Page 78 of How He Got the Girl
“I thought it was obvious.” He pulls my hand to his lips, pressing a kiss to the inside of my wrist. Then my palm. “Because of you.” His blue eyes are crystal clear as they look into mine. Sincerity is all I find there. No humor. No teasing. No games.
“But,why?” There’s something he’s not saying. An explanation behind why he’d get a tattoo related to me after one date.
He’s quiet for so long that I’m convinced he’s not going to answer. I’m forever going to live in the land of unknowing, wondering why he got a tattoo…forme.
“I thought I’d lost you forever.” Griffin drops his hand from mine, running his fingers over the tattoo absentmindedly. “I got it as a reminder that sparks and all the things I thought were only in the movies truly do exist.” His gaze settles on mine, searching.
And I feeleverything. Everything for him that I had shoved down and tried to forget after I never heard from him again. The fire I used to feel inside for him stoked back to life from the embers that remained, holding onto hope that he was exactly who I thought after we first met. A man worth holding onto. A man worth the risk, worth burning for.
I see many of the same emotions mirrored in his eyes before they glint with boldness as he says, “To never settle for less than what I feel for you.”
I wrap my arms around my middle, trying to hold in all the feelings bubbling up inside me. “You think our date was better than the movies?”
“I think everything about you is better than any fictional character in all of existence.” He brushes his knuckles along my cheekbone. “No one could ever write the perfection that is Veronica Mallory Porter.” Griffin tips my chin up, forcing me to look into his eyes. “There’s only you.”
I lean forward, running my fingers along his scruff. “As scary as it is for me to admit, there’s only you, too.” If I don’t pull back right now, something is going to happen between us—something I’m not sure I’m ready for yet. The tattoo was enough revelation for one day. Trying to cut the tension between us, I smirk. “Which is good because I don’t think the world could handle two Griffin Bartholomew Razzle-Dazzle Reynolds.”
He pulls back, laughing. “I should go shower. We can order dinner when I’m done, but feel free to raid my fridge or pantry if you need anything. I’ll be quick.” He starts walking away, but stops when he reaches a hallway. He turns back to face me. “I want to continue this conversation later, though.”
With that, he leaves to shower, and I plop down on the couch. I’m scrolling through the comments on the most recent photo I posted with Griffin and am immediately reminded why I never had social media.
Most of the comments are nice, but then there are the ones that I know are delusional or petty, but they hurt nonetheless.
@xogriffinsgirlxo:Can someone tell me what he sees in her? I mean, look at her hair. Does she own a mirror?
@futuremrsgriffinreynolds01:At least I know I have a chance with Griffin since he obviously doesn’t mind dating 6s when he’s a 10 *face with hand over mouth emoji*
@griffieforlifeee:Me waiting for the day he dumps her so I can shoot my shot: *stopwatch emoji*
“That was a terrible idea.” I exit the app with no plans to open it again for the foreseeable future. The best thing for my sanity moving forward is to post and ghost. No more reading comments from people who know nothing about me.
The only opinions I care about are from the people I love, and my girls are on the Team Griffin train.
Speaking of my friends, if I don’t tell them that I’m likely not coming home tonight, they’re going to worry. Or send a search party out for me. Probably both. I pull up the “Long Live Girlies” group text thread and start the conversation.
ME
Y’all can’t freak out, okay?
SHAYNA
Whenever someone says that, I immediately start freaking out *grinning face with sweat emoji*
ALYSSA
Same.
KELSEY
What happened?
Or should I say, what did Griffin do?
ALYSSA
*eyes emoji*
ME
