7. Griffin
CHAPTER SEVEN
GRIFFIN
“ S o, you had a weekend, eh, Ollenberg?” The tone of my agent’s voice is not exactly lighthearted the following Monday morning. But I suppose I shouldn’t have expected anything less. “You want to tell me what’s going on?”
I can’t tell him the truth. I can’t tell him I got drunk off my ass and accidently married a girl I only slightly know because she was cute and fun to hang out with and I couldn’t control myself. I know he’d have my back no matter what but I can’t risk him accidentally slipping and telling someone else. If that gets to the media, I could be toast, not to mention what it could do to Layken.
“I got married Felix.”
“So, I see. It’s all over social media.”
“Yeah, we, uh, didn’t tell anybody. Not even our families. Our friends were in Napa for the weekend and we decided to go for it.”
“Funny, I wasn’t aware you were even dating someone. And scrolling through your socials, there’s not one picture of the two of you together.”
“Actually, that’s not true. There are at least a few pictures of us together because I worked with her a few times at Pacific Children’s Hospital.”
“Riiiiight. That’s it,” he says. “I knew I had seen her face somewhere. So how long have you two been together?”
This is so not a casual conversation.
He’s interrogating me.
He’s trying to figure out if I’m full of shit and this is a mess he’ll have to clean up.
“A few months.”
“A few months?” he asks, seemingly shocked, but I shrug him off.
“Yeah, but when you know, you know, you know?”
“Hmm.” He’s silent for a second and then asks. “Did you get a prenup?”
Fuuuuuuuck.
I squeeze my eyes closed and wince as I lean against my locker, glad he can’t see my face. “About that…”
And that’s his in. “What the ever-loving fuck, Griffin? You are worth millions and you’re willing to just throw that away? You’re ready to give half of that to some woman who works at the children’s hospital if this relationship of only a few months doesn’t actually last?”
“Actually, she doesn’t work at the hospital anymore. They let her go with the merger.”
“They let her…she doesn’t…” He sighs. “What the hell are you doing, Griff? Be real with me, alright? Was this marriage some sort of forced thing? Did you accidentally knock her up?”
“What? No. It’s not like that.”
We have to have sex for me to knock her up and thanks to my dick being a dick…
“Did you two get rip roaring drunk and make one bad decision after another?”
Yep.
“No. Not at all,” I snap back. “And I’ll thank you for not talking about my wife that way. Layken isn’t the kind of woman who wants me for my money.”
She doesn’t want me at all.
Especially after the most embarrassing lame dick night of my life.
At some point I’m going to need a way to prove to her that I have skills. I can’t let her only impression of me in the bedroom be from our wedding night. I just need another chance.
“Trust me, big guy. Every woman wants money. Does she know how much you’re worth?”
“What are you getting at, Felix?” I bark, frustration growing ever present. “Did I do something wrong here? Is there something you need me to do because all I hear coming out of your mouth is a bunch of bullshit and I’m done listening to it. So, unless you actually need something from me?—”
“No man, I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be a skeptic. It’s just not like you to run off and get married.”
“Pretty sure that’s why they call it running off and getting married. It’s never expected.”
“Look, I’m just trying to protect you. It’s not too late to sign some papers. You know, just in case,” he warns.
“Goodbye, Felix.”
I don’t wait for him to say goodbye before I disconnect the call and then lean my head back against the wall.
“You alright over there, Mr. Love and Marriage?” Oliver smirks from the bench a few lockers down.
“I’ll be fine,” I huff. “Nothing I can’t handle.”
“Felix is just doing his job. Cut him some slack. This was a shock to everyone.”
I rub my hands down my face and rest my elbows on my knees. “I know. And I haven’t heard from my family yet and I just know in my gut that’s not good news.”
“That was going to be my next question.”
“I can’t tell them the truth, Oliver, and that’s going to kill me. My family and I…we’re so damn close. They’ll be crushed I did this without them.”
He nods. “I get it. Charlee would be crushed if I got married without telling her too,” he says, mentioning his sister who married Milo Landric, Center for the Chicago Red Tails. “Anything I can do to help?”
