11. Griffin
CHAPTER ELEVEN
GRIFFIN
I knew they would love her.
I knew the moment they met Layken they would instantly adore her and shower her with love and kindness. Hopefully she genuinely feels it because even when the day comes that I have to tell my parents the truth about us, I know without a shadow of a doubt they’ll continue to love her and welcome her into their home regardless of my mistakes or shortcomings.
Who wouldn’t love Layken, anyway? She’s one hundred percent kind with a side of gorgeous and a sneaky hint of sexy. Just enough to make me think dirty fun thoughts about her.
I already know she’s got a fucking sexy body. That much I remember from our wedding night, but I still have no idea what she sounds like when she comes.
Had I not interrupted her in the tub the other night I could’ve found out, but it wouldn’t have been the same. The more time I spend around Layken, the more I want to be the reason for her to make any noise at all. Thinking about it now, the mere thought of some other guy touching her, pleasuring her, making her body hum makes my stomach turn.
“You okay, Griff?” Mom asks as she dips her hands into the soapy water of the kitchen sink.
I clear my throat. “Hmm? Yeah. Sorry. Zoned out there for a minute.”
Layken catches my eye and I give her a reassuring smile.
Yes, wife. I’m good.
Just thinking about your sexy body and what I’d like to do with it if given another chance.
Please Lord Jesus, give me another chance.
My dick is not broken and I really want to prove it to her.
“So, tell me, Layken,” Dad says, passing her a plate to dry.
Because that’s how Layken rolls. Sits down to dinner with my family, chums it up with Mom over book talk, and then grabs a towel to help with the dishes while Gage and I sit at the bar keeping them company.
More like looking like a couple of lazy asses.
“Did my son do a good job dating you?”
“I got the ring on her finger, didn’t I, Dad?” I joke.
“Yeah but were you romantic in taking your beautiful wife on dates like I taught you?”
Before I can even open my mouth, Layken answers, “Griffin has been the absolute best at planning dates. He’s better at it than any man I’ve ever dated.”
“Is that so?” Mom perks a brow. “Tell us your favorite date, Layken. Let’s see how good he is.”
“I have two, actually,” she says to my family. And now my interest is piqued because I have yet to take her on a date anywhere which means she’s about to make something up on the fly. Or I’m about to hear her favorite date with some other guy.
Fuck.
That has to be it.
My chest tightens at the thought.
“The first of my favorite dates was actually our very first date because Griffin was super nervous.”
“No way.” Gage shakes his head laughing. “Griffin never gets nervous.”
He couldn’t be more wrong but that’s okay. I’ll let him keep thinking his big brother is the strong hero type.
“Well, he was nervous that night,” Layken says, grinning at my brother. “He picked me up and drove us out to the beach to watch the sunset while the tide rolled in and it was the most breathtaking couple of hours I’ve ever spent with another human being.”
Mom smiles as Layken tells her story.
“He brought sandwiches and sodas,” she tilts her head, “because he didn’t want to drink before a game day. So, we sat on the rocks and talked and laughed and watched the sunset. It was the most impressive display of colors I have ever seen. It was almost like mother nature planned the perfect sunset just for Griffin to be able to impress me.”
“And it worked, see?” I smirk at her.
“That it did. The ombre of colors from yellows to pinks to purples to dark blues…mmm.” She shakes her head, her eyes closing as if she’s picturing the very night it happened in her mind right now. “Amazing.” She opens her eyes. “But even more amazing than the color of the sunset was how great Griff was that night at conversation. He was so easy to talk to. He took a sincere interest in me and my life. It wasn’t just hockey, hockey, hockey. He asked questions so I knew he was paying attention and I did the same with him. And when the night was over, he took me home, kissed the living shit out of me, and breathlessly told me he really hoped I would see him again.”
Talk more about that kissing part.
I like that part.
