20. Layken
CHAPTER TWENTY
LAYKEN
G riffin drives us quietly out of my parents’ neighborhood, one hand on the wheel and the other clasped around my left thigh. I’m not going to lie, it feels amazing. Like he’s claimed me and is protecting me at all costs.
Layken is my family now.
That’s what he said to my parents.
Nobody has ever stuck up for me in front of them before and I seriously don’t know how to react. Am I glad they finally had someone put them in their place? Yes. Do I feel bad about how it all happened?
I probably should but I don’t. At least not today. My parents spent years telling me that I’m basically worthless. They didn’t respect what I wanted to do with my life. They continually tried to push me onto their chosen path. They never once saw me for who I am.
But Griffin sees me.
He’s seen more of me than anyone else, my triumphs and my biggest insecurities.
And he still chooses me.
And for the first time in what feels like, well, ever, I feel like a weight has been lifted. I feel like I’m free to be me with no worries that my mother is going to call and rip me apart for my decisions. Because it’s not my job to make them happy and I finally realize that, thanks to my husband.
Thanks to the man who loves me.
Thanks to the man I love in return.
He pulls into the drive-thru at Harold’s Hotdog Diner and picks up an order he must have made before we left and then drives us to one of the nearby beaches. He opens the back door and grabs a blanket and then opens my door for me, helping me from the car. The beach ahead isn’t private but at this time of the evening there aren’t tons of people either.
“It’s not a private beach,” he says, leading us to an open spot not too far from the water. “But I thought people-watching might be fun.”
“It’s perfect.” All smiles, I help Griffin lay the blanket down and then kick off my shoes and sit next to him to enjoy our food. “Thank you, Griffin,” I say with a mouthful of food. “For what you did back there.”
“Yeah? You liked how I backed into that parking spot? Pretty nifty huh? Learned it from my dad.” My head snaps toward him and he gives me a wink and then says, “I’m just kidding.”
I rock myself into his side, nudging him with my shoulder. “You know what I meant.”
“I do. And you’re welcome.” He shakes his head while watching me. “But you never have to thank me for coming to your defense. You’re my wife, and as long as I’m around nobody will ever hurt you again.”
“I’m thanking you anyway…” I pause for a moment, chewing my bite. “For saying all the things I should’ve said a long time ago.”
He shrugs. “I understand why you didn’t. Or felt like you couldn’t. They’re your parents. I imagine in the grand scheme you don’t wish them harm. They’re still your family. You just…”
Want to be seen.
“You want to be seen. And understood. And most of all, loved.”
He knows me so well.
“Yeah.”
He takes another bite of his hotdog and then says, “I’m sorry if I overstepped at all. I didn’t intend to say they’ll never see you again. Obviously, you can see them anytime you want. I’m never going to hold you back. But…” He makes sure I meet his eye when he says, “Maybe the next time, whenever that might happen, I can be with you.”
“I think that’s more than fair, husband.”
He smiles. “Good, wife. I’m glad to hear it.”
We eat in silence for a few minutes, watching the waves crash and the people walk by.
A stalky guy in a suit and tie and no shoes walks past about twenty feet in front of us and Griffin gestures to him with his chin. “What do you suppose is that guy’s story?”
“Hmm…is this a trick question like I’m supposed to say something like maybe he gave his shoes to a homeless person and he’s just walking home?”
He chuckles and shakes his head. “Nope, not a trick question but also no. Don’t be so nice. See the worst in people for just a minute and tell me his story.”
“Mmkay.” I point to the few houses sitting at the top of the hill to our left. “So, he’s totally texting his wife right now telling her that he’s stuck in traffic and he’ll be home late but really he just banged one of the wealthy housewives that live in one of those houses up there after dropping off his taxes for her husband to file for him.”
Griffin nods, grabbing his bottle of cola. “And the lack of shoes?”
“Oh, he tossed those suckers in the ocean so he can tell his wife later that he also got mugged. See the breeze messing up his hair?”
