Page 112 of What If I See You

Bodhi leaps out of his seat. “Yes! I know exactly what book I’m picking!”

Corrigan sets her phone alarm. “Okay we all have five minutes and then we meet back here.”

We all head out to find our book choice. Not wanting to watch where he goes, and not sure exactly what book I’m looking for, I pick a random aisle and look around to see what I can find.

“Woodworking?” I mumble to myself, rolling my eyes at the irony of the word.

I’m sure there’s a funny reference to wood somewhere in this aisle.

Meh, not good enough.

I can do better.

Suddenly an idea pops into my head that has me sprinting for the children’s section of the store. With about thirty seconds to spare, I find the book I’m looking for, pull it from the shelf, hiding it against my chest, and head back to the café.

Griffin and Bodhi are already waiting when I arrive at the table. Ella, August, and Corrigan are just seconds behind me right as Corrigan’s alarm goes off. She stops the sound and then says, “Alright who was back first?”

Bodhi raises his hand and then proudly reveals his book choice. “I chose the classicMoby Dick. Literally says dick right in the title.”

“Nah, I got you beat, Pickle Pants,” Griffin tells Bodhi.

“Alright let’s see it then.”

Griffin turns his book around and I snort when I see the title.

“Holes?”

He nods, beaming from ear to ear. “Holes, baby. All the holes.”

“That’s pretty good. I’ll concede,” Bodhi tells him. He turns to August who reveals a copy ofThe Dark Tower.

Ella revealsLovely Bones, and Corrigan shows off her copy ofHop on Popwhich has us all cackling for all the highly inappropriate reasons.

“Alright, Naughty,” Griffin says, gesturing to me with a nod of his head. “What did you find?”

“My best one yet, if I do say so myself.” I take the popular kids book and turn it around showing everyone the front cover ofJames and the Giant Peach.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

GRIFFIN

“Icannot thank you enough for all of today, Griffin.” Layken lifts up on her tip toes and kisses my cheek before pressing her lips against mine. I seize the opportunity to really fucking kiss her because hanging out with her tonight, being with our friends, even standing outside her parents’ house and defending my wife…it all felt so goddamn natural. Like this girl was created for me.

To be my friend.

My partner.

My lover.

My wife.

Tell her.

She moans softly against my mouth when my tongue swipes through her lips. Her hands slide up my biceps and fuck, my body lights up when she touches me. I pull back slowly, separating my lips from hers, and hold her face tenderly in my hands.

Just tell her.

“I’d do anything for you, Layken Ollenberg.”

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