Page 40 of How He Got the Girl
“I need you to do something for the next shots, but the element of surprise is key.” Antonio lowers his voice. “You’re going to be behind Mallory, and I want you to come forward and wrap your arms around her middle and hug her. Make sure your head is visible beside hers in the shots. You can smile, laugh, or look at her. Whatever feels most natural.”
He doesn’t have to tell me twice. “You’ve got it.”
“Great.” Antonio turns to Mallory, whose brow is furrowed, while I walk back to my spot. “Mallory, Griffin will be standing behind you in this shot, so you’ll be in the forefront of the images. Just keep your hands at your sides for me this time, okay?”
Mallory follows his instruction, and Antonio readies the shot. When he nods at me, I barrel forward, wrapping my arms around her middle.
Mallory gasps as I tighten my hold around her. As if out of instinct, she grabs onto my arms and laughs. Actual laughter bellows out of her. I can’t hold back the goofy grin that pulls at my lips, a tilted one just for her, as I look at her. I’m amazed that I get to have this beautiful woman in my arms. That the world gets to think she’smine.
When she looks up at me, her laughter dies, but a small smile remains on her lips.
Don’t read into it, Griffin,I remind myself. I know she’s playing up her reaction for the cameras, but deep down, I can’t help but wish she weren’t. I wish I knew what was holding her back. What’s changed for her.
“These are a masterpiece,” Antonio breathes. “The whole world is going to fall in love with you two. You’re going to be the nextBrangelina. Well, minus the breaking up part. It’s obvious that you are in this for the long haul.”
“Oh, if he only knew,” Mallory mutters.
I respond by squeezing her waist.
Antonio lowers his camera. “Next, I want you to talk like normal. Tell the other person an inside joke to make them laugh. Whatever feels most normal for you as a couple.”
Mallory moves to my side, my arms still settled around her waist. “If we’re going to do our version of normal, I don’t think he’s going to get much good footage since I’ll be constantly rolling my eyes at your ridiculousness.”
“Then let’s lean into our fake normal. The one where you actually like me and can’t help but look at me like I’m the center of your world.”
“Do youwantme to throw up?” Her eyes glitter with mirth. “I’m sure that will make an excellent cover photo for all the tabloids.”
“I can see the headline now:Lovesick.”
She smirks and pats my chest. “Always full of yourself. I guess some things never change.”
I laugh. “Only when I’m trying to draw out that beautiful smile of yours.” I slide my hand up to cup her jaw. The edges of my fingertips graze her ear, and Mallory sucks in a breath. I run my thumb along her bottom lip, and she stiffens. Leaning down until my lips graze her other ear, I whisper, “This might be a crazy idea, but I think most girlfriends like being in their boyfriend’s arms.”
“I’m not the common girlfriend.” She loosens up a little bit, wrapping her arms around my waist, bunching my coat in her fists.
“Then it’s a good thing you’ve practiced my commercial so many times.”
She laughs, and it sounds like hearing my old favorite song on the radio—unexpected, but an instant onslaught of joy.
“That’s what I’m talking about.” Antonio clicks away on the camera. “More of this. Pretend I’m not even here.”
“That’s going to be difficult.” Mallory presses her lips together, and my eyes drop to them.
“What is?”
“I can pretend he’s not here. But if we’re doing our normal couple thing, I’d be glaring at you, and I’m pretty sure that wouldn’t do much good selling our fated soulmates storyline.”
“Then allow me to take the lead.” I tighten my hold on her waist and move my other hand to the back of her head before I dip her, low and slow.
Mallory lets out a small gasp of surprise, and I smile, loving that I was the source of that sound.
“Yes, that’s perfect. Feel free to kiss now.”
My eyes find Mallory’s, asking her with a look if this is okay. She gives me the barest of nods. It kills me knowing she’s only saying yes for the charade when I want nothing more than for this to be real. But I have a fake relationship and believable chemistry to uphold, so I lean in and press a brief kiss to Mallory’s lips. One that looks practiced and nice on the cameras—a movie kiss, if you will.
It’s nothing like our first kiss, lacking the emotions I feel stirring inside me. As quickly as it began, it’s over. I pull back, not wanting to scare Mallory away.
A rosy pink hue colors her cheeks, but the jury’s still out if it’s a blush or a physical manifestation of her anger. When I meet her gaze, there’s a heat in her eyes that still doesn’t explain whether she’s feeling the chemistry or seething.
