Page 69 of What If I See You

Trying to lighten the tension I cock my head, the corner of my mouth turned up. “I’m pretty sure this room wasn’t meant for book reading, Naughty.”

“Yeah well, it probably wasn’t meant for newlyweds who were so drunk they don’t remember much about getting married in the first place.”

Ooh.

Touché.

She turns back to grab her suitcase, taking another look around the room. Almost as if she closes and then opens her eyes again, a larger sofa or a second bed will appear.

Putting her mind at ease, I gently tell her, “Don’t worry, Lake. I’ll take the couch. You can have the bed.”

She lifts her head and her eyes pierce mine. “What?” She shakes her head. “No, no, no. That’s dumb. I’ll take the couch. You need the bed.”

I scowl. “Why do I need a bed?”

“Griff, come on,” she says, head cocked at an angle. “You have a game tomorrow. You need a good night’s sleep. I’m nobody here. I’m just a plus-one.”

The fuck?

Why would she say that?

“You’re not a nobody, Layken.” The fact she even thinks that makes me angry. “And you’re not just a plus-one. You’re my wife and my wife sleeps in a goddamn bed. End of story.”

She softens, her shoulders falling. “Griffin, you’re being?—”

“A gentleman. Yes. I am.” I nod a bit exasperated. “Because how I treat a woman I care about matters, all right?” Gesturing to the bed, I plead, “Please. Sleep in the bed.”

I yank a pillow off one side of the bed and open the closet door to find a bag with two extra blankets and one extra pillow inside. Pulling the blankets from the bag, I use one to cover the tiny loveseat, ignoring the fact she’s probably riddled with guilt and worry while watching me.

And that’s the last thing I want to make her feel.

I don’t care if I’m sore in the morning.

Hell, I don’t even care if I have a bad game because of it.

“Griffin…”

“Relax, Naughty.” Finishing my make-shift bed, I step up to her and kiss her forehead and then smooth my hands across her shoulders and down her arms. “Everything is fine. We can do this, right? We’re good. I’m really sorry I didn’t think about the room situation.” I cringe. “But we did sort of share a bed on our wedding night and lived to tell the tale. If we could do that, we can do this. I promise I’m not here to make you uncomfortable.”

She smiles meekly. “I know. You’re right. I’m sorry. I think I’m up in my head too much. I just don’t want to be a burden. This is your job. Your career.”

“And if I didn’t want you here, you wouldn’t be.”

“Well…” She lifts a shoulder. “I suppose it could be worse, right?”

Nodding, I say, “Yes. It could always be worse. I could’ve been forced to enjoy this view every morning by myself.”

Giggling, she rolls her eyes. “Tragic.”

That’s the Layken I like to see.

She’s fun when she’s sassy.

This couch might just be harderthan the floor.

Not to mention I’m the equivalent of a giant lying on piece of dollhouse furniture.

My body is going to hate me in the morning.

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