“Mhmm.”
“That’s just an excuse for his sex-bedhead.”
“Impressive. I like it.” He laughs.
I point to a man nearly the size of Griffin with broad shoulders, thick calves and a tattoo sleeve on each arm. He’s shirtless, of course, and walking next to a beautiful woman with long black hair and dark sunglasses wearing an itty-bitty pink bikini. “What about those two?” I ask Griffin. “What’s their story?”
“Oh, that’s easy,” he says. “That guy’s a muffin.”
I snort. “A muffin?”
“Yeah.” He nods. “But not just any muffin. He’s like, the fucking best muffin you could ever have. Like the most awesome tasting muffin. You know the kind that you pick out of the glass case at the bakery but the assistant behind the glass goes to pick up the muffin behind the muffin and you’re like no, no, not that muffin! I want the one in front of that muffin. Yeah…he’s that muffin.”
“And the girl?”
“Serial killer.”
“What?” I burst out a laugh.
“Yeah but she’s super discreet and is never around to clean up the mess because there’s never a mess. She’s a waitress who poisons the food of every sixteenth customer who walks into her diner that day. So those people eat the food and then go home to their respective lives and keel over and die. Nobody knows what killed them and if an autopsy shows some kind of poison in their system, detectives can never figure out where it came from because the people poisoned come from all walks of life.” He shrugs like this story is straight off the evening news.
“Wow. That was better than me. Maybe you should be the one to write books.”
“Nah.” He wrinkles his nose. “I would suck at actually putting the whole story together, but I would totally be the guy to help build your storyline.” He sips his cola again. “Or, you know…if you need help with those super porny scenes. I’m your guy.”
I roll my eyes and slap him on his upper arm. “They are not porny scenes you big goofball.”
“Okay, okay, you’re right.” He leans over and kisses my lips and then nudges his nose with mine. “Maybe later we can create our own porny scene.”
“I like the way you’re thinking Mr. Ollenberg but you’re still on physical rest for another week.”
“Yeah?”
“Mhmm.”
“Good thing I’ve got a few ideas up my sleeve then, Naughty. For now, I’m going to watch you eat that wiener and then we’ll head to stop number two.”
A few ideas…
Porny ideas?
What could he possibly be thinking?
“Oooh, this is literally the best bookstore in this entire town!” I squeal, clapping my hands when Griffin turns into the parking lot. “Are we really stopping here?”
“Hell yeah, we are. My girl deserves a dream date. She’s getting her dream date.”
Dream date?
When did…?
“Wait…” My eyes bulge as I turn my head to face Griffin. “Are you…did you…?”
He chuckles as he pulls into a parking space. “You want to finish any of those questions, Naughty?”
“You took me to the beach this afternoon.”
He nods. “Yep.”
I gesture at the bookstore. “And now we’re…”
“Uh huh.” He smiles.
Holy shit.
He remembered?
His parents’ house.
“You remembered the dates? The ones I talked about at your parents’ house?”
“I remember just about everything you ever say, Layken.” He lifts his shoulder. “So yeah, when my wife tells my family about the two best dates I’ve ever taken her on, you better believe I’m going to come through and make good on those dates. You described them in such detail, it was pretty easy to plan. And besides, not everything about us has to be a lie.”
“Are you sure you’re feeling okay though?” My gaze falls to his abdomen where he’s still healing from his bruised ribs. “We’ve been out a while. If you’re sore it’s totally okay if we head home.”
He shakes his head. “Not a chance. I feel great.” He pulls a small purple sack out of his pocket and shakes it in front of me. “Plus, I came up with some doozies for our bookish scavenger hunt so if you’re game, I’m game.”
“Bring it on, husband. I’m totally in.”
“Alright then let’s go.”
Hand in hand we walk into the bookstore, the front tables teeming with the latest popular romance books that are talked about all over social media.
One day my book will be on these tables.
Griffin leads us toward the middle of the store and then pulls out the purple sack.
