Page 121 of What If I Knew You

Okay I realize I’m no super sex God but shit…two weeks of not feeling the inside of Corrigan Hicks is two weeks too long.

“Give it your best shot, Mr. Roche. It’ll be the greatest Christmas gift I’ve ever received.”

“God, I missed you so fucking much.”

“I missed you too.”

Come they told me, pa rump pa pum pum…

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

CORRIGAN

“Girl! You look absolutely fabulous!” I gawk at Layken when she meets me in the entrance of the ballroom where tonight’s Pacific Children’s Hospital Annual Art Auction is taking place. “And you really knocked it out of the park with this entire set up! Look at this place!”

She wrings her hands and bites her bottom lip. “Do you really think so?”

I scoff out a laugh. “Are you kidding? Of course I think so! You’ve talked a lot about your vision for this event and look around the room, girlfriend. It’s exactly as you had pictured it.”

The ballroom is decorated in white cloth covered tables with white table settings. The centerpieces of paper flowers in vases were made by the children from area school districts wanting to give back in some way for this event. They bring the perfect amount of color to the room. White twinkle lights hang from the center chandelier across the width of the entire room. Around the perimeter of the massive space are more easels than I can quickly count displaying a variety of artwork created by the children who enter Pacific Children’s Hospital and stay for longer than three days’ time. The amount of cheerful colorsurrounding this room creates an overwhelmingly happy and positive aesthetic for tonight’s guests.

“It’s simply beautiful and fun in here, Lake. You can’t look around this room and not smile.”

She wraps her arms around me in a gigantic hug. “Thank you Corr. You always know just what I need to hear.”

“Of course. You’re my best friend. You know that. I’m always going to be here for you. And I’m here for you tonight. Anything you need.” I squeeze her tightly, smiling as I feel her inhale a deep breath and release it slowly. Sometimes I know she just needs a steadying hug to settle her nerves.

Anxiety is a bitch.

“You feeling alright? I know how much nerves can get you sometimes.”

“Yeah. I think I’m okay.” She shrugs. “I just don’t want to disappoint anyone, you know?”

“What? How in the hell could you possibly disappoint anyone? Look around. Look at all you’ve done.”

“Yeah. I know it’s good. And I feel good about it. Sometimes I just get up in my own head, you know? I’m someone who is good at many things but great at nothing and therefore, somewhere in the dark parts of my brain, I fear I’m a disappointment.”

“Well, we’ll see how great at nothing you are when you help Pacific Children’s Hospital raise millions of dollars tonight.”

Layken grabs my arm, gasping. “Oh my God! Which reminds me! I haven’t even told you the best part about tonight!”

“You mean the part about the Stars helping out?”

She looks beyond me and claps her hands giddily. “Not just the Stars! So, a couple months ago I looked at the season schedule and saw who the Stars were playing next and sent their team an invitation to join us for this event alongside the Stars and…well…” She turns me around so I have a view of the main entrance where camera flashes are going off like a fireworksdisplay as photographers and paparazzi shout to a large group of gentlemen followed closely by a group of women.

My jaw drops. “Oh, my God! Layken! Is that…is that Dex Foster?” I gasp, bringing a hand to my chest. “And Hawken Malone?”

“Yes!” She squeals. “And Milo Landric, and Colby Nelson, and Quinton Shay, and Zeke Miller!”

I spin around, unable to hide my enthusiastic smile. “You invited the Chicago Red Tails to the auction?”

Her head nods furiously. “Uh huh! And they accepted! Can you even believe it?”

“I…” I shake my head in disbelief. “No. I actually can’t believe it!”

“Your dad was a tremendous help! Turns out he and Coach Denovah were old college buddies so he made a few calls and helped me make it happen. I figured with two professional hockey teams here, along with all the guests on the list with very deep pockets, we would certainly make a killing for the hospital tonight.”

“Layken Hobbs, you are a freaking genius!”

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