Page 72 of What If I See You

She’s a rock star.

“You’re amazing, you know that?”

She scoffs. “Hardly.”

“Well, I think you’re amazing. You wrote a fucking book, Naughty. Not many people can say they’ve done that in their lifetime. And you wrote three.”

“Yeah…I guess you’re right.”

“You know I’m right.”

She’s quiet for a few minutes and I wonder if she’s fallen asleep.

“Lake?”

“Hmm?”

“What are you thinking about over there?”

“It’s stupid,” she says with a sigh. “But I was just thinking if only my parents saw it that way.”

“They don’t?”

“Are you kidding?” She scoffs. “They don’t give two shits that I’ve written anything. My mother probably thinks it’s all trash and prays to the God she doesn’t even worship that I’ll get over myself and come back to reality instead of playing in the world of make believe.”

Mother fuckers.

If I’m ever in their presence so help me…

“Am I ever going to meet your parents?” I ask. “Because I’m not sure I can promise that I would keep my mouth shut if they disrespected you.”

“That’s sweet of you, Griffin. I imagine at some point during our marriage you’re going to have to meet them. I won’t be able to hold them off forever. It’s inevitable.”

“Good,” I state with confidence. “I can’t wait.”

Her voice drips with sarcasm. “Yeah. Me either.”

Is she really writing a story about a hockey player?

I wonder what kind of story it is.

Does she think about me when she writes?

I’d totally be up for helping her with a few key scenes if she needed it.

“What are you thinking about?” she asks me when I don’t say anything for a few minutes.

“Are you really working on a story about a hockey player?”

“Yes.”

Man, I wish I could see her face.

“And is his name Griffin? Because I’ve been told that’s a sexy name. Totally manly and all that.”

Her giggle makes me smile. “Is that so?”

“Mhmm.” I close my heavy-lidded eyes, feeling myself begin to drift off.

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