Page 131 of What If I See You

I punch Corrigan’s name on my phone and she answers after the first ring.

“Hey Lake.”

“Corri! What’s happening? Have you heard from Griffin?”

“No, I’m sorry. I’m getting all the info second or third hand from either Marlee or Dad. Griffin has kind of gone radio silent.”

“Oh God,” I whimper. “He has to be so fucking scared. And I’m not with him to keep him calm. Fuck, I wish I could just snap my fingers and be there.”

“I know, babe. I know.”

“I’m on the next direct flight,” I tell her. “Julie said her assistant got me all set up.”

“Yeah, I told her to send you to L.A. and then you can uber from there to the hospital.”

“Perfect. Thank you, Corri. Does Griffin know I’m on my way back?”

“I would guess not. Like I said, he hasn’t reached out to anyone and the guys didn’t want to bother him. Do you want me to let him know you’re coming back.”

“No, that’s okay. You’re right, if he knows I’m in the air he’ll just worry about where I am and whether or not I’m safe. If he’s silent, he has a reason and I can respect that. I’ll just see him when I get there.”

“Safe flight, girl. Let me know when you land so I know, okay?”

I nod, even though she can’t see me. “Yeah. Of course. Talk soon.”

“Bye babe.”

I lay my phone in my lap and lean my head back, closing my eyes for two minutes and breathe. This has been a long day and all I want to do is get back to my husband.

When my driver pulls up to the airport entrance, I thank him for getting me here so quickly and hand him an extra tip even though Sam told me everything was paid for and then make my way into the airport thanking the gods that I’m TSA approved and won’t have to wait in the long line. Pulling up my boarding pass in my email, I check in for my flight and make my way through security way quicker than I expected and then check my watch noting that I have roughly twenty-five minutes before boarding. I purchase myself a chicken sandwich and a bottle of water and then take a minute to change into Griffin’s pajama pants and his hoodie in the bathroom so I don’t have to sit through the flight in my suit. Checking myself in the mirror, I smile remembering this outfit as the exact one he gave me the first time I stepped into his apartment.

When boarding time is called, I find my seat on the plane, appreciating the first-class seat, and settle in for the long flight. As we lift up, I close my eyes and think of Griffin. I say a quick prayer for Gage and for Griffin’s parents and then drift off dreaming of every happy memory Griffin and I have had since the day we met.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

GRIFFIN

“An accident?” I ask, my heart sinking inside my chest. “What do you mean an accident?”

“An automobile accident, this morning,” Coach tells me. “Your parents called the front office because they didn’t know if you were already in the air.”

“Everything okay, Griff?” I hear August say from the stairs. Without thinking I turn and toss him my backpack.

“No. Do me a favor and pass those out. You know what to do.”

His brow furrows and he unzips my bag to see it full of Layken’s books and then he glances back at me and nods. “Consider it done, man.”

“Where is he?” I ask Coach and Marlee who are still standing with us. “Did they take him to Anaheim Medical?”

Marlee shakes her head and I swear to God a piece of me dies inside.

“He made it, though, right? He’s okay? He’s going to be fine, right? Did they tell you that?”

Fuck.

I can’t handle this right now.

I reach out my hand for Layken’s knowing her touch will ground me. She’ll help me think straight. She’ll say all the right things.

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