Page 34 of How He Got the Girl
“Wait.” I grab her hand and move in front of her. “Don’t you think we should take our couple announcement photo and figure out what we’re going to do for our first da—” She shoots mea look. “Err, outing?”
Mallory gestures to her outfit. “You couldn’t pay me enough money to take a picture that will be all over the news in a sweat set.”
“Why?” My brows furrow. “You look incredible.”
She laughs. “I look frumpy. Plus, my hair is on day four, and my curls are struggling.”
“I think you accidentally said frumpy instead of drop-dead gorgeous. And I don’t know what the rest of that meant, but I love it when your curls are untamed. It fits your spirit.”
“Messy?”
“I was thinking bold and free.”
A blush spreads across her cheeks as she brushes her hands on her sweatpants. “Um, you can pick what you want us to do first since the winter traditions thing was your idea.”
“I’ll pick you up tomorrow afternoon, if that works for you.”
She blinks. “Tomorrow? Don’t you think that’s a little soon?”
Not soon enough.
“We need to get our couple announcement out. Take over the narrative in the media.” I hope the excuse sounds legit enough to hide my desperation to see her again. “I’ll make sure a photographer is available so we can get professional pictures.”
“You’re not going to tell me what we’re doing?”
“It’s a surprise. Dress warm and make sure you’re ready for our photo op.”
“I’m just supposed to trust you?” she asks over her shoulder as we move outside.
I walk to the car and open the door for her. Ted tips his head and gets in the driver’s seat. “That’s usually how relationships work.”
Mallory sighs. “Since we’ve made it clear that this isn’t a relationship, how do I know I can trust you?”
“Would you have trusted the man from three years ago?” I ask, my voice softer as I struggle to hide the emotion I feel thinking back on all I’ve missed out on with her because of losing her phone number.
“What does that have to do with—”
“Just answer the question. No thinking. Just your gut response.”
“Yes.” Her voice is barely above a whisper, and her eyes don’t meet my gaze.
“Hold on to that. I know I’m Hollywood’s hottest new actor now.” This finally pulls a laugh out of her, and I’m pleased that I was the one to cause it. “But I’m still the man who bought you entirely too much hot chocolate. Let me show you he’s still here.” I tap my chest and smile softly before shutting the car door.
Two months. I have about two months to show her that I’m still the same man I’ve always been.
Once I convince her of that, there’s not a chance I’m ever letting her go again.
Onequestionfillsmymind long after I leave Griffin’s.
What the heck did I get myself into?
Middle school me would be lying on my magenta comforter, squealing and kicking my feet if she knew I was fake dating a celebrity. I’m literally living her dream. But nothing about this feels like a childhood dream, but more like a living nightmare.
So much for promising myself I wouldn’t get charmed by Griffin. But, honestly, it was the giant dollar signs he offered that drew me in. It might make me sound like a gold digger, but if any sane person told me they’d pass up a big, fat check to fake date someone for a few months, they’re not lying to me…they’re lying tothemselves. I would be an idiot not to take the kind of money that would allow me to live more comfortably and give back to my school and community.
It doesn’t mean I’m forgetting what Griffin did. I’m just making him pay for it.
As he should.
