rest of my
wine. Feeling the need for some fresh air, and more importantly, the need to
feel less like a loser standing by myself at this party full of close-knit
friends, I slipped out the back door onto a beautiful stone-lined terrace. The
softly lit lights strung overhead reminded me of a garden party you would see
on a blog somewhere. The air was still, and although crisp, it was a perfect
night without a cloud in the sky.

           
“So, the prettiest girl at the party is outside all
alone, huh?” The low voice came from behind me, startling me, making me drop my
wine glass. It shattered on the patio stone beneath my feet.

           
I turned around and gasped slightly as I locked eyes with
the handsome grey-blue eyes staring directly into mine. “I, uh, damn, I…” my
voice trailed off, torn between being locked in his gaze and knowing I had
shards of glass all over my feet.

           
“I am so sorry, my name is Griffin. I didn’t mean to
scare you,” he said apologetically.

           
“Oh no, I, I just thought I was out here alone,” I
replied, bending down to pick up some of the large pieces of glass around my
feet.

           
“Oh don’t, you’ll cut yourself. Let me get a broom,” he
said stoically. He turned to leave, and then paused. “Tell me your name first,”
Griffin added, his mouth turning up into a smile.

           
“Adelaide. Well, people usually call me Addie,” I
replied, trying not to blush any more than I already was.

           
“It’s nice to meet you, Adelaide. I’m really sorry about
scaring you. Wait here, I’ll be right back. Don’t move. I don’t want you to get
hurt,” he said, turning and walking quickly back into the apartment.

           
I looked down at the strappy heels I borrowed from
Mallory. “Thanks for the sensible shoes, Mal,” I uttered under my breath.

           
Within a minute, Griffin had returned with a broom and a
dust pan. His arms and chest looked strong in the fitted white button down
shirt he wore, and the dark loose fitting jeans made him look relaxed.
Oh
crap, I’m staring at him.
I bent down to help clean up the mess.

           
“Adelaide, I’ve got it, really. I don’t want you to get
hurt,” Griffin said, gently shuffling me over a bit. He bent down to clean up
the glass. “So why are you out here by yourself? Are my friends dull and
unimpressive?” he asked with a smirk.

           
“Oh no,” I replied, shaking my head. “Not at all, they’re
all really nice. I just needed a little fresh air. What about you?”

           
“It’s just been a long day. I was actually going to sit
out here for a bit and listen to some music. I really love this patio,” Griffin
responded, pulling an iPod out of his pocket. “Damien Rice?” he asked, looking
at me quizzically.

           
“What?
Who?”
I asked
,
my face furrowed with confusion.

           
“Alright, so we don’t have the same taste in music. I
don’t know if things are going to work out between us,” Griffin said grinning.
“Here, listen,” he held one of his headphone earpieces up to my ear. I listened
for a minute.

           
“So what do you think?
Terrible?
You love it? You could make it work for you?” Griffin asked, removing the ear
piece from my ear. He stared directly into my eyes.

           
“It’s soothing. It’s really nice, actually. I can see how
that would be nice to listen to out here alone, under the lights,” I replied. I
couldn’t help but look back at his face.

           
“What do you like listening to?” Griffin asked, shoving a
hand in his pocket. “Think very carefully about that before you answer. If you
start rattling off some young pop starlets who are all
audio
processed, I am going back inside immediately.” He smiled a boyish grin.

           
“Honestly, I’m a little out of the current music scene,
unfortunately. The last guy I was with, for too long I should add, liked
classical music, which I appreciated but never really liked. And then growing
up, one of
my dads
, I’ll explain that comment some
other
time,
he always had on James Taylor, John
Denver, that kind of thing. So I kind of came to like that music. I probably
need a good music lesson though, I suppose,” I said rambling, surprised to see
Griffin still staring at me intently.

           
“Apparently, geez.
John Denver, really?
You need some work,” Griffin said,
smiling back at me. “What’s the last concert you went to? Anything this
decade?” he smirked, leaning against the stone railing around the patio.

           
“Do symphonies count? I don’t know that I’ve ever been to
an actual concert. Is that weird?” I replied, cocking my head.

           
“Oh no, what are we going to do with you? Never?” he
said, exasperated. I shook my head.

           
“I grew up in a small town. I guess I didn’t really get
out much,” I replied, wishing I still had a glass in my hand to sip on. “By the
time I went to school I was more of a book worm I guess, plus with all the
classical music around me, I just kind of preferred silence otherwise. Wow, I
guess I really haven’t gotten out much. That’s how I ended up moving out here,
actually. Looking for a little more adventure, I guess,” I smiled shyly.

