Page 121 of You and Me, For Real
Griffin rests his chin atop Scarlet’s head and catches my eye.
“Ashton?” His face is aghast.
I whirl to exit behind me, but I’m trapped by the stage door. I blindly push the door closest to me—my mind a jumble of confusion and emotions.
Tears stream down my face, blurring the ballroom in a swirl of colors. I swipe my cheeks as I bypass everyone’s blatant stares, bumping and tripping into guests.
Griffin shouts my name across the ballroom, but I don’t dare look.
I burst through the main hallway toward the entrance doors. My toes pinch in my heels as I run toward the exit, praying the limo driver is parked close enough to make a quick getaway.
The hallway is dark and empty.
“Ashton, wait. Let me explain.” Griffin’s broken plea stops me.
The pain hits me all at once. I’m tired of running. I’m tired of not confronting people. I don’t want to run anymore.
I whirl on him. “How could you do that to me? Why didn’t you tell me you have feelings for Scarlet?” My voice cracks.
He strides toward me.
I press into the door, the cool glass against my back.
He stops a couple feet away. “I don’t. I was merely comforting her. There’s nothing between us.”
He holds out his hand like he wants to touch me, but lets it fall to his side. “From the day I met you, I was smitten with you.” His chest rises and falls fast. “You’re the only one to ever look past my fame—blatantly ignore it, really,” his lips twitch—“and see the real me. You are the kindest, most selfless person I know. You’ve brought a light into my life I didn’t realize was missing. You’ve made me want to be not just a better actor, but a better man. For the first time, I feel like the leading man in my own life.”
I close my eyes, tears leaking. “Then why?”
“What you saw was me calming a friend. Nothing else. Scarlet knows there’s nothing between me and her.”
“You’ve continually complained about having to pretend with her. And yet, the second you two are alone, you’re wrappedin each other’s arms?” It’s a low blow given Griffin has never caused me to doubt his sincerity, but the sight of them makes no sense.
With his career as an actor, how am I ever going to be able to distinguish the truth with him? I’m not sure I’m made to be with a person whose life involves constant pretending.
“I was comforting her. She just confessed she loves me.”
I throw my hands in the air. “Is that supposed to make me feel better?”
“Ashton, I was hugging her because while she may have said she loves me, I made it clear I’m in love with you.” He takes another step and whispers, “Onlyyou.”
I tense.
Anguish fills his gaze. “I love you, Ashton. I’ve wanted to tell you for weeks now—since the ranch, but I didn’t want to scare you. I want it to be just you and me—for real. I’ll shout it to the whole world if you’ll let me. I don’t care about the contract anymore.”
My chin wobbles and tears fill my eyes. I want to believe him so badly, and yet, my mind and my heart are in such a jumble after witnessing not just him and Scarlet, but my mom with his dad, too. A secret he clearly knew about.
“What about my mom? Why didn’t you tell me about her being with your dad?”
He squeezes his eyes shut. “I meant to. I just forgot.”
“You forgot?”
He heaves out a breath. “Yes. Honestly, I didn’t think they’d still be together.”
“How long have you known?”
“Since the Rhodeses’ party.”
