Page 94 of Counterfeit Connection

Fuck. I’ll never get used to this.

Chapter 29

Kaitlyn

The cool air on the balcony beckons me while Griffin takes a call in his office from the U.S. He kissed my temple and told me he’d only be a few minutes, so I grabbed a bottle of wine from the rack, popped the cork, and carried it outside with a glass in hand. The coolness of the concrete feels good on my feet. The breeze on my face is trying to wipe away the two minutes between our bubble and the car door. The press here is vile. That’s the only word I have that isn’t constant swearing in multiple languages.

Griffin did everything he could to console me. He said and did all the right things. Unfortunately, it doesn’t take away the ugly rewind that keeps going around and around in my head. When Isaid I could live here, I meant it. However, right now, here at this moment, I’m more homesick than I’ve ever been.

I sit down on the chaise tucked near the balcony railing. The bottom of my wine glass makes a subtle clink as I set it beside me to lie back and do the only thing that will help. I call for back up. Gillian.

I know it’s near Joseph’s bedtime, but I’m hoping Jason is in the middle of his storybook so Gilly can reel me back in. By the third ring, she answers softly, “I was wondering when you’d call. It’s been a couple of days.”

“I know. I’m sorry. London is kind of wild.”

“I’ve noticed, from afar, of course. Some friends keep sending me social media posts they see about you.”

“Gillian, I’m so sorry. Just ignore those. They’re horrible and filled with lies. You don’t need to see them.”

“I have to be honest though, Pixie, in some of those pictures, you’re looking much closer than two people faking it.” I can hear her chopping away at something on a cutting board.

“I was actually meaning to call you because, well, we told his mom the truth. All of it.”

“Whoa, okay, so what does that mean?”

“It means we’re going to try to make this a real thing. You were right that day back home. I do love him, and he told me he feels the same.” Saying it out loud feels so nice.

“Can I be honest with you?”

“I would hope that’s all you ever are with me.”

“Good, because I am really worried about you.”

“Gillian, I—”

“Please, let me finish. I see the way you look at him and the way he looks at you. You’ve fallen really hard, and that’s all amazing right now, but how long can you really take everything the press does? It’s not going to calm down or get better. That will be your life. Are you all right with that?”

“I just know he makes me happy. He’s so intelligent and kind, and he treats me like a princess. His princess. You should see his place here. It’s an apartment, but it’s like twenty of my apartments put together. He loves Marilyn and I’m starting to think she loves him more than me. My feelings come first. I love working for him and his team.

“You’d love his mother. She’s this stunning woman, who, when she’s mad, speaks in half Italian and half English. Honestly, when I met her, she reminded me of Mom. That’s why I couldn’t lie to her. Griffin didn’t fight me on it. He could see what I needed in my eyes and he simply said, okay. I can’t let all of this go.”

“Kaitlyn. You didn’t answer my question. I love hearing all this. I do. In fact, I like Griffin. Even knowing it was bullshit, I still liked him. I need you to answer my question. Can you handle the press and what they’re saying? Can you handle never truly having privacy? Can you handle the lies?”

This is why I called her. I needed someone to push me. I needed someone to say the hard thing and make me look at it. “Gilly, I…I don’t know.”

“Exactly. That’s my biggest concern here. I know you love him, but, Pixie, you have to love yourself more. Will you promise me you’ll really think about all of this?”

“I never stop thinking about it.”

“I just love you, and I want you to be as happy as you possibly can be. You know that, right?”

“I know. I love you too, Gilly.” I release a breath and reach for my wine. “Go finish dinner. I’m sure Jason is circling you like a hungry shark right about now.”

She laughs. “You’re not wrong. Call me tomorrow?”

“I will. Goodnight.”

“Goodnight.”

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