Page 54 of What If I See You

“What’s the secret?”

She wags her brows. “It’s made with love because I know how much my boys enjoy it.” She laughs. “But next time you’re here, maybe I can show you.”

“Oh, my God! That would be so much fun! I’d love to learn how to be a better cook. I think I have about four meals in my wheelhouse, not including peanut butter and jelly.”

“Well, I imagine with Griffin’s schedule you guys aren’t home often for a lot of homecooked meals.”

“That’s very true,” Griffin pipes in. “But Layken makes a mean peanut butter and jelly. Don’t let her fool you.” He leans over and kisses my temple and for just a moment, tiny butterflies flutter through my chest at the gesture and I allow myself to feel the love and sincerity rolling off him.

And then I remember none of this is real.

“So, tell me what you do, Layken. Do you get to travel with the team a lot?”

“Um.” My brows furrow. “Actually, now, yes I do. I used to be the Development Director for Pacific Children’s charity foundation, but I lost my job when the hospital merged with University Hospital. The other guy had more longevity than I did so…” I shrug. “I have a little extra time on my hands at the moment while I look for something else.”

“Which she isn’t going to need because she’s working on a novel and it’s going to be a bestseller,” Griffin says. “I can feel it already.”

I stiffen beside him at the mention of my book. While writing romance novels might be a fun passion of mine, I get that it’s not for everyone. And the last thing I want to do is make a bad impression on Griffin’s parents if they think I write porn books like everyone else who thinks that when they hear the word romance.

“Ooh, that sounds very exciting! What kind of books do you write?”

“Uh, well this one is a sports romance.”

Gail’s brows lift and she gasps. “Oh, I was hoping you were going to say romance! I live for reading!”

“It’s all she does all day,” Gage says, rolling his eyes and smiling. “Every time I can’t find Mom I just go to her big blue chair and there she is reading again.”

“He’s not wrong.” She shrugs her shoulder. “That chair is my happy place most days.”

I laugh because I totally get it. “I don’t doubt it. There’s nothing better than falling into a good book, right?”

“That’s right.” She smiles. “Who do you like to read?”

“Ashton Jacobs is one of my favorites for sure.”

She gasps again. “Oh my gosh! I have every one of her books!”

“But did you know it’s not actually her books? It’s HIS books because Ashton Jacobs is a guy?”

“Nooooo.” Gail sits back in her chair shocked. “Are you serious?”

“Swear to God! I even got to meet him once when he came for a signing!”

“How did I not know this?” She gawks. “I am seriously out of the loop!”

“Well don’t you worry because I’ve got you now. We book lovers stick together.”

She leans forward. “Did you read the last one where the housekeeping employee falls in love with the owner of that swanky hotel chain?”

“Yes!” I squeal. “I couldn’t put it down!” I bring my hand to my chest. “And that part where she walks in on him trying to do his own laundry so she doesn’t have to do it anymore but he has no idea what he’s doing and?—”

“And he asks her to teach him just so he can spend more time with her.”

My eyes bulge in excitement “Yes!”

Gail swoons. “So cute!” She puts down her fork and picks up her wine glass, lifting it in my honor. “Aaaand now I’m adding girls’ day to the bookstore with my daughter-in-law to my personal bucket list.” She giggles. “So what sport are you writing about? Football? Baseball?”

“Actually, it’s hockey.”

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