Page 14 of What If I See You

Harrison smirks. “I thought the same thing. Did something happen last night between you two that you want to tell us about?”

“Nope.” I shake my head. “Absolutely nothing.” They don’t need to know every detail of her thoughts and feelings from last night. I’m certain she’d be embarrassed if everyone knew her business and I’m not that kind of guy.

Am I the kind of guy who will immediately try to help someone feel better when they’re sad? Absolutely.

Am I the kind of guy who offered her a place to stay because I’m mildly curious about her and wouldn’t mind getting to know her a little more? Admittedly, yes.

Am I the kind of guy who would take advantage of a woman’s vulnerability? Never. I may be a flirt sometimes but I’m not a sleaze ball.

“We chatted for a few minutes. I could see she’d had a shitty day and wanted to make sure she was comfortable and not beating herself up. And then I made her pinky swear that she’d sit by me on the plane so we could talk more about her bookish life. That’s it.”

Ledger’s brows raise and he nods slowly. “Wow. I’m impressed. You had a woman in your home last night and you didn’t try to fuck her.”

“You know, contrary to what you might think, I’m a pretty stand-up guy.”

“You are definitely a pretty guy.” Bodhi smirks next to me and I shove him playfully, almost knocking him off his chair.

“Fuck you, Pickle Pants. Don’t hate me just because I’m pretty.”

“Oh, I don’t. I hate you for a hundred other reasons.”

“Name five.” My challenge makes Bodhi laugh at which point I give him a pointed look and say, “Yeah, I didn’t think so. I’m the most lovable one here.”

“Tell that to Ella,” August says with a smirk.

“She’d probably agree with me.”

August cackles and shakes his head. “You’re right. She would. Fuck.”

“So would Scarlett,” Oliver adds. “You’re too good Griff. Why can’t you go fuck something up so we can think you’re normal like the rest of us.”

“What do you want me to do? Throw this beer across the room and cause a scene?”

“Well, no because that might implicate all of us and we’d make headlines for being a public nuisance.”

“Okay, what then?”

“I don’t know.” He shrugs.

“You could drop your pants and streak through the vineyards,” Barrett suggests, chuckling at his own idea. “You’d be perfect for that job.”

“I think I’d have to be pretty damn drunk to do that, Bear. Sorry.”

Barrett raises his hand, signaling the waitress. “Another round for my friend here!”

“But seriously, you and Layken…” August suggests.

“What are you saying?”

“I’m saying you don’t look bad together. That’s all.”

“How come the minute I allow a woman to spend the night in my home you’re already giving us a marriage, two kids, and a dog?”

August laughs. “Jesus, I didn’t go that far. I never said anything about a dog.”

I lift a shoulder. “I’m pretty…she’s pretty. Together we’re pretty, pretty.”

Bodhi nudges me. “Want to know a secret?”