“Nah. It’s fine.” I sit up a little straighter, pulling myself together. I can’t continue to look like this is a fucking struggle because in the grand scheme, nothing about my life changed except that I have a woman living with me for a while. And that was going to happen regardless of the piece of paper that says we belong together now. “I’ve just got to figure out how to tell my family.”
“Good luck, man,” he tells me before he heads to the gym. “I don’t envy you.”
“Yeah thanks.”
He opens the door and then stops. “If there’s any good news here,” he says, turning his head back to look at me. “Layken seems like a really good person.” He shrugs.
“Yeah. She is.”
“And she’s hot,” he adds with an innocent shrug and a smirk on his face. “But if you tell Scarlett I said that, I’ll knee you in those gorgeous award-winning balls of yours.”
He’s definitely right, there. I snagged myself a drop-dead gorgeous bride. One I don’t deserve, I know, but honestly, other than having to tell my family I fucked up, if that’s the way I decide to go, being married to Layken Hobbs doesn’t feel all that bad.
I could do much worse.
An extra-long and arduous workout complete, I finish my shower trying to figure out how I’m going to tell my family I’m a married man now and I did it all without them by my side. Knowing I’m going to be the world’s biggest disappointment to not only my parents who have been dying to see me settle down but to Gage, who will be hurt the most. He’s talked about my wedding day for years with more excitement than I’ve ever seen. He’s always wanted to be my best man. He’s talked so many times about taking my wife for a spin on the dancefloor if for no other reason than to tell her all the stupid embarrassing things I did when we were kids.
I hate that I’m going to let them down.
“Ollenberg!” Coach’s voice rings out through the locker room. “You here?”
Aaaand with my name on his tongue, my balls just receded back up into my body. “Shower, Coach!”
“My office when you’re done. Be quick!”
“Two minutes!”
Barrett glances at me from his shower stall. “You in trouble?”
I shrug my shoulder as I rinse it under the water. “Probably. But what else is new?”
I joke but only because I’m actually nervous. I know in the grand scheme of things I did nothing wrong by marrying Layken. It’s not like running off and getting married is illegal, nor is it against the policy of the Anaheim Stars organization. But when Coach says your name with the tone he just used minutes ago, I’ll be lucky if my asshole unpuckers itself anytime in the next twenty-four hours.
Stepping out of the shower, I dry myself off and quickly dress in my casual shorts and a t-shirt, slip my feet into a pair of slides, and head for Coach’s office. Hearing a few other voices in the room, I swallow back my nerves, remind myself I’m doing this for Layken and for me, and round the corner to step inside.
Where I run smack dab into Layken.
Shit.
I wasn’t expecting this.
How long has she been here?
Why didn’t she tell me she was coming?
Has she told him anything?
What did she tell him exactly?
Fuck, his eyes are on me now.
Watching me for a reaction?
And he’s watching her.
“Hey babe!” Layken shoots up from her seat next to Corrigan and wraps her arms around me in a huge hug. As she squeezes me, she whispers ever so softly, “Relax and play along.”
I wrap my arms around her and carry her a few steps inside Coach’s office. “Hey, Lake. Missed you this morning.”
She releases her hold on my body, but I don’t let her go without pressing my lips against hers. Coach is no dummy. He’ll be waiting to see if I kiss her. Thankfully, she doesn’t bat an eye and kisses me right back.
I wish I could kiss her like I did a few nights ago.
I suppose something is better than nothing.
Also, I kind of like kissing my wife.
And I’ve got to hand it to Layken, she’s very convincing.
“Missed you too, Griff. Mr. Hicks and Corrigan invited me to their weekly lunch date so I tagged along. Got to tell him everything about our surprise weekend.”
I raise my brows at her mention of our weekend. “Is that so?”
Coach leans back in his chair. “Sounds like your weekend was a bit life changing, wouldn’t you say, Ollenberg?” He gestures to an empty chair next to Layken and I take it after a brief hello to Corrigan who says hi and then excuses herself to find Bodhi while we chat.
“Life changing indeed, sir.” I smile at my wife and take her hand in mine, noting how soft and cool her grasp is against my clammy, fidgeting hand. I bring her hand to my mouth and kiss her knuckles. “I’m a married man now.”
