Page 18 of How He Got the Girl
It would’ve been nice to find out by, oh, I don’t know, him telling me if he’d ever had the decency to call me after our date. But I guess he got too big for his britches once he became famous to think about little old me ever again.
After I learned his last name, it was all too easy to type his name into an internet search engine. I discovered that he starred in a lesser-known rom-com movie two years ago—likely the one he auditioned for when he ghosted me. What that film lacked in success, it must’ve made up for him in auditions to have landed this big role that started the rise of his career.
The interviewer nudges Griffin. “Come on, your relationship has been pretty hush-hush in the media. Can’t you give us a little bit more than that?”
“Maybe for you, Silas.” Griffin chuckles, but his laugh sounds unfamiliar to me. Not at all like his real, unrestrainedlaughter that I can still hear playing in my mind like a favorite song. He hooks his arm around Brittany’s waist. “What do you want to know?”
“There’s so much chemistry between you in the movie. Does that chemistry extendbeyondthe screen?” Silas raises his eyebrow, a wry smirk on his lips.
“What movie do you want to watch, Mal? I think you should pick tonight,” Kelsey says above the sound of the television, like she’s trying to save me from hearing his answer.
I can’t answer Kelsey’s question. Apparently, I’m a masochist now because I can’t tear my eyes away from the screen, holding my breath as I wait to hear if Griffin is dating Brittany.
Griffin cocks his lips in a crooked grin. “I’m gonna plead the fifth here and say no comment.”
“Oh.” Silas pouts. “You tease us all.”
“He’s good at that, isn’t he?” Brittany giggles and places her perfectly manicured talons on Griffin’s chest.
The interviewer turns his attention to her. “Britt, willyougive the world the answers they’re craving?”
She taps her plump bottom lip. “I’m not one to kiss and tell.”
I wrap my arms around my middle. I think I’m going to be sick. “Okay, I’ve seen enough.” My voice is barely above a whisper, but Shayna immediately switches to another streaming platform.
“Maybe they’re not really together.” Her words are full of optimism, but her wary smile tells me Shay doesn’t fully believe what she’s saying.
“Yeah,” Alyssa agrees. “Don’t actors pretend to date as a publicity stunt?”
“I heard it’s a thing.” Kelsey tucks her leg under her, avoiding my gaze. Maybe I’d believe her if I hadn’t known her for more than half my life.
“Y’all don’t have to cheer me up. It’s fine. I’m over Griffin.” The lie doesn’t even sound convincing to me. “I just don’t want to see him all cozy with his new girlfriend.”
“Let’s watch one of your faves.” Shayna turns onJurassic World. I know action movies give her nightmares, so I must look as distressed as I feel for her to put it on.
Shay leans her head on my shoulder, threading her arm through mine. Alyssa squeezes my hand. Kelsey holds half of a hand-heart toward me, and I mimic the motion.
These are my girls—my family—and I know I can make it through anything with their support.
I flip onto my back in bed with a huff. Falling asleep tonight has proven more difficult than quieting a rowdy classroom after seeing Griffin on my TV screen. The flood of feelings that I’d rather forget about came rushing back, making me lie here, stewing over what could have been if he had felt the same way I did. Instead, now I’m just haunted by the memory of him.
With a weary sigh, I grab my phone off my nightstand and pull up the interview I found from one of my internet searches. Rewatching this interview is the perfect reminder of why I’m better off without him. With a shaky thumb, I press play, and talk show host Kelly Parker’s voice comes through my phone’s speaker.
“It’s wonderful to have youhere, Griffin.”
He sits across from her, looking suave in a maroon suit. Griffin smiles and waves to the studio audience before turning back to Kelly. “It’s an honor to be here.”
She crosses her legs and angles her body toward him. “Congratulations on your first movie,A Chance Romance. Can you tell the audience a little bit about it if they haven’t had the opportunity to see it yet?”
“Absolutely. I play the character of Peter. He’s a bit of a serial dater, and takes every first date to the same restaurant. When a new waitress starts waiting on his table during his dates, she has him questioning everything he ever thought he wanted in life and love.”
“It’s a great movie,” Kelly coos.
I snicker. The movie was a flop. Its Rotten Tomatoes rating was abysmal, so it went straight to streaming after only a week at the box office. Since I’m not on social media, I didn’t even hear about the movie until last week, and it’s already been out for a year and a half.
“I must say, I think we’ve only just seen the start of a long career ahead for you,” she continues.
Well, I guess she wasn’t wrong about that, seeing that his latest movie,Accidentally in Matrimony,was a box-office hit.