“Thank God, you agreed.” I get up from my chair and kiss her lips like it’s something I’ve done for years, forgetting that it’s not something we’ve really done since our wedding night except for that moment in Coach’s office. She doesn’t back away from my advance though and kisses me back sweetly, her tongue poking out to lightly brush against my lips before pulling away with a blushing smile. The minute she backs away I want to tug her right back in.
I want to kiss her again. Really kiss her.
I want to get to know the feel of her mouth.
I want to fully know what she tastes like.
I want to swallow every satisfied moan she gives me.
I want to take her breath away.
Fuck.
What is happening to me?
“What’s your second favorite date, Layken?” Gage asks her.
“Oooh, the second date is by far my all-time favorite date ever and Gail, you’re going to love this.”
Mom performs a little excited dance and says, “I’m all ears.”
“So, it was a bookstore date, because of course,” Layken begins.
In tandem the rest of us answer, “Of course.”
“But not just a walk-in-the-bookstore-and-buy-me-books kind of date.” She wags her finger. “Ooh no. Griffin took me in there with this elaborate scavenger hunt planned for the both of us.”
Mom is already swooning. “Aww.”
“Yeah, I know!” The glimmer in Layken’s eyes as she tells this story gives me that warm fuzzy feeling. “So, he takes us inside and has this little bag with tiny slips of paper. Each one has a different kind of book we need to look for. So, for example, one was our favorite kids book. I picked Russel the Sheep.”
Mom takes one look at me and I nod as we both say, “Interrupting Chicken.”
Gage brightens and says, “Yes! I loved Interrupting Chicken too!”
“So, we went through questions like pick a book that teaches you something you’d like to learn how to do. Or another one was finding a recipe you can cook together. Griffin found a homemade ramen recipe and we did end up doing that together on another date. But the question we had that made me fall for him and his adorable personality was the one that said find a book that can help you in the bedroom.”
Mom glances up at me over her glasses and says, “Oh God, Griffin. What did you do?”
Layken starts to giggle and I can feel my face turn red because I have no idea what the hell Layken is going to say next. To respond to Mom, I simply shrug and pass her a wink.
And then hope for the best.
“So here I am looking for books with, you know…kinky stuff in it because I thought that’s what we were both looking for and this goofball,” she says, gesturing to me with her head, “finds Folding-A-Fitted-Sheet for Dummies!”
Mom and Dad throw their heads back in laughter and Gage covers his mouth giggling.
I simply shrug. “I mean I couldn’t play all my cards at one time and Lord knows I can’t fold a fitted sheet to save my life.”
Dad gives me a fist bump. “Way to win that one, Son. Proud of you.”
“Thanks Dad.”
Mom wipes her forehead with the back of her hand still giggling. “Layken please tell me my son made up for being the ultimate doof to you with that round.”
“Oh yeah.” she nods. “He totally did.”
“That’s right, I did. Because tell them about the last round.”
As if she knew I was going to set her up, she miraculously continues on with her story. “So, the last round was to pick a book that reminds you of your partner.”
Mom puts her hand on her hip. “And? What did he pick?”
Layken smiles at me and turns to Mom. “He picked up a book by Nicholas Sparks, handed it to me, and said, ‘My daddy said that the first time you fall in love it changes you forever and no matter how hard you try that feeling just never goes away’.”
My jaw almost hits the floor as my eyes bounce from Mom to Dad to Layken.
Wait…
How did she…
Mom and Dad glance at each other, a knowing smile between them. Dad leans over and kisses Mom’s cheek as they both say, “ The Notebook .”
“Yeah!” Layken smiles. “How did you know that?”
Dad rubs Mom’s back. “That’s our special movie. Gail fell in love with the book when she read it and then I took her to see the movie when it hit theaters. I’ve actually quoted that line to her many times before.”
And he has.
I remember hearing him say it to her many times while I was growing up.
That is totally something I would’ve said to a girl because it’s what Dad would tell me after watching that movie. He said it’s how he always felt.
Layken swoons and turns to me. “You never told me The Notebook was a thing in your family!”
