3. Griffin
CHAPTER THREE
GRIFFIN
S hit, I like this girl.
From working with her a few times through the hospital I already knew she was dedicated to her job. She handles crowds of rich entitled people with ease but always with the intent of raising as much money for the hospital, and indirectly, the patients, as possible. She was good at what she was tasked to do and always fun to work with. But last night I learned that she’s naturally adorable in my pajama pants, her smile can light up a room, and she’s someone who doesn’t only see me as a celebrity hockey player.
To her, as far as I can tell, I’m just a guy. A friend of a friend which makes me her friend too because that’s the way she rolls.
And from just spending a few waking hours with her last night and again this morning I can’t seem to get her out of my mind.
Nor do I want to.
I don’t think much about hanging out with women I’m not close to for anything other than a quick fuck, so this is an oddity for me.
And I don’t hate it.
“Okay what about this. A super fan from an opposing team comes to a hockey game on his own, because why the hell wouldn’t you come to a game and support your team, and he gets in line to buy an all-beef hotdog. You know, one of those gargantuan things they sell at concessions?”
Her lips turn up into a smile even though I can tell she’s trying not to think I’m full of shit. “Oookay…”
“Hear me out. And the girl behind the counter is all like, ‘Here’s your meat stick, sir.’ And then it slips from her hands when she’s passing it to the guy because let’s be honest, wieners are slippery little suckers, and so the toppings get all over him and she gets all flustered and embarrassed. But he finds it endearing and cute and now he’s a little obsessed with knowing her. So, he buys season tickets to the opposing team’s games just so he can keep coming back to their arena and he gets in her line every single time just to be able to talk to her.”
“Okay…that’s actually kind of cute in a weird, twisted kind of way.”
I tap the side of my head. “See? I told you I’m full of ideas.”
“Don’t flatter him, Layken,” Ledger tells her from his seat across the aisle. “He’ll become obsessed and he’ll never leave you alone again.”
“What?” I scoff, pinching my brows. “I’m not the one who’s obsessed.” I gesture my thumb toward Layken. “This girl insisted I sit here with her and practically begged me to give her book ideas. It’s not me, man.”
Layken laughs and teasingly punches my upper arm. “I did no such thing. You’re the one who made me pinky swear.”
“Oooh, he made you pinky swear?” Harrison asks, leaning forward in his seat to see her.
“Yeah. Why.” Her eyes widen. “Is that bad? Is it like, a thing for him?”
Harrison laughs. “Totally a thing for him. Yeah. You’re committed now. Just so you know.”
“It’s fine. She’s obsessed with me anyway,” I tease. “It’s cute.”
Her jaw drops. “What the hell are you talking about?”
I shrug. “I mean most girls don’t go all out the way you did though with that whole losing your job routine and then pouring water all over yourself so I’d give you my clothes.” I point to her. “You definitely got me there. That was a good one.”
Her smile widens and she practically snorts. It’s the cutest sound and it kind of makes me feel tingly inside. “You are unfuckingbelievable. Maybe you should sit somewhere else.” She tries to push me out of the seat but I’m easily double her size. I’m not budging.
Okay. Flirting with her is fun.
There. I said it.
“And break your heart before we even get off this plane? Pfftt. As if. Plus, I haven’t told you about Juicy Lucy yet.”
“I’m sorry? Juicy who?”
“Lucy. Juicy Lucy.”
Ledger rolls his eyes. “Oh, this ought to be good.”
“Who is Juicy Lucy?” Layken finally asks. “And if you even try to tell me she’s some girl you had a sexcapade with who like…squirts or something, you can pass me the barf bag right now because I swear to God I’m going to be sick.”
Everyone within earshot of Layken cracks up. Even me.
Grabbing hold of my chest, I wheeze. “Oh God, I can’t breathe!”
“What?” she says innocently through her own laugh. “I’m just saying…Juicy Lucy sounds like a squirty birdie.”
Ledger chokes on his drink while Harrison and August burst out laughing again.
“No, Layken. That’s not Juicy Lucy. Though that would be an awesome twist to my idea.” I wipe the tears of laughter away from my eyes and shake my head. “I was really just thinking of a girl who owns a juice bar in town…get it? Juicy Lucy?”
She bites the corner of her bottom lip. “Oooh. I get it.” Her cheeks pinken but she laughs with the rest of us. “Sorry. My mind jumped off a cliff, I guess.”
