Page 110 of What If I See You

In tandem, the group lowers the books showing their faces. Corrigan, Bodhi, August, and Ella are seated around a small table, each of them with a drink from the book store’s café.

“Oh, my Gosh! What are you guys doing here?” I exclaim, walking over to them and wrapping my arms around Corrigan and Ella giving them huge hugs.

“We heard you might have had a bit of a day,” Corrigan cringes.

Ella nods. “Yeah, so when Griffy here invited us to be a part of some fun, we were all for it. Plus, hello! We’re hanging out in a bookstore. Best night ever, am I right?”

“Yeah, if we’re hanging out in the porno portion of the bookstore.” August winks.

“I’m partial to the cookbooks myself,” Ella says with a shrug. “But whatever floats your boat.”

“Okay, so these guys will be the judge,” Griffin states. “Any questions?”

I shake my head. “Nope.”

“Then let’s get started.” He holds the purple bag open for me and has me choose a slip of paper from inside. I pull one out and unfold it, reading it aloud for everyone to hear.

“Find a book you would want with you on a deserted island.”

“Five minutes,” Corrigan says, setting the timer on her phone. “GO!”

Griffin and I separate from each other. Having been in this store more times than I can count, I’m relatively familiar with where the different genres are located. I quickly find the resource section and look for a book that teaches me how to survive on an island thinking that would be the smartest choice.

I pull a few off the shelf and read their titles and then choose one of them to keep with me. I reshelve the others and then make my way back to the café surprised that I’m actually the last one back. Griffin stands with the group grinning at me as I step up to the table.

“How did you get back so fast?”

“You act like I don’t know what I would do if I ended up on a deserted island.”

“Alright, smartass. Let’s see what you’ve got.”

“You go first,” he says to me, hiding his book behind his back.

“Okay. I grabbed this one.” I lay the book down on the table titledIf You’re Ever Stranded on an Island.

“Ooh, very wise,” Corrigan says.

“Very mindful,” Ella adds.

“Bodhi makes a come here motion with his fingers. “Let’s see it, Ollenberg.”

Griffin pulls his book from behind his back, but it’s not a book at all. “What the hell is that?” I burst out laughing.

“What?” He shrugs with a proud grin. “It’s a playboy swimsuit edition calendar. I’ve got to be able to keep track of my days somehow, right? Plus, it’s a win-win. I can look at this for, you know…self-care. So, I don’t go crazy living on a deserted island.”

August points to Griffin. “Points, bro. That’s smart thinking.”

“Oh fuck,” I laugh rolling my eyes. “This is going to be a tough win to pull off.”

“You can do it, Lake.” Corrigan winks at me. “You ready for another one?”

“Yep. Bring it on.”

Ella pulls a slip out of the bag this time and reads it out loud. “Find a book showing us a place you would like to travel to with your partner.”

August shoos us away. “Be gone! Go do your thing.”

While I’m looking for my book, my phone dings with an incoming text. I almost choose not to look at it assuming anyone who would want to talk to me is with me tonight. But wondering who could possibly be writing me is what has me pulling my phone from my pocket.

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