Trying to come up with the right words to say, I shrug a shoulder and tell her, “I didn’t want you to think I wasn’t being sincere if I said it to you too, because I meant it when I said it.”
“I know you did. You told me you loved me that day.”
I don’t know how the hell she came up with a story so perfect for our situation and told it so effortlessly but thank God she did. I think my parents are more than convinced. But just for added sugar on top of the Layken sundae, I add, “I knew you were the one that night.”
And just like that, the odd feeling in my chest is back again.
It’s almost as if it never went away.
It lingers.
And then hits me again and again every time Layken is around.
“Hey Layken,” Gage says, standing from his stool. “Want to go make a tikky with me?”
She cocks her head. “A tikky?” Her gaze moves to me and I wink and mouth the words tik-tok.
“Ooh yes! Yeah I would love to, Gage!”
And there goes my brother stealing my wife.
As I sit in the living room with Mom and Dad, chatting about the season and my new life with Layken, I watch her interact with my brother.
She’s so damn good with him.
So patient.
Encouraging.
She treats him like the human being he is instead of the “Sped” he was teased for being as we were growing up. I lost count of the number of times I stepped in to fight for my brother over the years. Especially over the use of that derogatory word. Middle schoolers are cruel as fuck and the irony always was, Gage was smarter than all of them. We never treated him like he had Down Syndrome. To us, he was a normal kid who had a few delays here and there depending on what he was doing. He was a straight A student, but he wasn’t as fast or coordinated as me at hockey so some things we just couldn’t do together.
But I loved him fiercely growing up.
And I love him even more now.
“You know Gage has himself a girlfriend now too,” Dad says softly as we watch Gage and Layken dance in front of his cell phone.
“Does he really?” I ask. “Why didn’t he tell me?”
Dad shakes his head. “I don’t know. You’ll have to ask him.”
Mom bobs her head. “I think he was genuinely excited to get to meet Layken today. He had been talking about the two of you all day before you guys pulled up. Mallory may have slipped his mind.”
“Mallory is the girlfriend?”
She nods. “Mhmm.”
“And does she…” I smooth my hands down my thighs. “Is she…?”
Mom nods again. “Yes. She has Downs too. She’s a super sweet girl. Gets along very well with Gage. They’re cute together. He met her at work.”
“Good.” I nod. “That’s really good. I’m glad he has someone to keep him company. Hell, he deserves to be loved.”
“Speaking of deserving love,” Dad says, gesturing to Layken. “Son, you found a rare gem in Layken.” He’s all smiles talking about her. I can see the love and admiration in his eyes already. “She’s perfect for you.”
“She is.” I nod. I think I’m beginning to think those same thoughts myself although I know I’m just going to get hurt in the end if I continue to think that way. I want to smile and be the giddy lovesick boy that I know my parents want to see, but in reality, I know this thing between Layken and I will come to an end and I’ll have to break my parents’ hearts.
And Gage’s heart.
And there’s a very strong possibility I’ll end up breaking my own as well.
If only she were as interested in me as I am in her.
“I’m so sorry, Mom. Dad. We really never meant to hurt anyone by getting married so quickly we just?—”
“Is she pregnant, Griffin?” Mom’s words punch me right in the gut.
“What?” I shake my head adamantly, my brows pinched. “No. Mom she’s not…No.”
I can’t admit that we haven’t even properly consummated our marriage yet and she’s talking about pregnancy already. Jesus fuck, I’ve never been more grateful that my penis wasn’t working on our wedding night when I think about the fact I could’ve knocked her up and damned her to a life I never even asked if she wanted.
“Just thought maybe there was a more concrete reason for the haste is all.”
“I promise you there isn’t.”
We were just very drunk and super stupid.
She gives me a reassuring smile but it’s coupled with that look that says she knows something isn’t right. “We love you both no matter what, Griffin. You know that. And hey…” She rubs her hands together. “I’m ready for grandbabies whenever you are.”
I huff out a laugh. “Oh, good Lord.”
It’s late when we finally say goodbye to my family and head home.
