Free Dream With Me (With Me Book 4) by Elyssa Patrick Page A

suggested.”
    “Sounds good to me. I do have some good ideas.”
    “True. You do have some good ideas,” I tease back.
    Griff playfully nudges me, and I can’t help but grin in response. Everything about him is surprising me. Who knew that Griff had a sense of humor? What else don’t I know about him? And does he think this about me, that I’m not like he expected?
    We don’t know each other—well, we know each other that way, in the carnal sense. But every preconceived notion I had of Griff is being shattered, and I can’t help but think about that night freshman year. It seems like Griff likes me presently, but why did he say that about me back then? Why has he acted as if he doesn’t like me every time our paths have crossed?
    Why did it take one week until we’re supposed to graduate, to . . . talk? More than talk, really. I don’t have any of the answers, and I’m not sure I will ever get all of the answers. But I know one thing: I’m not going to bring up the past and ruin this date.
    Maybe . . . maybe I just don’t want to know that all of this—whatever this is—is just some dream.
    And I don’t want to wake up.
    Church Street has always been one of my favorite places in Burlington—and not just because of the shops. Although that is a huge point in its favor. But there’s a feeling about this place, one of vibrancy and warmth and fun that I’ve always been drawn to.
    When I’m having a bad day or need to clear my head, I’ll often come here and spend a mindless few hours wandering through stores. Some people go to the spa to relax. But me? I love shopping—both buying of actual things and just browsing. During the four years I’ve been at Green College, I’ve gone to Church Street on numerous occasions, both with my friends and by myself. There’s a familiarity about the place that never gets old or tiresome; I love coming here and rediscovering favorites and finding new ones. And, wow, I might actually—
    “What are you thinking about?” Griff asks as we stop in front of the busy Ben & Jerry’s.
    I move away from the ice cream store as people leave and step closer to a nearby bench. “I was just thinking how much I love Church Street, and I kind of realized that I’ll miss it. It’s funny . . . in a way.”
    “How so?”
    “Because I’ve been dying to get back to New York. I hardcore love that city. It’s in my blood. And it’s so . . .”
    “Crowded.”
    “There are a lot of people,” I say. “But I love that. I love being in the thick of things. Of feeling all that energy. And you know, New York City has its boroughs and neighborhoods and that becomes your own community.”
    “Like Little Italy?”
    “Yeah, like that.” We start walking again, our fingers grazing before Griff takes hold of my hand. “I’m from Manhattan, and my family lives right in the heart of it. My extended family lives either on the same block or within a few miles. The city isn’t so big that I feel like I’m alone, but I still can get away and feel like I’m the only person in the world. Does that make sense?”
    Griff glances at me. “How did you end up here?”
    “Here?”
    “Here. Vermont. Green College. It just seems like you love New York so much that I’m kind of surprised you ended up here.”
    “I wanted something different. An adventure, I guess. And when I visited Green College, I had a feeling . What? Don’t give me that look.”
    “I didn’t give you any look.”
    “Yes, you did. It was this kind of look.” I let go of his hand as I turn to him and make a disbelieving expression that perfectly mirrors the one Griff gave me. “You don’t believe me.”
    “I didn’t say that. But . . . a feeling? You went to Green because—”
    “Because it felt right. When we visited the college—and trust me, we visited a lot of colleges and universities—there was a click that happened here that didn’t happen anywhere else.”
    “A click?”
    “Yeah. A