Page 52 of How He Got the Girl
When he finally pulls back, he says, “Yes, ma’am. Thank you again for dinner.” Griffin returns to my side, wrapping his arm around my waist. “You ready, beautiful?”
I nod, and he leads me outside and opens the car door for me. I slide into the driver’s seat and turn it on, blasting the heat. Cold air blows out of the vents, and I slide my hands under my thighs, trying to stay warm as Linda heats up.
“You’ve got this, girl,” I encourage her.
Griffin hops into the passenger seat and rubs his hands together. “Man, it got cold out.”
I don’t respond, and the silence starts to feel deafening as I watch two minutes pass on the dashboard clock.
“So.” I draw out the word. “That was rough.”
His throat bobs as he swallows. “Really? I thought it went well. Do you think they hated me?”
“No, they loved you.” I roll my eyes. “I just hated being dishonest with them.”
He holds his hands around his mouth, blowing hot air into his palms as we wait for the car to heat up. “I don’t know about you, but I wasn’t lying about anything.”
There he goes again, making me question what’s real. Desperately needing a change in conversation, I say, “How does it make you feel that my mother has seen one of your movies but I haven’t?”
He laughs, his breath forming a small cloud in the car. “Honestly, I’m glad you haven’t seen it.”
“Really?” My eyes widen in surprise.
“My girlfriend doesn’t need to see me kiss another woman, even if it’s only on-screen.”
“Fakegirlfriend,” I correct him.
“Po-tay-to, po-tah-to.”
“You really just woke up today and chose violence, didn’t you?” I deadpan.
Griffin’s laughter rings throughout the car as I move the gear shift into reverse. “If calling you my girlfriend is violence, then I’ll happily be the villain in your story. But can I at least be the morally gray one that you fall in love with at the end?”
Nothing about this man is morally gray. “You’re more of the golden retriever type.” I back out onto the road and begin the drive to Griffin’s rental.
“Then why is it so hard for you to like me?”
“Can’t you accept that not everyone is going to like you?”
“Not you.” He leans his head back and sighs. “Neveryou.”
My body has a visceral reaction to his words. Butterflies flutter in my stomach. My heart does a little pitter-patter. “You can’t go around saying things like that.”
“Like what, thetruth?”
I shake my head. “I think I like it better when you don’t talk.”
Griffin reaches over and brushes a curl back from my face.
“Or touch me,” I add.
He doesn’t pull back, leaving his hand cupping my chin. “You can’t tell me you don’t feel this spark between us.”
My pesky heart that doesn’t seem to have a grasp on reality pounds in my chest. “Sparks aren’t enough. All it takes is a little water to put it out.”
“I’d much rather fan the flame.” His lips pull up into a tilted grin.
I lean back, making his hand fall away and breaking the spell of his touch.