“Or right into the gutter.” I wink and give her a light nudge with my elbow.
“Well, I’m a romance author. What did you expect?”
“My, my, my, our little Layken here is a porny little perv.”
She smacks my arm. “Shut up. I am not.”
“Hey, Juicy Lucy could work next to Bendy Wendy, the town’s yoga instructor,” Ledger adds.
I point to him, lifting my brows in excitement. “Hell yes! Bendy Wendy!”
“And Sticky Nicky.”
Calming down from our burst of laughter we all turn our heads toward Harrison. “Who would sticky Nicky be?”
He bobs his head. “Well, maybe she runs the daycare in town. Or maybe she has a craft store and has some obsession with tape or glue. Or maybe she makes sticky buns for a living.”
Layken mumbles next to me, “And maybe at night she’s always covered in jizz so…”
Aaaand here we go again!
Every single one of us is now staring at Layken as she types notes into her phone. And then as if on cue, we all howl with laughter at the same time.
“Yes, I suppose that’s an option as well. You know, maybe you don’t really need my help. You seem to be doing just fine on your own, Hobbs.”
“Are you kidding?” She grins. Seeing her relaxed and happy makes me feel loads better after seeing her so down and out last night. “I would’ve never come up with Juicy Lucy without you, Griffin. Why have I not flown with you guys before? Is it always like this?”
Barrett turns from the seat in front of us. “Sadly yes.”
“He’s right,” Scarlett says from a couple seats away. “These guys are nothing but a bunch of teenage boys in a manly bodies.”
“What the fuck Scar?” I scoff, dropping my jaw and gesturing to Layken. “She’s the sicko who came up with a woman covered in jizz named Sticky Nicky.”
We all laugh again because that shit is funny.
“Yeah well I guess we have a lot to learn about our new friend, Layken, huh?” Scarlett says with a wink.
I smile down at her, watching with a sense of pride as she continues to type our ideas into her phone. “I guess we do.”
And I kind of want to know everything.
Gage
Hi Griffin. I miss you. Love Gage.
Me
Hey little bro! I miss you too! You doing okay? I can’t wait to come visit for your birthday!
Gage
Yeah. I am good. Mom is making my favorite smash burgers for dinner tonight. It smells good in here.
Me
Good! That sounds fantastic! Give Mom and Dad a hug for me, okay?
Gage
Yep!
“Everything okay over there?” August asks as the beers we ordered are placed in front of us. The women, as planned, are off shopping while us guys take a few hours to follow the Ale Trail, stopping at several breweries and micro-breweries in the surrounding area. This place is our third stop.
“Yeah. Just Gage checking in,” I tell him. The small pang of guilt I get whenever I hear from my younger brother settles inside my chest as it always does.
“Gagey!” Harrison smiles. “We haven’t seen him in a while. You hiding him from us or what, Ollenberg?”
“Nah. They don’t travel a lot during flu season is all. Mom would be beside herself if Gage got sick.”
He nods. “I get it. Well, we miss him. His high-fives are killer.”
I chuckle. “That they are.” A memory pops into my mind of Gage watching me play hockey in high school. He must’ve only been in the seventh grade at the time, but hell, if he wasn’t the biggest fan of our team at each and every game. He led every chant. Made everyone get up on their feet and was without a doubt the world’s proudest brother.
Another core memory slides through my mind and almost takes the air out of my chest remembering the very first time I wore pajama pants in public.
I wore them for him.
For Gage.
So, he wouldn’t feel alone.
I never wanted him to feel alone.
But what did I do in the end?
I went to college to play hockey and then I was drafted into the league.
I left home…and left him.
“You and Hobbs seemed mighty chummy on the plane.” Ledger’s words pull me from my reverie. He lifts his glass to his mouth, watching me as he sips his beer.
Harrison smirks. “I thought the same thing. Did something happen last night between you two that you want to tell us about?”
“Nope.” I shake my head. “Absolutely nothing.” They don’t need to know every detail of her thoughts and feelings from last night. I’m certain she’d be embarrassed if everyone knew her business and I’m not that kind of guy.
Am I the kind of guy who will immediately try to help someone feel better when they’re sad? Absolutely.
Am I the kind of guy who offered her a place to stay because I’m mildly curious about her and wouldn’t mind getting to know her a little more? Admittedly, yes.
Am I the kind of guy who would take advantage of a woman’s vulnerability? Never. I may be a flirt sometimes but I’m not a sleaze ball.
