2. Layken
CHAPTER TWO
LAYKEN
O h, my God!
I’m wearing Griffin Ollenberg’s clothes!
He smells good.
Or at least his laundry detergent smells good.
Maybe it’s his cologne, I don’t know, but wearing his clothes has enveloped me in a scent I’m not familiar with so it must be his. It’s earthy, maybe a little woodsy, and I don’t hate it.
I’m sure it has nothing to do with the fact I have a tiny crush on him and have for a couple years now. On the outside, I’m feeling the wrath of this sucky-ass day that has left me jobless, but in this immediate moment, on the inside, I’m fangirling like nobody’s business.
Because I just took a shower in Griffin Ollenberg’s bathroom and now I’m wearing Griffin Ollenberg’s clothes! Corrigan is never going to let me live this down.
The only thing that would have made this better would have been if Griffin had joined me in that shower and slid these clothes over me himself.
But let’s not go overboard or anything.
I may have a little fan girl crush on Griffin, but I’m also an adult who very much appreciates that he’s just a normal guy who has shown me kindness.
“You’ll never amount to anything without a degree.”
“Why can’t you be more like your brothers?”
“Your father is so disappointed in you.”
My mother’s words always seem to cut through when I’m feeling vulnerable. I try so fucking hard to always be a good person. A hardworking reliable person who cares about others more than I care about myself. And I think I’ve achieved that kind of life, especially in my line of work. But on days like today, when it all goes to shit, it’s my mother I hear in my head instead of the proverbial positive energy I try to provide for others.
I feel mildly better after having a warm shower and pulling on comfier clothes than my work clothes, even if they are too big for me. I don’t mind.
Because like I said, I’m wearing Griffin’s clothes.
Griffin Ollenberg.
Professional hockey player for the Anaheim Stars and all-around cutie.
I’m wearing his clothes.
Beats spending the evening in muddy wet dress clothes.
“Nice buns,” Corrigan says with a wink when I step into the living room. She gestures to the cinnamon rolls on the pajama pants Griffin laid out for me.
“Thank you.” I give her a playful wink.
“Feel better?” Griffin asks, handing me a glass. “It’s vodka cranberry. Corri said it’s a fave.”
“Yes. Thank you.” I tip the glass all the way back and swallow it down like an old college pro much to Griffin’s amusement.
“Wow.” He grins. “Expect the unexpected when it comes to Layken Hobbs. Noted. Would you like another?”
I hand him back the glass. “Please.”
“Coming right up. Make yourself comfortable.” He steps toward the kitchen and then turns. “Oh, do you remember everyone? If not I can?—”
“Oliver Magallan, Ledger Dayne, Harrison Meers.” I nod to each one seated around the room. “Barrett Cunningham, August Blackstone, Bodhi Roche, aaaand,” my eyes fall back to Griffin, “Griffin Ollenberg.” I smile. “You may not all know me, but I’ve known most of you for years. I’m a fan.”
“Okay.” He nods with another impressed smile. “Sometimes I forget we’re not just a bunch of average Joes who play hockey together once in a while.”
I snort. “Right. Average Joes who kick ass on the ice, you mean.”
The red-haired woman next to Oliver Magallan stands and offers me a handshake. “Well, we haven’t been properly introduced. I’m Scarlett Dayne. Ledger’s cousin and Oliver’s fiancée.”
“Pleasure to meet you. I’m Layken Hobbs. Friend of the coach’s daughter I guess.”
Murmurs of laughter scatter throughout the group.
“We’re really sorry to hear about the job, Layken,” Ella mentions. Everyone nods and adds their apologies as well.
“Yeah well, what are you going to do?” I shrug. “Somewhere someone is always getting the leg up, you know? Life isn’t fair, but I’ll get over it.”
“At least now you can focus on your writing,” Corrigan says.
Ella’s brows peak. “Oh, you’re a writer?”
I bob my head back and forth. “Well, I don’t know that I’d label myself as a full-blown writer or anything, but I dabble in contemporary romance books.”
“Don’t let her fool you,” Corrigan pipes in. “She’s already published three books. She’s on her way to stardom.”
“Ooh!” Scarlett nudges her fiancé. “You should hook her up with your sister, Oli.” She turns back to me. “Oliver’s sister is a book editor and she edits lots of romance books. I’m sure she has a few connections.”
“Cool.” I nod. “Maybe I’ll reach out one day if I ever get this next story finished.”
