Page 39 of How He Got the Girl
“The pleasure is all ours…” Mallory pauses, fishing for his name.
“Antonio.”
“Antonio,” Mallory echoes with a smile. I wish she would dish out her smiles tomethat freely.
“Did you have any places in mind for the pictures?” I ask.
He nods. “There’s a historic building the next block over that will make a wonderful backdrop.”
“Lead the way.”
Mallory’s hand remains wrapped around my arm as we walk, but her attention is solely on Antonio. They’re talking about something local that I don’t understand. I’m completely out of the loop, feeling like a third wheel with my own girlfriend. I should put the wordfakein there, but nothing about my feelings for Mallory is fabricated.
An emotion I can’t name settles in my gut.
Mallory laughs at something Antonio said, and the sensation grows.
Jealousy—utter and complete jealousy that this man is the recipient of her smiles and laughs. Ones that I had to work hard for three years ago and would do anything to see aimed toward me again.
I take a deep breath, trying to stay quiet and not show my cards when I’m supposed to look the role of a doting boyfriend, not a jealous onlooker.
We reach the building not a moment too soon, and Mallory drops her hand. I instantly miss the feeling of her delicate fingers wrapped around my bicep.
“Give me just a minute, and I’ll be ready to go.” Antonio sets his bag on the ground and pulls out his camera. He points it around us, adjusting the settings.
Mallory wrings her hands together nervously. I reach over and wrap my hand around hers. “It’s just you and me here taking some pictures. Nothing to worry about.”
“Yeah, except for the fact that millions of people will see them,” she mutters.
“Only the ones wewantthem to see,” I remind her.
“That’s supposed to make me feel better?” Her laugh rings hollow.
“I won’t let Karina send any photos to the tabloids that you and I don’t agree on together. We’re a team in this, you and me.” I move my pointer finger between us. She looks at it with skepticism.
“All right, I’m ready to get started if you are.” Antonio’s peppy voice makes me jump. Whenever I’m around Mallory, it’s like I’m sucked into an alternate reality. One where only the two of us exist. One where nothing else matters.
Unfortunately, I’m stuck in this reality, where everything else matters. But it’s also what brought me back to her, so I can’t be too upset about it.
I look at Mallory for confirmation. She meets my gaze for a brief second before turning to Antonio. “We’re ready.”
“Wonderful, we’ll start with typical poses first.” He gestures behind us. “I’ll have you move a little closer to the building.”
We follow his instructions, and he smiles. “Perfect. Now, Griffin, I want you to hold her hand.” I intertwine our fingers, and Antonio nods in approval. “Mallory, I want you to place your free hand on his arm.”
I can see why he’s good at his job. This feels like a natural position for a couple in love. But for me, it feels like the ultimate tease…something I can’t have.
“I’ll have both of you look at the camera and smile.”
I do as Antonio says and hear the clicks of the camera.
“Great, now, Griffin, I’ll have you smile while looking down at Mallory. And, Mallory, keep your eyes on the camera.”
I’m sure I’m wearing a dopey grin while I look at her, but I can’t help it. It’s just theMallory Effect.
“These are wonderful.” Antonio rocks enthusiastically on his feet. “Griffin, could I talk to you privately for a second?”
Oh no. Is he about to tell me that he knows this is all fake? Did we already fail this ruse? I jog over to him. “What’s up?”