“You are,” he says with a simple nod.
Guilt washes over me when I steal a glance at my new wife. I see the trepidation in her eyes. The exhaustion of having to cover for me—for us—while at lunch with her best friend’s father. There’s no way that was easy and I owe her one now. Sitting up straight, her delicate hand in mine, I square my shoulders.
“Is there a problem with getting married, Coach? Did I break some rule of conduct?”
His brows lift questioningly. “You did if getting married was some kind of stupid drunken mistake one of my players made while off the ice.”
“And what the hell would give you that idea?”
He leans forward, his elbows resting on his desk. “Oh, I don’t know, Ollenberg, perhaps it’s the fact that you haven’t mentioned being with anyone, to my knowledge, and then on a whim, you come back from a weekend off a married man. And not just to anyone, but to my daughter’s best friend.”
“Forgive me, sir,” I snap back, “but did you have any knowledge of your daughter sleeping with Bodhi Roche before you punched the hell out of him not too long ago?”
Coach’s face reddens and his jaw ticks as he stares me down, but I know I’ve got the upper hand here. “Yeah, I didn’t think so. Seems you’re not as observant as you think you are, Coach, so I’ll ask you to kindly reserve your judgement for somebody else because I don’t have time for this petty bullshit.” I feel Layken squeeze my hand, giving me her support, and that’s all I need to drive my point home.
“Why do you think I got involved with Pacific Children’s Hospital in the first place? It wasn’t you volunteering there and it wasn’t for Corrigan.” I glance over at Layken and find her watching me, eyes wide as she listens to my explanation. “The day Layken walked into my life was a day I’ll never forget and I’ve been crazy about her ever since.”
It’s not all a lie.
She walked into my home several days ago looking like the saddest puppy dog and seeing her in my pajama pants and sweatshirt, comfortable and happy around our mutual friends, it was a core memory for me.
“I’d do anything for her,” I say as I turn my gaze to her once more. This time she offers me a kind smile but doesn’t say a word.
Coach sits back in his chair, his eyes narrowing as he silently studies the both of us. After a hefty sigh he shakes his head. “You really love this guy, Layken?” he asks, gesturing to me like I’m the biggest fuck-up and she would be stupid to be with me.
Squeezing my hand once more she looks at me and smiles before answering, “I’m obsessed with him.”
HA!
Oh my God, I could kiss this girl right now.
“Ditto, babe.” I beam back at her, seeing the humor in her eyes. “All the ditto.”
Coach Hicks runs his hands up and down his face and then shakes his head. “What am I going to do with this fucked up generation?”
“With all due respect, sir,” I add. “You only hate what you don’t understand.”
He waves his hand. “Right. Okay. Get the hell out of here you two.”
I waste no time standing up, pulling Layken to her feet, and escorting her to the door, my hand on the small of her back. I guide her down the hall towards the locker room so I can grab my duffel bag and car keys. I think it’s time to get the hell out of here.
“I knew you were obsessed with me,” I tease. “It was nice to hear you finally admit it.”
She stops ten feet from the locker room door and grabs my arm. Her eyes glisten with unshed tears. Suddenly I do feel like the world’s biggest fuck up. I bring my hand to her cheek and swipe a lone tear from her face. “Lake, what’s wrong? I’m sorry.” I shake my head concern etching my brow. “I didn’t mean?—”
She blows out a breath and shudders. “I’m good. It’s fine. I’m okay.”
“Okay, but if you’re not…it’s?—”
“Nope.” She shakes her head and rocks from one foot to the other looking up at the ceiling like she’s trying not to cry. “I’m good. Sorry.”
Watching her with a mix of amusement and worry, I cock my head and ask, “What’s going on?”
She finally stills and wipes the stray tears that have slipped down her cheeks. “I’ve never lied to that man before,” she says. “Phew. It was both easier than I expected and scary as fuck.”
I laugh but turn to face her, rubbing my hands up and down her arms. “Welcome to my life. But we can do this, Layken. Everything is going to be fine. I promise. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
“How long do you think we have to keep this up?”
