Page 135 of You and Me, For Real
“Right. We.”
It feels nice to say that. Like now I have someone on my side.
“Griffin knows all this. And yet, his dad showed up at the gala as a couple with our mom, and he’s completely unfazed. Turns out he’s known they’ve been dating for weeks! At least since the Rhodeses’ party. And never once thought to tell me.”Warn me.
Wren puts her hand on mine. “From what Griffin has told me, Thomas Ford has a different woman on his arm almost every month. It wouldn’t surprise me if Griffin honestly thoughtit was just a one-off. Maybe he didn’t tell you in hopes of preventing you from getting hurt.”
“Or, he never intended for us to have a real relationship where we’d go to family events together, and he knew we’d never run into each other.”
Wren tilts her head. “You don’t really believe that, do you?”
“I don’t know. Maybe?” I say weakly.
“You could call him. Ask him outright.” Cecily reaches for another chip and dips it in the queso.
“I told him I needed space. Time to think. Because even if I do believe him, what about his career? I don’t know if I’m confident enough to handle being in a relationship with someone who’s always kissing other women on-screen! I don’t know if my heart could take it.”
Wren reaches across the couch and squeezes my hand. “You could. For the right man, you absolutely could. Call him. You’ll feel better.”
“I can’t! I’m not ready. I need more than twenty-four hours to consider if his lifestyle is one I can handle. I don’t want to return to the kind of life we had growing up. It might break me.”
“For what it’s worth, I think you’re strong enough,” Cecily offers.
“I’m not so sure about that. Last night was awful. I can’t live like that. I need more time to figure out what I want from my future before I let him cloud my judgment.”
Wren and Cecily both nod in understanding.
“Maybe text him at least? Get any questions or doubts you have out there in the open? Then you can make a clearer decision on what you want to do next?” Wren offers.
“I’ll think about it.”
Griffin’s lifestyle is the exact opposite of what I’ve pictured for myself for the last five years. How can I flip my own goals upside down? Do I even want to? I fear Griffin’s career willalways make me doubt his feelings for me. How can I ever trust him implicitly?
If I can’t, then what’s the point of even trying to repair whatmighthave been?
40
ASHTON
Wednesday morning, I walk into the shelter and a huge banner is rigged to the ceiling that reads, “Congratulations!”
Lynn and Marissa pop out from behind it. Lynn rings a cowbell, and Marissa toots a party horn.
Despite my exhaustion, I smile and allow Lynn’s full-body tackle as she almost knocks me to the floor with her hug.
I took two mental health days off from work, and yet, I’m still fatigued from all the emotional distress—but I need the distraction work can offer. I texted Lynn the good news about my offer on the ranch being accepted. While I anticipated her excitement, I hadn’t expectedthislevel of welcome.
“Congratulations, honey! I’m so proud of you! You did it!”
My lips lift, but I don’t feel the same measure of happiness I should inside. My confusion over Griffin has left me half-hollow. The glow of gaining the ranch is faint due to the absence of the person who helped make it happen.
As the girls suggested, I texted him last night.
Ashton
I’m not quite ready to talk yet, but I just want you to know I believe you about Scarlet.
And I really do, the initial shock of witnessing them together just stung. I let my insecurities of my past cloud my judgement.
