Chapter Three

Neve

By the time I reach Griffin’s garden, which is now filled with bikers and the odd female companion, Mya is nowhere to be seen. I contemplate going back home. She’s obviously occupied, but then if something bad happened to her, I’d feel awful. 

“Siren you came,” says Griffin, approaching me with open arms and that wide smile that tells me he’s full of fun and cheek. 

“My friend left me no choice, did you see where she went?” I ask, glancing around.

“She’ll be off somewhere with Knox. Don’t worry, he’ll take good care of her and return her in almost new condition,” he says with a wink. He passes me a bottle of beer, twisting the cap off in front of me, “Opened in front of you so you know I’m not a date rape kind of guy.”

“You know, you just saying that makes you creepy,” I point out, taking the beer.

“You need to chill a little Siren, you’re so uptight and snappy all of the time, anyone ever tell you that?” asks Griffin, drinking back his own beer. 

I keep a neutral expression on my face. I’ve been told that a lot, and I hate that it bothers me so much. I can’t help but be guarded, the last time I let my hair down, I fell in love with a sadist. But I wasn’t always this way, I used to be carefree and relaxed around everyone. I was the type of girl to chat to anyone and make everyone feel welcome. I watch Griffin walk off towards a group of women, and I suddenly feel alone and like a total bitch. Griffin is always nice to me, and yet I’m so rude back.

I make my way through the house, pushing through the crowd of people and heading out to the back garden. It’s quieter out here, with just a few people chatting near the patio. I sit down on the small wall and take a sip of beer. 

Griffin comes bounding out of the house and glances around, “Anyone seen Ryder?” he shouts out, and a guy nearby points down to the bottom of the garden. I watch Griffin head in that direction, and sure enough, I make out a shadowy figure sitting under the large tree. Griffin stays to chat with the shadow for a few minutes, and then heads back towards the house, he catches sight of me and smirks, “You should go sit with Ryder, he’s up tight like you.”

I stand abruptly, “I am not up tight, you don’t even know me.” 

Griffin approaches me with his cocky smile firmly in place. “Prove it.” He raises his pierced eyebrow, “Do something crazy and totally not like you, go and kiss Ryder.”

I groan out loud, shaking my head at his childish suggestion. “What are you, twelve?”

He grins and continues back towards the house. “See, you’re uptight, Siren. You can’t even stand the thought of letting yourself loose. You might actually like it.” I scowl as he disappears inside. I don’t just kiss random strangers, that doesn’t make me uptight, it makes me sensible.

I glance back at the shadow under the tree and decide I may as well head down there and see if this Ryder guy is uptight, he’s probably just as nice as me, and it’s actually just Griffin being a complete dick.   

I make out his large frame as I get closer, his shoulders are wide and muscly, as is his chest. The tight white T-shirt he’s wearing clings to each toned pec and I have to force my eyes to move up to his face. His arms are hung over his knees which are raised, and he holds a beer bottle loosely in his large hand. He fixes me with his electric blue eyes and I almost sigh out loud, he’s totally gorgeous. Even hotter than Griffin.

“I’m Neve,” I blurt out. His expression remains the same, his eyes pinned to my own. “I live next door to Griffin,” I add, shifting uncomfortably under his intense stare. I wait for a few seconds, but again, he doesn’t speak. “And I realised tonight that he’s a complete arse. He called me up tight,” I say, lowering to the ground to sit beside him and ignoring the fact he’s made no indication he wants to talk to me. “I’m not uptight, I just find him over the top, like a bouncy puppy dog that doesn’t stop,” I continue, now trying desperately to fill the awkward silence with pointless chatter. “My ex called me uptight, so Griffin saying it kind of pissed me off. Then he said you were uptight so I thought I’d come and say hi, maybe we could rename this the uptight tree?” I say, with a small laugh. “The last thing I wanted tonight was to come to a party. Does that make me uptight? I’d rather sit in and wait for my ex to call so that I can hear my daughters voice, than hang out with a gang of criminals getting drunk. My friend dragged me here because she’s been single for at least a month, that’s way too long in Mya’s eyes. I’d rather stay single for the rest of my life, it’s easier like that.”  I realise I’m rambling on, my words pouring from my mouth one after the other with hardly a breath in between, but the guy still doesn’t chip in or speak. And now I’m too intrigued to just get up and walk off. I need to know what his voice sounds like, half hoping it’s high pitched and squeaky, somewhat like Pee Wee Herman’s, at least then he wouldn’t be so perfect. Because right now, sitting there with a brooding silence around him, he’s coming across as dangerous and hot.  

“Anyway, sorry to have bothered you. I don’t usually talk to strangers, I’ve only had two drinks and I’m talking complete bollocks.” I stand, brushing the back of my shorts. His eyes follow the action, but he remains silent, and so I head back to the house feeling disappointed he didn’t engage with me. My mind is already trying to make me believe he’s some brooding, perfect hero, that’ll sweep me off my feet. I really need to stop reading those romance novels.

I make my way upstairs. Griffin’s house is the same layout as my own, so I find the bathroom with no problem and I’m relieved to find it empty. Once I’m finished, I step out on to the landing, debating whether to just leave and text Mya explaining.  

I notice the lights are now off, which is bizarre, because I’d definitely turned them on when I came upstairs minutes ago. I feel my way along the landing, and yelp when my hand presses against a man’s hard chest. “Sorry,” I squeak out.  

Before I can pass, a large hand wraps around my wrist and spins me around so that I’m facing the wall. An arm goes around my waist and lifts me effortlessly, holding me against his body tightly. Another hand presses against my mouth. He carries me forward and I hear a door open. I’m lowered to the ground, but the hand remains over my mouth.