Page 19 of How He Got the Girl
“Thank you.” He dips his chin in humble appreciation.
“As a newcomer to the romance movie industry, I have to ask the question that all the ladies are wondering: Do you have any special women in your life?”
He nods. “My mother and grandmother.”
The audience lets out a chorus of awws, and I roll my eyes. Can’t all the women in the audience see that he’sacting?
Griffin shoots his over-the-top smile at the studio audience, though it’s not the lopsided one I remember from our date. “They’ve raised me into the man I am today. I trulywouldn’t be who I am without them, let alone sitting in this seat across from you.”
“That’s sweet.” Kelly nods along, but she doesn’t look appeased by his answer. “But what about romance?”
He shakes his head. “I’ve had a few girlfriends in my life, but I haven’t found the woman I have that forever kind of spark with.”
I wince. His words are a direct stab to the heart and validation that he didn’t feel the same spark I felt.
Kelly motions to the excited women in the audience. “I don’t think that will be an issue for you for long.” She glances at the notecard in her hand before looking back at Griffin. “Your character in the movie takes the love interest on multiple romantic dates. Can you tell us about the best date you’ve ever been on?”
Griffin’s smile falters slightly. It’s almost imperceptible, but I still catch it before his pearly whites are flashed at the camera again. “There’s no contest. It was a Knoxville Fireflies game.”
Even though I’ve already watched this interview multiple times, my stomach still drops like I’m on a roller coaster, careening down from the top of a hill. It was stupid of me to ever believe that someone as handsome as Griffin would ever be interested in me. Our hot chocolate date might’ve been the best date of my life, but it probably didn’t even make his top five. Ortwenty. Our little café outing will never compare to a date to an MLB game. That’s like comparing fast food to fine dining—there’s no dispute which is better quality.
“So, you’re a baseball man?” Kelly asks.
I swipe out of the video with a huff, not needing to hear anymore. That was all the validation I needed. A painful reminder that our date didn’t mean as much to him as it didto me. That I could never be what he needed beside him in Hollywood. Maybe he knew that before I did.
His acting skills are obviously top-notch, because he sure fooled me. I thought he had felt that our meeting was fate intertwining our paths together. But really, it was just me and my inability to read through his charm and acting skills.
I place my phone back on my nightstand and burrow under my comforter. “All of my feelings for him were one-sided,” I whisper. “I will not waste another minute of my time thinking about Griffin Reynolds.”
I know it’s a lie the moment the words fall from my mouth. But maybe if I continue to tell myself not to waste another moment thinking about someone who obviously never gave me a second thought, the truth will sink in one day.
Folding my arms across my chest, I take another small step forward in line at my favorite coffee shop.
I started going to Rise & Grind Café when Kelsey worked here. Even though she left to pursue her dream of opening a dog rescue, I still think they make the best coffee around. Well, aside from the homemade lattes Kelsey occasionally makes us, but I try not to ask her too often.
I rub my temples as the tension starts to build. It’s ten on a Saturday morning, so I knew they’d be slammed, but my caffeine headache is hitting hard and fast after how little sleep I got last night.
When I finally reach the register, my head is throbbing.
“Good morning, what can I get for you today?” the barista asks.
“I’ll have a large sugar cookie latte to go, please.”
Seasonal drinks are my kryptonite. Even though I hate winter because of he-who-must-not-be-named, the sugar cookie latte comes close to making up for it. Plus, I have winter break—a glorious three weeks off from teaching—which is just the little reset I need to come back and finish out the school year strong.
I pay and move to stand by the pickup counter until my drink is ready. I grab a coffee cup sleeve and slide it onto my to-go cup. As I walk toward the door, I hold the cup under my nose. Sweet, heavenly notes of brown sugar and almond fill my senses.
Before I can reach the door, a towering figure walks toward me. He doesn’t even bother to look my way as he walks dangerously close with the brim of his beanie pulled down low.
“Watch where you’re going,” I warn, but it’s too late. He crashes into me.
My latte hits his rock-hard chest and goes flying, spilling hot coffee onto us and all over the floor. I hiss as drops of the latte hit my hand, reminding me of the day a few years ago when I was similarly burned with a hot drink. A day that I’d really like toforget.
I try to move away from the man, but my foot hits a puddle of the latte and sends me flying backward. I reach up, trying to grab anything I can to avoid falling on my butt in front of this crowded coffee shop. One of my hands wraps around his neck, and the other grabs his beanie, yanking it off his head.
Thankfully, he wraps his arms around my waist, catching me before I go tumbling to the floor. The hair on the back of my neck rises as a familiar tingling sensation courses through my body.
No. It can’t be him.