“Your family is really great, Griffin,” Layken says, reflecting on the evening. She’s all bundled up in my hoodie looking as adorable as ever. I’ve watched her pull the collar up to her nose and inhale twice now, which makes me smile. “And oh, my God, that lasagna…mmm.” She rubs her stomach and leans her head back on the seat. “Soo damn good.”
“Right? I told you.”
“You did.”
“I think Gage is smitten with you.”
“Yeah?” She smiles. “He’s such a sweetheart.”
“Now don’t go getting any ideas about jumping ship and falling for my brother.”
“Oooh.” She giggles. “Now that’s a whole other tropey romance.”
“Really?” I turn my head for just a moment to glance at her. Her smile is beautiful even in the moonlight and now I wish I didn’t have to keep my eyes on the damn road the whole way home. “There are really books like that?”
“Oh, hell yeah.” She pats my leg. “But don’t you worry, I promise I won’t go running off.”
Tonight, I wish that were really true.
We talk for a while longer while I drive and then a peaceful silence falls between us. I want so badly to ask Layken what she’s thinking because I haven’t been able to stop thinking about how amazing she was with my family. Anyone looking in from the outside would’ve thought she had known us all for years.
Would they have seen the two of as two people madly in love with each other?
I don’t know.
My dad and Gage seemed smitten. That much I can tell very easily. But my gut tells me my mom knows something is up though she never said anything to the contrary.
There were times tonight that I wanted to look at Mom and Dad and tell them the truth. I know they won’t be upset if I just come clean to them. Hell, Dad would probably have a good laugh, but too many people know about what really happened already. I don’t want to risk getting Layken into any further trouble with her family. Not only that but watching her with my family today made me feel things I’ve never felt before. Seeing her bond over books with Mom and dancing in silly videos with Gage, she’s everything I had always hoped for.
She’s the kind of girl I always thought I would fall for.
I know this pipe dream of a marriage can’t really exist, but damn, what if it could?
“Do you think they liked me?”
Layken’s voice cuts through my thoughts and brings me back to reality.
“What?”
“Your family. Do you think they liked me?”
I nearly choke on a laugh. “Are you seriously asking me that question?”
When she doesn’t answer me I know that means yes.
“Layken, they adored you!” I assure her. “One hundred and fifty percent. You were a fucking natural with my family. They bought our story. All of it. I could feel it in my soul.”
She smiles but doesn’t say much. Then she leans her head to the side and watches out her window, nodding. “Good.”
Not sensing the confidence in her statement, I narrow my eyes and steal a few glances her way. “You okay?”
“Yeah. I’m good.” She answers one way but her sudden melancholy demeanor says otherwise.
“Hey,” I say softly, sliding my hand over her thigh.
“Hmm?”
“What are you thinking about over there? You got really quiet.”
She shrugs and shakes her head. “Nothing really. You’re just…” She sighs. “You’re really lucky. I loved meeting your family today. They were…I don’t know...it was all so unexpected and not at all what I’m used to.”
“But good, right? Good different? You felt good?”
I’d be heartbroken and dismayed if she said otherwise.
“So much good, Griffin,” she says, her voice still a little off. “And I felt amazing the entire time. Like I actually belonged somewhere.” She turns her head back toward her window and murmurs, “It makes me want to never introduce you to my parents.”
“I’m sorry, Lake. I’m sorry things aren’t the same for you.”
“Yeah. Me too. Though until today, I didn’t know what I was missing for all those years growing up.”
Fuck.
Hearing her say that rips my heart out and I don’t know what to say.
“Will you stay?”
Okay. I guess I’m saying that.
The words come out of nowhere and have Layken’s head turning my direction.
“What?”
“Will you stay? At my place. Tonight?” I swallow the lump in my throat. “I know you mentioned when we got to my parents’ that your building is open now and you know I’ll drop you off there if that’s what you want but…”
Her place was actually fixed a week ago.
I know this because Bodhi mentioned it to me when I talked about Layken and me one night. He assumed she had gone back home.
