Page 35 of How He Got the Girl
Emotional damage is expensive. Honestly, I think he deserves prison, but he won’t get time. No man who destroys a woman’s confidence and view of love seems to have topay for what they did. They’re like tornadoes, just going along their jolly way, leaving a trail of devastation in their wake. And Griffin is a completely unaware EF5, at least in my book.
But now I get to make more money than I’d make in five years in just a few months, and he has to pay for it. So, who’s the real winner here—the guy who broke my heart, or the girl who gets to break his bank account? Only time will tell.
“Mal.” Kelsey knocks on my bedroom door. “Get your gorgeous booty to the living room. Everyone is home, and we’re dying for an explanation.”
“I’ll be down in a sec.” I wait until I hear her receding footsteps to take a deep breath.
I’d texted my besties in our Long Live Girlies group chat an SOS message on the car ride back from Griffin’s. Thankfully, we always make time for a girl chat.
I push up on my memory-foam mattress and walk downstairs. The antique steps creak beneath my feet. It feels like I’m one wrong step from falling to my doom.
Their chatter quiets as I walk into the living room, taking my usual spot on the couch.
“I’m sure you’re wondering why I sent the SOS.” None of them says anything. I turn my focus to Kelsey. “Or Kels already told y’all who I met with this afternoon.”
“Sorry.” She winces. “I was worried about you.”
“It’s fine. It saves me having to explain why I went to his house.”
“Was it massive?” Shayna looks at me like this is her reality TV fix for the week.
“Surprisingly, the house was modest.”
“Okay, enough chit chat.” Alyssa leans in. “What did his agent want to talk to you about?”
“Well, first things first. We’re going to have a small security team outside our house for a while because things aren’t going to settle down anytime soon.”
“I thought Tyler fixed our paparazzi problem?” Kelsey quirks a brow.
“He did, but it’s about to get a whole lot bigger when the world finds out we’re dating.” I brace myself for their responses, and they deliver.
“What?” My friends ask the same question, the word coming out like something between a squeal and a yell.
“Don’t worry,” I assure them. “It’s fake.”
“Hold up.” Alyssa raises her hand. “We need an explanation, stat.”
I dive right in, not sparing any details as I share about my conversation with Griffin and Karina. “Then his agent had me sign a contract and an NDA.”
“NDA?” Shayna asks.
“Nondisclosure agreement,” I explain.
“Meaning youaren’tsupposed to disclose that it’s fake?” Shayna is a rule follower to a tee.
“For the most part, yes, but I had her write into the contract that I was allowed to tell you three. I can’t keep a secret from my besties. You all know too much.”
“Yeah, it would’ve been a hard sell to convince us you were dating Griffin Reynolds after knowing your feelings about him ghosting you.” Kelsey purses her lips. “I’m honestly shocked you agreed to it.”
“When you find out how much he’s paying me to be his pretend girlfriend for a few months, you might feel differently.” I type out the amount Griffin is paying me in the notes app on my phone and place it on our coffee table.
My besties lean in, and a collective gasp echoes throughout our living room. Kelsey’s dog, Winston, runs between them, checking on their well-being.
“Did you accidentally add some extra zeroes?” Shayna chokes out, staring at me wide-eyed.
I shake my head and smile. “You’d think so, but no. That’s how much he’s paying me.”
“Does Griffin know of another celebrity in need of a fake girlfriend?” Alyssa points at my phone screen. “If so, I volunteer as tribute.”