“You didn’t come in here yesterday and figure out where all these books are in the store so you can win, did you?”
He laughs. “Dammit. I wish I would’ve thought of that, but sadly, no. I did not. Plus, you haven’t let me out of your sight this entire week so if I had done that, you’d know about it.”
“True.” I nod. “Okay then.”
“I actually had the team write down the categories.” He bobs his head. “Well, the team plus the wags.”
“Oh, my God! I can only imagine what some of these are going to say.”
He chuckles. “I know, right? You ready for the first one?”
“Wait, rules. What are the rules.”
“Oh yeah. Umm, we get five minutes to find a book that matches whatever each slip of paper says. When you have your book, we’ll meet at a table at the cafe. Best one wins the round.”
“Okay, who’s going to be the judge?”
Griffin turns me and points toward the café. “See that little group of adults holding up books in front of their faces hiding from view?”
Oh, shit!
No, it is not.
I giggle knowing exactly who is seated around the table. “Yeah I see them.”
In tandem, the group lowers the books showing their faces. Corrigan, Bodhi, August, and Ella are seated around a small table, each of them with a drink from the book store’s café.
“Oh, my Gosh! What are you guys doing here?” I exclaim, walking over to them and wrapping my arms around Corrigan and Ella giving them huge hugs.
“We heard you might have had a bit of a day,” Corrigan cringes.
Ella nods. “Yeah, so when Griffy here invited us to be a part of some fun, we were all for it. Plus, hello! We’re hanging out in a bookstore. Best night ever, am I right?”
“Yeah, if we’re hanging out in the porno portion of the bookstore.” August winks.
“I’m partial to the cookbooks myself,” Ella says with a shrug. “But whatever floats your boat.”
“Okay, so these guys will be the judge,” Griffin states. “Any questions?”
I shake my head. “Nope.”
“Then let’s get started.” He holds the purple bag open for me and has me choose a slip of paper from inside. I pull one out and unfold it, reading it aloud for everyone to hear.
“Find a book you would want with you on a deserted island.”
“Five minutes,” Corrigan says, setting the timer on her phone. “GO!”
Griffin and I separate from each other. Having been in this store more times than I can count, I’m relatively familiar with where the different genres are located. I quickly find the resource section and look for a book that teaches me how to survive on an island thinking that would be the smartest choice.
I pull a few off the shelf and read their titles and then choose one of them to keep with me. I reshelve the others and then make my way back to the café surprised that I’m actually the last one back. Griffin stands with the group grinning at me as I step up to the table.
“How did you get back so fast?”
“You act like I don’t know what I would do if I ended up on a deserted island.”
“Alright, smartass. Let’s see what you’ve got.”
“You go first,” he says to me, hiding his book behind his back.
“Okay. I grabbed this one.” I lay the book down on the table titled If You’re Ever Stranded on an Island .
“Ooh, very wise,” Corrigan says.
“Very mindful,” Ella adds.
“Bodhi makes a come here motion with his fingers. “Let’s see it, Ollenberg.”
Griffin pulls his book from behind his back, but it’s not a book at all. “What the hell is that?” I burst out laughing.
“What?” He shrugs with a proud grin. “It’s a playboy swimsuit edition calendar. I’ve got to be able to keep track of my days somehow, right? Plus, it’s a win-win. I can look at this for, you know…self-care. So, I don’t go crazy living on a deserted island.”
August points to Griffin. “Points, bro. That’s smart thinking.”
“Oh fuck,” I laugh rolling my eyes. “This is going to be a tough win to pull off.”
“You can do it, Lake.” Corrigan winks at me. “You ready for another one?”
“Yep. Bring it on.”
Ella pulls a slip out of the bag this time and reads it out loud. “Find a book showing us a place you would like to travel to with your partner.”
August shoos us away. “Be gone! Go do your thing.”
While I’m looking for my book, my phone dings with an incoming text. I almost choose not to look at it assuming anyone who would want to talk to me is with me tonight. But wondering who could possibly be writing me is what has me pulling my phone from my pocket.