“Alright, I’ve got to ask.” Griffin smirks as he hands me another vodka cranberry. “Also, you might want to drink this one a little slower, I added a little more of the hard stuff.”
He winks but I roll my eyes teasingly and whisper, “Thank you, Daddy.”
The guys all laugh and Griffin’s cheeks pinken but he chuckles too as he takes a seat a few spots down while mumbling something about nobody ever calling him Daddy before.
“So anyway, your book…is it one of those porny types with all the sexy scenes?”
Corrigan giggles next to me and I can feel my face beginning to flush but I’m always ready for this question. People hear the word romance and automatically assume I write porn. “Is it erotic romance? No. Are there a couple sexy scenes in it? Of course.” I shrug. “I mean that’s part of romance, right? Girl meets boy. Boy kisses girl. Girl and boy fall in love. Girl and boy eventually sleep together, etcetera, etcetera. Those mushy moments are the ones romance readers live for. They live vicariously through the characters they read about. That’s part of the fun.”
“I see. And your story, is it about a hot sexy hockey player? Because if it is, I’ve got a few ideas on someone to model for your cover photo.” He wags his brows just as August Blackstone nudges him with his elbow.
“Yeah, me.”
Griffin rears back. “What? I don’t think so dipshit. If anyone is modeling for a cover, it’s me.” He turns back to me. “I mean, you know, if you want. My ass looks pretty good in photos.”
Ledger and Harrison laugh, shaking their heads, and Barrett says, “Ignore Ollenberg. He has no shame.”
“Not when it comes to my fine sculpted ass I don’t.”
“Well, it is about a hockey player actually.” I tilt my head sympathetically. “But I’ve already got a cover ready to go.”
“Damn.”
“I’ll definitely keep you in mind for future projects though.”
“Deal.” He smiles and turns to Barrett. “See? That’s called making professional connections. If my hockey career ever comes to a sad end, I’ll have ass modeling I can fall back on.”
“Uh huh.” Barrett nods. “You’re so unbelievably wise, Griffin.”
“I know man. Don’t worry. I’ll teach you everything I know.”
My phone dings in my purse at the same time that Corrigan’s dings on the coffee table in front of her. She glances at me, her brows drawing in, and then grabs her phone as I stand to get mine.
“What in the fucking Friday the thirteenth is this bullshit?” Corrigan mumbles as I pull my phone from my purse.
“What is it?” I ask before I glance at the text waiting for me. “You have got to be fucking kidding me.”
My shoulders fall and there’s a tightness in my ribs.
This cannot be happening.
Not today.
What else could possibly go wrong?
Maybe I shouldn’t ask that.
“What’s going on?” Bodhi questions.
Corrigan lifts her hand in a half shrug. “It’s our apartment building.”
Ella gasps. “Oh no. Was there a fire or something?”
“Water main break,” I say out loud, reading the same text Corrigan received. “Right outside our building that will have our water shut off for at least a week. Encouraging everyone to find alternative accommodations until further notice.”
“Oh shit,” Harrison says, leaning forward and placing his elbows on his knees. “That sucks.”
Yeah it does.
Where the hell am I supposed to go?
I meet Corrigan’s eye and she shakes her head. “Don’t worry about it babe. I’m sure we can both stay with Bodhi. He’s got room. You can have the guest bed.”
“Thanks Corri, but it’s fine. I’m sure I can find?—”
“You can stay here.” The words tumble from Griffin’s mouth, causing everyone to turn his way. His eyes dart to everyone staring at him and then finally they stop on me.
Hooooly shit.
Did he seriously just offer me the opportunity to stay here? With him?
“I mean, if you need a place to stay, that is.” He gestures around the room. “I’ve got more than enough space for two people and I’m rarely even here. In fact, we’re leaving tomorrow for Napa anyway so you would have the place to yourself.”
At the mention of Napa, Scarlett jolts out of her seat with a gasp. “Oh, my God! You should come, Layken!”
My head snaps to her. “What?”
“To Napa! Come with us! It’ll be so much fun!”
I shake my head. “I’m not sure I understand.”
“Oliver and I invited a bunch of people to get away during the All-Star weekend since none of the guys are playing this year. Just kind of a relax-and-unwind-from-hockey-life, drink-wine-and-have-fun kind of weekend. Come with us!”
“No, I couldn’t,” I say with a shake of my head. “This is your thing. I’d only be imposing.”
Ella and Corrigan jump up and stand with Scarlett. “Girl, listen,” Ella says with a hand on my shoulder. “You just lost your job and your living space has no water for at least a week. If that isn’t the universe telling you that you deserve a few days to live it up in Napa Valley with people who like you and want you to be there, I don’t know what it is.”