I shrug my shoulder trying to come up with a timeline in my head. “I don’t know. The end of the season, at least. If we go to the playoffs that’s at least May to June. Then, I don’t know, you can say I cheated on you or something.”
“What?” She gasps. “No way. I would never do that to you. A report like that could damage your career.”
“Well, I’m not going to let you look bad. No fucking way,” I tell her. “If it’s the price I have to pay for messing this up, then I’ll?—”
“No,” she says defiantly. She wipes at the rest of her tears and stands tall. “Sorry. I don’t know where these stupid tears come from. I’m not always a crier. We’ll come up with some amicable excuse. Maybe I’ll find a new job in another town and I’ll have to move.”
The thought of her moving away makes my chest feel tight.
“I’m going to have to start looking for work now anyway.”
“Hey.” I lift my hands to her face, smoothing back her hair. “Let’s talk about this at home where we can be comfortable, okay? Too many prying eyes and ears around here. I just need to stop in and grab my bag and keys.”
She nods and then I take her hand in mine, not wanting to leave her alone to feel scared for even a second and push open the locker room doors. “Put your dicks away gentlemen, there’s a lady in the room.”
“Good because there’s a lady already in here!” Corrigan comes around the corner and wraps her arms around her best friend, effectively separating our hands. “You okay?”
“Yeah. We’re good.” She nods but the look on her face has yet to convince me that she actually feels good. Not that I can blame her, I suppose.
“Layken!”
“Hey Layken!”
“What’s up Layken!”
The guys welcome her into the locker room one by one and she smiles and says hello to all of them.
“How are the newlyweds?” August asks as Layken waits for me to grab my stuff.
“We’re fine,” I tell them so Layken doesn’t have to lie.
“And Coach?”
“Oh, don’t worry about him.” Corrigan waves her hand. “He won’t be a problem. I’ll make sure of it.”
“Thank you, Corrigan,” I hear Layken say. When I peek over my shoulder, Corrigan has her arm around her and for some reason I feel the weight of our worlds on my shoulders. Like this is all my fault.
But this isn’t just my fault.
We did this.
Together.
“I’m not going to let anyone hurt Layken. Not on my watch,” I tell the guys. “And that goes for Coach as well. I’ll figure this out.”
Layken gives me a soft smile though it doesn’t quite reach her eyes.
Ledger tsks. “So I guess that means we’re not consummating this marriage, huh?”
“How do you know we haven’t already?”
My head whips around faster than Linda Blaire in The Exorcist when Layken speaks up.
What the hell is she doing?
Ledger stands with his arms folded over his chest, his brows raised with curiosity. “Oh fuck. Okay. Well, tell me something, Layken, because I’ve been dying to know.” He leans toward her and murmurs loud enough for us all to hear, “Is he as good as he says he is? Because the guy never shuts up about his dick.”
Oh shit.
She could hang me out to dry here.
She could tell them all about the embarrassment that was our wedding night.
“You know, I’d love to tell you but kissing and telling is naughty and…” she glances at me and says, “naughty girls get nuttin’ but coal.”
There’s a mutual gasp among the guys around the room, including from me.
No. She. Did. Not.
My jaw practically hits the floor as the guys have a hearty laugh at her response. My face reddens knowing there’s only one reason she knew to say those exact words.
She saw the Christmas Balls competition pictures from last year.
The WAGS of the Anaheim Stars came up with the idea this past Christmas to have a glittery balls competition between the guys on the team. So, one by one we decorated our balls with glitter and created masterpieces for Scarlett, Ella, and Corrigan to judge.
Obviously I was the clear winner with shiny black balls of coal, but I had no idea Layken had seen them as well.
I don’t even have to question her because the moment my eyes find hers, she winks at me and grins proudly.
Well, I’ll be damned.
Layken Hobbs has seen my balls.
I mean she saw my balls in the flesh in Napa but they weren’t all glammed with glitter.
Something about that knowledge makes me feel amazing.
I grab my keys and duffel bag and slam my locker shut. “And with that, ladies and gentlemen, I’m taking my wife the fuck home!”