Page 88 of You and Me, For Real
Griffin steps forward, his body blocking my view of Jaxon. “Actually, I’ll take it.” He grabs the other side of the plate.
What the actual heck? First, he ignores me the entire night, and now that a man comes along seemingly interested in me, he starts some sort of…pissing match?
Well, I’m not interested in being man-handled byanyone.
“Excuse me, gentlemen. My friend is waiting.” I snatch my plate and walk off.
I slap my plate on the table and sit down.
Wren leans forward. “What was all that about?”
“I have no idea.”
She smirks. “It looks to me like two grown men acting like dumb boys vying for your attention.”
I gnaw on my lower lip, uncomfortable with this amount of attention. “You’ve got the dumb part right.” If Griffin’s not careful, it’ll look like he cares more about me than afriendshould.
Wren brings her cup to her lips, speaking behind the rim. “Ashton’s a hottie,” she taunts.
My eyes widen. I look around to make sure no one overheard before facing her. “Stop it. I am not. Now, quit your teasing and eat.”
She leans forward, looking behind me. “Aw, look. Your boyfriends are still fighting over you.”
“Would you quit it?” My voice goes an octave higher.
She loses it in a fit of giggles.
I stick out my tongue, but a smile erupts across my face. I hadn’t realized how much I missed having a friend—someone to laugh and tease with.
24
GRIFFIN
The cockiness of Jaxon’s every word gets under every inch of my skin, testing my every nerve. The balls of this guy. Trying to move in on my girl.
Idiot. She’s not yours.
I hate not being able to claim she’smine. At the very least that we’re dating.
Despite having my conversation with Scarlet, she wedged herself right next to me the whole night. Granted, that is the reason for my being here—to further prove our relationship. But every time I try to slip away to get to Ashton, she snags my arm and insists we meet someone else.
I only got a reprieve because she had to use the restroom. I darted directly for Ashton.
“How’re things with Scarlet?” Jaxon slips a hand into his front pocket, the gesture casual, not at all like he just shot ammo at me.
I narrow my eyes, knowing what he’s trying to do. He’s trying not only to get under my skin, but he’s also driving home the point that I’mnotsingle and therefore have no right to pursue Ashton.
He’s right, but that’s beside the point.
There’s no way I’d let this guy—my nemesis of all people—weasel his way into Ashton’s life. I don’t trust the man, for one. With every role I’d ever auditioned for, he was right behind me, swooping in and stealing it from under me. I won’t let that happen with Ashton.
I clench and unclench my jaw. “Things with Scarlet are fine.”
“Gotcha, gotcha. See, what I think is”—he steps closer, his voice lowering—“you’re just keeping Princess happy, biding your time until her daddy gifts you a role. Then you get said role and thisrelationshipof yours”—he puts relationship in air quotes,—“just, poofs, magically disappears. Am I right?” He smacks my stomach like we’re frat brothers just messing around.
I am not amused.
He swipes the side of his nose with his thumb. “Look, just drop the fake act, bro. I know you don’t care for the woman. But I get it. Get your kicks where you can.”