“Right.” Scarlett nods, smiling. “And when we get back, Griffin said you can stay here. That way you’ll be in our building and we can hang out even more. We’re always coming to Griffin’s place. It’s like our home away from home.”
Griffin nods when I peer around the girls to look at him. “It’s true. It must be the pajama pants. They just can’t get enough of my zest for life.”
His humor does make me smile.
And he’s very sweet for offering me his space.
“You’re really sure about this, Griffin? You can tell me to go sleep on Bodhi’s couch and I won’t even hesitate to do it.”
He lifts a brow and gives me a questioning glance. “Do you really want to spend the next week sleeping on a couch the two of them have fucked on probably more than once?”
I laugh. “As if you haven’t done the very same thing?”
He shakes his head proudly. “I’ll have you know that no such thing has ever happened on this fine fabric.” He smooths his hand over the faux suede gray couch he’s sitting on. “That’s what they make hotel rooms for, but those two monkeys?” He silently mouths the words, “They fuck everywhere.”
I glance at Corrigan who says, “I can neither confirm nor deny.”
Bodhi raises his hand. “Will confirm. Sorry but my girl is hot as fuck so…”
“Okay, okay.” I snort, glancing back at Griffin. “If you have the room, and you really don’t mind…”
“I don’t mind. Not even a little bit.”
I nod. “Okay. Umm, I guess I’ll take you up on the offer then. Thank you Griffin. Again.”
“And you’ll come to Napa, yes?” Scarlett pleads, grabbing hold of my hands.
“Uh, I mean, I guess I need to grab clothes or something so I can pack.” I glance at Corrigan. “Can we even get into our building right now?”
“Fuck it.” She shrugs. “Let’s go with nothing and shop for everything we need when we get there.”
“Whoa, what? Are you crazy?”
“What? It’s not like you haven’t done that a bajillion times before.”
I suppose I do have plenty of savings.
I could afford a weekend of fun.
“Yeah, but you don’t. You’re a planner. Right down to the shade of under—” She slaps her hand over my mouth.
“You don’t have to finish that last part, mmkay?”
I laugh. “Okay but be careful Corri,” I narrow my eyes, “you’re beginning to sound a lot like me these days.”
“If it helps at all,” Scarlett adds, “I know the owner of two of the boutiques there who have always given me discounts when I bring customers their way. We could let the guys go have some fun and we could shop as soon as we get there.”
Her brows wag along with Ella’s and Corri’s as they await my decision.
Scarlett adds, “And we can drink wine while we do it.”
It would be nice to get out of hell for just a few days.
Taking a huge breath, I release it, shaking my head with a smirk. “Why do I feel like this trip is going to be nothing but trouble?”
“Oh, it totally is. But only the best kind of trouble,” Ella assures me, giggling.
“Eeeeeek!” Corrigan squeals. “That’s a yes. She’s coming.” She pulls me into a huge hug. “This is going to be so much fun!”
Scarlett claps her hands excitedly. “Perfect! We’re all set then. The plane leaves tomorrow morning at nine.”
“Knock, knock.” Griffin stands in the doorway to his guest bedroom; the room he graciously offered me while the water to our building is being fixed.
“Hey.” I smile at his coy expression. In all the time I’ve known Griffin, I’ve never known him to be shy. “You know this is your house, right? You don’t have to ask permission to enter your own guest room.”
He cocks his head, baffled. “I would never just barge in on you. What if you were…you know, indisposed.”
I choke back a giggle. “Well, I’m not so please come in.”
“I brought you a few extra blankets just in case.”
“Oh. Okay. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I tend to keep this place pretty cool in the evenings. Helps me sleep.”
“Totally understand. Wouldn’t want that body of yours to overheat and swell.”
Staring at me, a smile spreads across his face and I’m immediately embarrassed. Palming my face, I shake my head. “Oh God. I meant, you know, your muscles and…like, your appendages…”
Appendages?
Wouldn’t want his appendages to swell?
“Seriously Layken? Appendages? Who even says the word appendages?” I argue out loud with myself glancing up at Griffin, his lips folded in to keep from laughing. “Ugh. You know, like your joints and stuff? Oh, fuck it. What the hell do I know,” I say, flustered with my own self. I flail my arms and sit down on the bed. “Ice is better than heat, right? So cooler temps make sense. Or maybe I’m just full of shit. Ignore me.” I wave my hands. “I don’t know a damn thing about being a professional athlete and taking care of that body, so I’ll just shut up now.”
