Page 54 of You and Me, For Real
Ashton
Hardly! I think you underestimate the work you have cut out for you. The camera doesn’t love me either.
Griffin
Now that is absolute garbage.
I shoot her a clip from the session Luke sent me. Ashton’s proudly beaming at Roxy as she obediently follows her commands like she hung the moon. I understand the sentiment.
Ashton
Okay, well, that clip isn’t awful. I’ll give you that.
Griffin
I have loads more where that came from. You just wait.
Ashton
Looking forward to our chat later tonight.
Griffin
Me too.
More than she knows.
Ashton
Good luck with your meeting. I’m sure you’ll do great!
I’m like a dehydrated man in the middle of the desert, soaking up her tiny compliment like a sponge and welling with happiness. So much so, that I’m smiling like an idiot at my phone screen when I bump into someone’s shoulder as I’m walking down the hall toward the dining area.
“Sorry about that.”
An older man—seventies, plaid shirt, khaki pants, a sort of grandpa you might visit at his lake house—says, “That’s my fault, kid. The music’s so loud in here, I can barely walk straight.”
The statement makes me chuckle. “I feel the same way.”
I’m about to carry on walking when he points at me, “Hey, you’re theMalibu Shoresguy.”
I hold up my hands. “Guilty.” The guy’s definitely not my typical audience, so his knowledge about the show makes me more than curious. I hold out my hand. “Griffin Ford.”
His weathered hand slips into mine. “Nice to meet you, Griffin Ford. I’m Jack Mathis.”
Shock ripples through me. “Jack Mathis? As intheJack Mathis, five-time Emmy Award winner, multi-winner of both the Producers Guild of America Awards and Academy Awards?”
He smiles, his wrinkles deepening. “Guilty.”
I shake his hand rapidly, like the super nerd I am. “I lovedThe Heroes Guildand theWake Up, WinfieldTV series as a kid. You’ve produced some great stuff.” And it’s true. He was a star in his day, maybe twenty years ago. I’m not sure if he’s worked on any recent projects.
He waves me off. “Those were my younger days, before I lost my Dotty. I was a lot more fun then.” He looks pointedly down at my hand, still shaking his. “Can I have my appendage back, please?”
I release his hand. “Sorry about that. It’s so great to meet you. What are you doing here?”
He shrugs. “Moonstruck Cinemas is trying to weasel their way back into my good graces and get me to produce another film for them.”
“That’s great!”