Griffin
Your ass looks amazing tonight by the way.
I lift my head and look around but Griffin is nowhere to be found.
Griffin
Stop looking for me and find your book, Naughty.
“Ugh! Where the hell is he?”
For a big guy over six feet tall, he’s awfully good at staying hidden in a bookstore. I shoot him a quick reply before glancing through the travel section.
Me
Wherever you are you’re turning me on. Stop it.
Griffin
Do you need a quickie in the corner?
Me
Do YOU need kicked off the team?
Griffin
LOL. Alright I’ll save my licks for when we get home. Might cop a feel though.
God I love this man.
He’s the total package and right now, I’m the luckiest girl on the face of the Earth.
Finally finding a book I like, I return before Griffin does and when instructed, I turn my book around and show the group. “I think it would be fun to go to Scotland with Griffin because he would look damn sexy in a kilt.”
August and Bodhi nod their heads with approval and then ask for Griffin’s book. He turns around a book about Hawaii.
“Oooh! Hawaii, huh?” I ask with wagging brows. “I could totally do Hawaii.”
“Yeah, I want to go visit that resort that Quinton Shay’s sister owns out there.” He looks at the guys. “What’s it called again?”
August smirks. “Kamana Wanalaya.”
Griffin snaps his finger and points at August. “That’s it! Yeah. I think that could be cool! And maybe Shay could hook us up.”
Ella waves her hand in the air. “Group trip!”
Griffin and I go through a few more rounds finding books with numbers in the title, books that are blue, books with blood on the cover—that was a particularly humorous one as he chose a vampire book and I chose a book on how to get away with murder. We found recipes we’d like to cook for each other and how-to books on learning something we could do for each other. I chose How to Sew so I could learn to make Griffin some cool pajama pants. He chose How To Make Her Squirt .
Pretty damn sure I won that round either way.
“Okay, last one,” August tells us, pulling the last slip out of the bag. “Ready?”
Griffin and I nod.
August unfurls the slip of paper and reads, “Find a book with a title that is also a sexual position or sexual reference.”
“Oh, my God. Okay, but you all have to do this one too so get off your asses.”
Bodhi leaps out of his seat. “Yes! I know exactly what book I’m picking!”
Corrigan sets her phone alarm. “Okay we all have five minutes and then we meet back here.”
We all head out to find our book choice. Not wanting to watch where he goes, and not sure exactly what book I’m looking for, I pick a random aisle and look around to see what I can find.
“Woodworking?” I mumble to myself, rolling my eyes at the irony of the word.
I’m sure there’s a funny reference to wood somewhere in this aisle.
Meh, not good enough.
I can do better.
Suddenly an idea pops into my head that has me sprinting for the children’s section of the store. With about thirty seconds to spare, I find the book I’m looking for, pull it from the shelf, hiding it against my chest, and head back to the café.
Griffin and Bodhi are already waiting when I arrive at the table. Ella, August, and Corrigan are just seconds behind me right as Corrigan’s alarm goes off. She stops the sound and then says, “Alright who was back first?”
Bodhi raises his hand and then proudly reveals his book choice. “I chose the classic Moby Dick . Literally says dick right in the title.”
“Nah, I got you beat, Pickle Pants,” Griffin tells Bodhi.
“Alright let’s see it then.”
Griffin turns his book around and I snort when I see the title.
“Holes?”
He nods, beaming from ear to ear. “Holes, baby. All the holes.”
“That’s pretty good. I’ll concede,” Bodhi tells him. He turns to August who reveals a copy of The Dark Tower .
Ella reveals Lovely Bones , and Corrigan shows off her copy of Hop on Pop which has us all cackling for all the highly inappropriate reasons.
“Alright, Naughty,” Griffin says, gesturing to me with a nod of his head. “What did you find?”
“My best one yet, if I do say so myself.” I take the popular kids book and turn it around showing everyone the front cover of James and the Giant Peach .