           
“Well, I think this place will work out for you,
Adelaide,” Griffin said, taking a step closer to me. “I’m glad you’ve met the
whole crew. I think you’re going to fit in nicely. I bet I can find some
adventure for you.” Griffin’s eyes stared at me intently. “Pretty night, huh?”

           
I glanced up at the night sky, taking in all the stars
overhead. Griffin took another step closer to me, and I wasn’t sure if the
shiver I felt was the chill in the air or his proximity to me. He smelled
amazing.

           
“Are you cold? I can get you a jacket or a sweatshirt or
something,” Griffin said genuinely, resting his hand on my arm. My skin
prickled, and I smiled up at him.

           
“So I see you’ve met Addie,” a loud voice said, walking
towards the patio. It was Steve. Griffin took a step back and nodded. “A pretty
little addition to the group, don’t you think?” Steve asked, winking at me.

           
Damn.
The site of them together was almost too
much. They had such contrasting looks. Steve had such blonde hair and light
eyes. He looked like summer, which made me smile. Griffin on the other hand was
more dark and mysterious, but the light in his eyes softened him. I could have
stared at them both for a long, long time.

           
“What are you guys all doing out here?” Mallory cut in,
joining us out on the patio. “It’s a little cold out
here,
don’t you guys want to come back inside?” She looked at us all in confusion, as
if she just realized she walked into our conversation at in inappropriate time.
“They’re not giving you a hard time, are they Addie? Why is there a broom out
here?” Mallory asked, clearly confused as to why we were all gathered out on
the patio.

           
“Oh, Addie threw her wine glass at me. It was in
self defense
though, apparently I scared her when I came
out for fresh air,” Griffin said, winking at me. I laughed.

           
“Don’t let them bother you, Addie. They’re harmless.
Let’s go back in,” Mallory replied, grabbing my arm, leading me towards the
apartment.

           
Griffin grabbed the broom and we all followed Mallory
back inside. As I stepped over the door jam, I felt a hand on the small of my
back, but I felt too flush to turn around to see if it was Steve or Griffin.

           
“I’m going to pull out the cake,” Mallory said, heading
into the kitchen.

           
Within two minutes Mallory reappeared, holding a cake
with a single lit candle. She walked towards the center of the room and I was
confused for a moment. Everyone broke into an off-key rendition of ‘Happy
Birthday,’ and Johnny blew out the flame. I looked around the room and noticed
quite a few people had left already. Apparently they had other events to head
out to that night, and the room felt a little more comfortable with less people.
There were still about ten people lingering around, and I was glad to be
amongst a smaller group. A couple people handed Johnny liquor bottles tied with
bows.

           
“Mallory, you never told me it was a birthday party! I
feel so bad, I came empty handed,” I said, shooting Johnny a sympathetic
glance. “I’m sorry Johnny, I didn’t know,” I said embarrassed, punching Mallory
in the arm. Johnny had been so sweet to me in the past two weeks, stopping by
the bakery to see how we were doing, complimenting me on my progress. No one
ever mentioned it was his birthday.

           
“Your gift to me can be coming on our annual camping trip
in a few weeks, how about that? Kate’s gone, and we need an even number,”
Johnny said, looking around the room. “I guess I should get the group’s approval
on that, but I’m inviting you,” Johnny said beaming. He opened up one of the
liquor bottles he was handed and took a sip, though his face soured quickly
after.

           
“I agree,” Megan chimed in. “Addie should come camping
with us,” she added, holding up her wine glass. The others nodded in agreement.

           
“Camping? Like, in a tent?” I replied, feeling a little
nervous with everyone staring at me. “Do I have to own a tent?”

           
“We’ve got it all covered, Addie. We go every year,”
Griffin answered, shoving his hands in his pockets. “You just show up,” he
added, smiling.

           
“Oh, okay, camping,” I replied nervously. “You guys are
great, thank you for including me. I’m really glad I met all of you.” My eyes
locked on Griffin’s. He nodded in agreement. Everyone who had a glass
clinked
them, and the party continued.

           
A few more people stopped by the party here and there,
and although I was introduced to all of them, I still had no recollection as to
who was who. It was nice seeing all of these people together though, people who
had clearly known each other for years. I loved how they still enjoyed
each others’
company after knowing one another for so long.
It was a very comforting feeling to me. At the same time though, I felt awkward
at best for intruding on a birthday party when clearly I was disconnected from
all of these people. They were all so genuine though, so I certainly hoped I
would get to know all of them better.