“We chatted for a few minutes. I could see she’d had a shitty day and wanted to make sure she was comfortable and not beating herself up. And then I made her pinky swear that she’d sit by me on the plane so we could talk more about her bookish life. That’s it.”
Ledger’s brows raise and he nods slowly. “Wow. I’m impressed. You had a woman in your home last night and you didn’t try to fuck her.”
“You know, contrary to what you might think, I’m a pretty stand-up guy.”
“You are definitely a pretty guy.” Bodhi smirks next to me and I shove him playfully, almost knocking him off his chair.
“Fuck you, Pickle Pants. Don’t hate me just because I’m pretty.”
“Oh, I don’t. I hate you for a hundred other reasons.”
“Name five.” My challenge makes Bodhi laugh at which point I give him a pointed look and say, “Yeah, I didn’t think so. I’m the most lovable one here.”
“Tell that to Ella,” August says with a smirk.
“She’d probably agree with me.”
August cackles and shakes his head. “You’re right. She would. Fuck.”
“So would Scarlett,” Oliver adds. “You’re too good Griff. Why can’t you go fuck something up so we can think you’re normal like the rest of us.”
“What do you want me to do? Throw this beer across the room and cause a scene?”
“Well, no because that might implicate all of us and we’d make headlines for being a public nuisance.”
“Okay, what then?”
“I don’t know.” He shrugs.
“You could drop your pants and streak through the vineyards,” Barrett suggests, chuckling at his own idea. “You’d be perfect for that job.”
“I think I’d have to be pretty damn drunk to do that, Bear. Sorry.”
Barrett raises his hand, signaling the waitress. “Another round for my friend here!”
“But seriously, you and Layken…” August suggests.
“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying you don’t look bad together. That’s all.”
“How come the minute I allow a woman to spend the night in my home you’re already giving us a marriage, two kids, and a dog?”
August laughs. “Jesus, I didn’t go that far. I never said anything about a dog.”
I lift a shoulder. “I’m pretty…she’s pretty. Together we’re pretty, pretty.”
Bodhi nudges me. “Want to know a secret?”
“Dude, bro…” I cringe. “If your secret is something like both Corrigan and Layken had X-rated playtime with you during one of your little fuck-me lessons, you sure as hell better n?—”
“Nope.” He shakes his head. “Not my secret. I promise.”
Harrison leans forward. “Does it have to do with Layken?”
Bodhi nods.
I tap my hand on the table, contemplating what he may or may not have to say. Curiosity wins out. “Alright out with it.”
He wags his brows and quietly says, “I have it on good authority that Layken Hobbs may or may not have a small crush on you, Ollenberg.”
“What?” I lean back in my chair. “Me?”
No fucking way.
“Yes you,” he says. “Corri told me last night after we left. She knew Layken was in good hands and that she would be happy at your place because she’s loved watching you play for years. She said Layken’s made little comments about you from time to time so…you know. I’m just saying.”
Layken Hobbs has a crush on me?
It’s been a long time since anyone has had a crush on me.
At least one I’ve known about.
“Interesting. I guess I’ll just keep that info tucked away in my back pocket.”
His eyes widen. “What? You’re not going to make a move?”
“Hell no. I’m not going to take advantage of her like that. If something happens down the road, then it does, but otherwise, I’m just helping out the friend of a friend.”
Ledger chuckles. “A very attractive, ridiculously cute, and well-humored friend of a friend.”
Well, when he puts it that way…
I mean she did look adorable in my pajama pants.
What’s not to like about her?
“I’m calling it right now.” Barrett slaps a fifty-dollar bill down on the table. “Fifty bucks says Ollenberg will be in her pants by the end of the night.”
“Oh yeah, I’m in on that too,” Harrison laughs, laying a fifty on top of Bear’s.
Around the table they go, each putting their money in the pot as I watch each of my friends have zero faith in me.
Shaking my head, I scoff at them all. “Bunch of wise-ass motherfuckers. You’re on. I am perfectly capable of being the nice guy who does not need inside Layken’s pants.”
Hmm. Though I wonder what that might be like.
“Looking’ good ladies!” Oliver whistles as the girls descend the stairs in our private chateau. After a few hours of sampling wines at one of the local wineries this evening, the ladies decided a nightclub is where they wanted to dance the night away so we all came back to our rooms to get dressed.
