Page 57 of What If I See You

“Yeah, I know!” The glimmer in Layken’s eyes as she tells this story gives me that warm fuzzy feeling. “So, he takes us inside and has this little bag with tiny slips of paper. Each one has a different kind of book we need to look for. So, for example, one was our favorite kids book. I picked Russel the Sheep.”

Mom takes one look at me and I nod as we both say, “Interrupting Chicken.”

Gage brightens and says, “Yes! I loved Interrupting Chicken too!”

“So, we went through questions like pick a book that teaches you something you’d like to learn how to do. Or another one was finding a recipe you can cook together. Griffin found a homemade ramen recipe and we did end up doing that together on another date. But the question we had that made me fall for him and his adorable personality was the one that said find a book that can help you in the bedroom.”

Mom glances up at me over her glasses and says, “Oh God, Griffin. What did you do?”

Layken starts to giggle and I can feel my face turn red because I have no idea what the hell Layken is going to say next. To respond to Mom, I simply shrug and pass her a wink.

And then hope for the best.

“So here I am looking for books with, you know…kinky stuff in it because I thought that’s what we were both looking for and this goofball,” she says, gesturing to me with her head, “finds Folding-A-Fitted-Sheet for Dummies!”

Mom and Dad throw their heads back in laughter and Gage covers his mouth giggling.

I simply shrug. “I mean I couldn’t play all my cards at one time and Lord knows I can’t fold a fitted sheet to save my life.”

Dad gives me a fist bump. “Way to win that one, Son. Proud of you.”

“Thanks Dad.”

Mom wipes her forehead with the back of her hand still giggling. “Layken please tell me my son made up for being the ultimate doof to you with that round.”

“Oh yeah.” she nods. “He totally did.”

“That’s right, I did. Because tell them about the last round.”

As if she knew I was going to set her up, she miraculously continues on with her story. “So, the last round was to pick a book that reminds you of your partner.”

Mom puts her hand on her hip. “And? What did he pick?”

Layken smiles at me and turns to Mom. “He picked up a book by Nicholas Sparks, handed it to me, and said, ‘My daddy said that the first time you fall in love it changes you forever and no matter how hard you try that feeling just never goes away’.”

My jaw almost hits the floor as my eyes bounce from Mom to Dad to Layken.

Wait…

How did she…

Mom and Dad glance at each other, a knowing smile between them. Dad leans over and kisses Mom’s cheek as they both say, “The Notebook.”

“Yeah!” Layken smiles. “How did you know that?”

Dad rubs Mom’s back. “That’s our special movie. Gail fell in love with the book when she read it and then I took her to see the movie when it hit theaters. I’ve actually quoted that line to her many times before.”

And he has.

I remember hearing him say it to her many times while I was growing up.

That is totally something I would’ve said to a girl because it’s what Dad would tell me after watching that movie. He said it’s how he always felt.

Layken swoons and turns to me. “You never told meThe Notebookwas a thing in your family!”

Trying to come up with the right words to say, I shrug a shoulder and tell her, “I didn’t want you to think I wasn’t being sincere if I said it to you too, because I meant it when I said it.”

“I know you did. You told me you loved me that day.”

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