She’s been so busy working on her book, I wasn’t about to tell her to leave and if I’m being honest with myself, I really like having someone to come home to.
Fuck. I don’t want her to leave me.
I like having her around.
I like her.
I like Layken.
I like my wife.
“You don’t want me to leave?” she asks, her head tilting to the side.
No. I don’t.
“I mean I’m not going to force you to stay, I just thought…you know…because we’re married now and everyone knows we’re together…I don’t know, maybe it would be better if you stayed at my place. You know, for a while longer. For show and all.”
Why do I sound so ridiculous?
And why is my chest getting tight?
“Right.” She nods. “I suppose you have a point. People might talk if they see us living separately.”
“Oh yeah.” I nod adamantly. At this point I’ll say anything to get her to agree with me. “They’ll talk for sure. And we don’t want that. It’s not good when people talk. They say stupid things like…” I tap the steering wheel with my fingers. “Layken Ollenberg refuses to sleep with sexy hockey star husband or Hockey boy Griffin Ollenberg snores so loudly his wife has to sleep across town. And you know those rumors grow like wildfire.”
Layken laughs and some of the heaviness in my chest settles. “You are such a goof. They wouldn’t say that.”
“No?”
“No!” She shakes her head. “They’d say something like Anaheim Star marries porn writer.”
A chuckle rumbles through my chest. “Oh, well we can’t have that.”
“Definitely not, so I guess if you’re okay with a roommate…”
More than okay with it.
“Yeah. I’d love to have you.”
Oof! Did that sound bad?
I’d love to have her?
Of course I’d love to have her.
Have her in my bed.
In my shower.
Over my dining room table.
Against the wall.
Bent over the couch.
Fuck.
“I mean I’d love for you to…you know, stay. If you want.”
“Alright. I guess I’ll stay. But would you mind if we stop at home so I can pick up a few things before the away stretch?”
“Of course. Is tomorrow morning okay or do you want to stop tonight?”
She shakes her head. “Nah, the morning’s fine.”
“Done.”
“Thank you, Griffin.”
“You’re welcome, Naughty.” I grin and then give her a quick wink feeling loads better now that she’s agreed to stay.
We pull into the parking garage and I turn off the ignition. Layken opens her door and climbs out of the car so I follow behind her until we reach the elevator just inside. She hits the number for my floor and the elevator doors close.
“Thank you, Griffin,” she says, turning toward me with a contented smile. “For everything today. I had the best time on our lasagna date.”
The butterflies in my stomach start to flutter all over again and when I glance down at her beautiful face, my body acts of its own accord and I do the one thing I’ve been thinking about doing all night. I cup her face in my palm, slipping my hand toward the back of her head, trace the edge of her jaw with my thumb, and press my lips against hers.
Catching her off guard, she gasps slightly as my lips brush her mouth. Her hand rests on my chest as she parts her lips inviting me to sweep my tongue inside which I do without hesitation. When her fingers curl around a part of my shirt I bring my other hand to her face and tilt her head for better access.
She groans slightly and it’s nearly my undoing.
Fuck.
And just like that, the kiss is over as unceremoniously as it started. Her eyes are still closed but when they open she’s staring at me with both hunger and confusion.
“What was that for?”
Can’t a man kiss his wife once in a while?
“Uh, that was, umm, a thank you kiss.”
A thank you kiss?
Really Griff?
“A thank you kiss?” she asks. “Thank you for what?”
“Yeah. Uh, a thank you for today. I had a way better time than I anticipated and that’s because I had you with me. So, yeah.” I brush my thumb over her swollen lips wishing like hell I would be brave enough to simply carry her into my room and thank her all night long. “Thank you, Layken…for being my wife.”
“You’re welcome.” She smiles. “Thank you for being my husband. And for the record, so far, you’re pretty good at it.”
The elevator doors open and I wrap an arm around Layken’s shoulders. “Right back at you, Naughty.”
But holy shit, I just kissed my wife.
And for better or worse, I’d like to do it again.