Seriously Layken.
Can you sound any more stupid?
“It’s been a day and clearly I don’t know much about a lot of things. Maybe if I did, I’d still have a job right now.”
His smile fades and he steps quietly inside the room, placing the extra blankets at the foot of the bed and then taking a seat next to me. “You want to talk about it?”
I lift a shoulder and shake my head. “What’s there to talk about? I didn’t have seniority, so I lost.”
“Right.” He nods slowly. “So, you losing your job has nothing to do with what you do or do not know. You know that much, right?”
I try to scrape together a smile even though in this moment, I sort of feel that tightness in my chest that comes right before I start to cry. “Yeah. You’re right. It just sometimes feels like…” My voice trails off and I pick at a piece of invisible lint because if I say what I’m thinking, I will cry and I don’t want that.
“You’ll never amount to anything.”
He nudges me with is arm. “Sometimes feels like what?”
I take a deep breath and turn my face to look into his eyes.
His mesmerizingly blue eyes.
I know I’ve spent time ogling over Griffin with Corrigan and talking about my silly crush, but looking into his eyes now, I see nothing but sincerity staring back at me.
A real person.
A person who at the moment oozes calm and comfort.
Someone I feel like I can trust with my very real emotions, so rather than hold them in and cry myself to sleep, I take a deep breath and let them out.
“Do you ever have those times where you feel like nobody sees you? Like no matter what you do or how hard you work nobody notices?”
“All the fucking time,” he tells me. I notice when his gaze slips from mine, as if his mind is somewhere far away for a minute and then he swallows. “It’s nice being on a team in that we all work together for a common goal, but there are many days I’m busting ass…on the ice or in the gym to help get the team to where we need to be, and it feels like every effort goes unnoticed.”
“Yeah,” I whisper. My chin quivers as I fight back tears. It’s late and I know I’m exhausted after an emotional day. I’m really not used to being this vulnerable.
“Hey.” His hand connects with my forearm, his touch oddly comforting as he slides his hand down my arm to grasp my hand. “You’ve got this, you know? And you’re not alone.”
I nod, allowing a few of my stray tears to sprinkle down my face. “Yeah. I know. I’m a badass bitch who will bounce back.”
It’s what Corrigan would say.
He reaches over to wipe my tears from my cheek with his thumb, a movement oddly intimate, though I don’t think he means it to be that way. “Even badass bitches have hard days,” he sympathizes. “It’s the way they overcome them that makes them so badass. And when we get back from Napa, I’ll gladly help you in your search for a new position or I can listen while you talk through what you want to do. Hell, I’ll help you come up with a bunch of super sexy stories to write if that’s what you want.” He points to his temple. “I’ve got all kinds of random shit stored inside here. I’m like a rolodex of ideas.”
His kindness puts me at ease and his now goofy expression makes me smile. “You know, I can only imagine what kind of romantic story Griffin Ollenberg might come up with so I may just take you up on that.”
He holds up his pinky finger. “Pinky swear?”
My smile widens. “You are someone who pinky swears?”
“Pfbt! Of course. A pinky swear is the biggest baddest promise of all time. I take them very seriously.”
“Alright then.” I hook my pinky around his. “I pinky swear.”
“Great.” He stands from the bed. “Let’s discuss story lines on the plane tomorrow. That is, if you don’t mind sitting with me.”
“Really? You’re serious?”
“Of course.” He shrugs. “Why not?”
“Uh…I’m…well, I’m me. And you’re…” My eyes drift up his body until they reach that questioning blue stare he’s got going on. “You.”
With all the sincerity in the world, Griffin shakes his head and says, “I’m just a person, Layken. And I wouldn’t mind sharing a seat with you on the plane if you’re interested.” He shrugs again. “But if you have some other hot date in mind then?—"
“No.” I laugh, also shaking my head. “No, I certainly don’t have that. I’ll gladly sit with you, Griffin. I think that would be fun and Lord knows I could sure use a little fun right now.”
“Good. Sleep well. And if you need anything, I’m just down the hall.”
I watch him walk out of my room but stop him before he gets out the door. “Griffin?”
He turns. “Yeah?”
“Thank you. For everything.”
He gives me one more panty melting smile that if today weren’t such an emotional day, I’d be swooning over. “It’s my pleasure, Layken. Good night.”
Pretty sure you’ve got that all wrong.
The pleasure is all mine.