When I finish tying my shoe, I stand up straight and glance at the group of them and, “Whoa…Layken Hobbs, you look…” I rock forward and back just a bit. Maybe it’s the four beers I downed earlier this afternoon or maybe it’s just that Layken is an extremely attractive woman who just nearly knocked me over in shock because fuck. “You look…wow.”
“Thank you, Griffin.” The corner of her mouth pulls up into one of those smiles that tells me she not only looks good, but she feels good. There’s an air of sexy confidence about her that wasn’t there last night. Granted, I haven’t seen much of Layken in a personal setting. Professional, sure. She’s always dressed to the nines for charity events and carries herself with a sophisticated professionalism. But watching her giggling with Corrigan and Ella and Scarlett as they waltzed down the stairs just now, she looks totally different even from the girl I sat next to on the plane.
Don’t get me wrong. It’s a good different.
A very good different.
A why-did-I-make-that-bet-with-the-guys kind of different.
She’s sporting a long sleeved, cream-colored mini dress adorned with gold and white sparkly swirls, with gold strappy heels that wrap around her ankles a couple of times. Her hair is styled in long golden waves and falls around her shoulders. Her makeup is minimal but enough to bring out the tiny flecks of gold in her otherwise brown eyes. She turns, posing for a picture that Oliver takes of them, and I notice her dress is backless.
There’s no way she’s wearing a bra with that dress.
Fuuuck me.
That’s hot.
Also, my hand is now itching to touch her skin.
For fuck’s sake, where is this coming from? It’s not like I’ve been thinking about Layken Hobbs all afternoon. I really haven’t been, but now? Hell. Now I’ll be lucky to pull my eyes away from her at all.
“Well, it’s settled,” I say, wrapping my arm around Layken and moving her away from the group. “We’ll see you guys tomorrow.”
She startles but giggles as she steps with me. “What? Where are we going?”
“To get you more clothes.” I rub my chin between my thumb and forefinger. “What do you think? Maybe some sweatpants and a turtleneck?”
“Griffin!” She laughs.
“Don’t Griffin me, woman. If I take you out like this, looking all hot and sexy, I’ll spend my entire night bouncing guys away from you left and right.”
Not to mention hiding a boner all night when I picture you with those strappy sandals resting on my shoulders.
She laughs and playfully swats at my arm. “No way, Jose. Let ’em bounce or let ’em in, cause this girl is going out!”
Let them in?
Fuck no, I’m not letting anyone in.
“That’s right she is,” Corrigan says, looping her arm around Layken’s other arm. “We are blitzed and ready for a fun night.”
Seriously. How the fuck am I going to control myself tonight when she looks like a goddamn supermodel?
Guess I’m playing bodyguard tonight because I’ll be damned if anyone is getting anywhere close to Layken Hobbs.
Shots.
The moment we get inside the darkened club thumping with R&B music Scarlett orders and hands out a shot to each one of us. Each glass is rimmed with salt and accessorized with a lime so I can only assume it’s tequila. She raises her shot glass and shouts over the music, “To love and friendship!”
“To love and friendship!” we repeat and tip our glasses, the liquid slipping down our throats. She slaps her shot glass down on the table in front of us and then grabs for the ladies in the group.
“Come on girls. Let’s dance!”
Scarlett, Ella, Corrigan, and Layken all take off for the dance floor, Layken tossing her purse my way before waving and trotting off with her friends. The rest of us shake our heads watching on from the roped off booths waiting for us. They dance through several songs as we order more drinks, clinking our glasses together and downing them one after the other. We joke about hockey and life, and we watch the ladies having fun, always keeping an eye on them to ensure their safety.
From the moment we pulled into town until now, we’ve all consumed a lot of alcohol. Even as we watch from our seats, the ladies take another shot before resuming their dancing. But as the music slows to a sultry mix, Ella, Corrigan, and Scarlett make puppy dog eyes at their men.
A chuckle rumbles through my chest. “You guys are fucked. Better get out there and dance with your women.”
Oliver stands and climbs over the rope in front of us. “Maybe I can get her into a dark corner and cop a feel.”
“There ya go, Champ.” I lift my glass in a toast and swallow back my drink.
And then my eyes fall on Layken. Standing alone and awkwardly swaying to the music.
She has nobody to dance with.
Barrett leans over next to me, his brows furrowed. “You’re not really going to let her stand out there all by herself, are you?”