Page 101 of How He Got the Girl
Mallory quickly makes her way to me once the crowd disperses. “What’s wrong?” she asks.
I purse my lips, not wanting to lie to her. “We can talk about it later.”
Her forehead creases with worry. “I can leave early if—”
“Go spend time with your students. Everything will be the same in a few hours as it is now.”
I only hope that’s still the truth after she finds out I might be leaving next week.
“Okay,what’swrong?”Iask as Griffin pulls his car to a stop in front of my house. He’s been eerily quiet the entire drive back from the school fundraiser. “Your silence is freaking me out.”
Griffin puts the car in park and turns to me. His tense jaw and furrowed brows send my stomach swirling with concern. “I need to tell you about the call I got during the fundraiser.”
“Whatever it is, you can tell me.” I unbuckle and slide my leg under me, turning sideways to look at him better, before reaching over and interlacing our fingers. “Who called?”
“Karina.”
I squeeze his hand. “Did you get the part?” He nods, and I lean forward, wrapping my arms around his neck. “Griffin, that’s amazing.” I pull back, narrowing my eyes. “Then why do you look like someone just poured pickle juice into your hot chocolate?”
He grimaces. “That sounds disgusting.”
I can feel the tension radiating from him, and I subtly brace myself for whatever bad news he has yet to tell me. “Exactly, so what’s with your face? Why aren’t we celebrating?”
He lets out a long breath. “They want me there next week for a chemistry read.”
“English, please?”
That finally brings a small smile to Griffin’s face. “They want me to sit down with the actresses they have in the running for my love interest to read through scenes with them. They want to make sure we’ll have good on-screen chemistry.”
“That makes sense.” I bite the inside of my cheek, trying not to get emotional at the thought of him leaving. I’m not even going to think about the fact that he’s going to test his chemistry with other women. I understand it’s only acting, but I’m only human. The thought of him kissing anyone else stings.
But I trust him. If he’s all in on me, I know Griffin wouldn’t stray. That doesn’t take away the fact that he’s leaving, though. That he’s choosing this movie over staying here with me.
No. That’s not fair. I can’t blame him for doing his job. But I don’t know if our relationship is strong enough to withstand the distance. I thought we had a few more months until he’d have to leave. It’s like Rhett told me—we need a firm foundation to fall back on with being in the public eye.
I clear my throat. “And you’d leave for the chemistry read next week?” When he nods, I ask, “How long will you be gone?”
Griffin worries his bottom lip. “This movie requires extensive physical training. I don’t know how long that will take. It could be until they start filming.”
I bite my cheek harder to hold back my tears. I never used to cry. I hate showing emotion and looking vulnerable.But Griffin had to go and make me fall for him, which apparently has turned me to mush.
“You’ll be gone for a few months, then?” I will my voice not to crack. I have to be strong for him.
“Yeah, it would be a few months of training and then however long filming takes.” He sounds as heartbroken as I feel. “Do you think I should take the role?”
My eyes go wide. “You haven’t accepted it yet?”
He shakes his head.
“Why not?” I rub circles on the back of his hand. “It’s your dream role.”
“But you’re my dream girl. I could never accept it without talking to you first. You’ll always be my top priority, Mal.” Griffin looks at me, his eyes earnest and full of hope. “I thought this movie was everything I ever wanted. That being offered a role I really wanted was going to make me feel like I had made it in life. But all of that means nothing if I don’t have you.”
“Griffin, you already have me. You can’t give a movie up for me.”
He flinches slightly, but I see it.
“What was that?” I point at him.
