Page 2 of What If I See You

“Who is it, babe?” Bodhi asks, his hands around her waist.

“It’s Layken.” She sighs. “She lost her job.”

“Wait.” I scowl. “What? Layken from the hospital?” I’ve worked with her a few times. As the Development Coordinator for Pacific Children’s charity foundation, she introduced herself to us several years ago when she took on the job. She’s the reason Coach plays Santa for the kids during the holidays. We’ve always helped wherever and whenever we could and just last month we helped out with her Children’s Art Auction. It was a huge fundraiser for the hospital. The largest they’ve had to date.

Corrigan nods. “Yeah. The hospital got bought out a couple weeks ago. She had a feeling that she wouldn’t get to stay because the guy from University Hospital has seniority over her. She and her boss were both cut. Damn…this is terrible.”

“Brandon Jeffries?” Harrison asks, but Corrigan shrugs and shakes her head.

“I don’t know him. Is that his name?”

Harrison nods. “Yeah. The guy’s about five years too late for retirement if you ask me. He hasn’t done shit when it comes to community involvement in his fundraising for years. He merely writes to the celebrity agents and encourages them to have their clients make year-end donations. Tax write-off for them and a financial win for the hospital.”

“How do you know this?” Corrigan asks?

“Because my agent calls me about it every year and asks if I want to donate and I always tell them no because I give my donation to Pacific Children’s.”

“Ugh, so there goes any fun for the kids who are actually stuck inside the walls of the hospital.” Ella frowns.

“And there goes my best friend’s job,” Corrigan mumbles. “What am I going to do without her?”

“Where is she now?” Bodhi asks.

She shrugs. “Heading home, I guess.”

“Nah. Tell her to come here,” I tell Corrigan. “She shouldn’t be alone when the world just shit on her.”

Corrigan turns to me, her eyes hopeful. “Oh, my gosh, are you serious? Because I don’t want her to be alone either.” Her shoulders fall. “Layken doesn’t come from the best home life. She doesn’t really get much love from her family so she’s kind of navigating life all alone. I love her so much. She doesn’t deserve this kind of shit sandwich.”

“Of course.” I shrug. “We all at least know who she is and we’re just hanging out. Maybe it’ll help distract her from her shit day. And besides,” I say, raising the bottle in my hand, “I’ve got alcohol. Just tell her to check in at the security desk and give her name. I’ll call down there and make sure they know to let her in. What’s her last name again?”

“Hobbs. Layken Hobbs. Thank you so much, Griffin. You’re the best.”

“That okay with you guys? I should’ve asked first. I apologize.”

Everyone around the room unequivocally nods. “Yeah, of course!” Scarlett says. “We’re good people and she’s good people, so…” She shrugs with a smile and Corrigan blows her a kiss.

“Thanks Scarlett.”

She sends a few more texts to her friend and then sets her phone back on the coffee table. “She’s on her way. Thanks again, Griffin. I really appreciate it.”

“Don’t mention it. How do they say it?Mi casa es moo casa.”

Corrigan laughs. “Yeah something like that.”

“You know he’s just inviting her here to flirt with her and eventually get into her pants, right?” Ledger snickers from across the room.

I flip him off. “What the hell are you talking about Dayne?”

“Poor vulnerable woman meets flirty aloof hockey guy who promises a night to wash away all her hurt and anger. Come on. It’s not like you haven’t played that card before.”

Standing to reach for my phone I bring a hand to my chest. “Who me? Come on, Ledge. I may be a helpless flirt much of the time, but I would never do that. She’s Corri’s best friend and she’s had a shitty day. Any friend of hers is a friend of ours.”

I don’t miss the corner of Corrigan’s mouth lifting and wonder what she might be thinking but push away the curiosity. “Plus, it’s not like she doesn’t know us. Surely we can help lift her spirits a little for the rest of the evening. I’m just trying to be nice.”

“I think it’s very nice of you Griffin. She’ll appreciate it very much,” Ella pipes in.

I raise my brows and cock my head at Ledger. “See?”

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