Page 51 of How He Got the Girl
“Granny recently got a hip replacement. Some of her friends recommended a doctor here. I was between projects, so I rented a house to be nearby while she recovers from the surgery at a rehab facility.” He rubs the pad of his thumb along mine. “This past Saturday, I was checking out one of the local coffee shops when I ran into Mallory.”
“And he means that heliterallyran into me,” I chime in, realizing I’ve been pretty quiet this entire conversation. I haven’t been able to keep my eyes off Griffin as he’s shared our story. Not because I believe he really was interested in me after our first date, but because he really is captivating as an actor. He’s literally been trained for a moment like this, so I guess all his hard work has paid off.
“Yeah, it wasn’t my best moment.” He laughs good-naturedly. “I caused a hot drink to spill on her for the second time. But I couldn’t get over how fate brought us togethernot once but twice in the same way, almost exactly three years apart.”
“And that’s the first picture the media got ahold of? The one in the coffee shop?” My mom nods like she’s putting the whole picture together.
“Exactly.” A blush climbs his neck as he looks between my parents. “I always told myself that if I found Mallory again, I’d never let her go. So I did just that. And, well, here we are.”
I should give him a standing ovation or a trophy for his performance. Maybe I still have a soccer participation one somewhere up in my childhood bedroom. I’m sure Griffin knows how to play the field, so it’s fitting. “I’m sorry we couldn’t tell you before it went public. It all happened in the blink of an eye.” Guilt still swirls inside, knowing that my parents found out the same way the rest of the world did.
“I was a little sad,” my mom admits. “But I can understand how the tabloids pick something up and run with it before you’ve had a chance to talk to loved ones first.”
“Thanks for being so understanding.” Griffin’s expression oozes gratitude. He grabs my hand and kisses the back of it before placing our joined hands on the table.
I don’t know what to believe. The lines between what’s an act and what’s real feel blurry. They’re lines thatIdon’t want to cross. But I’m unsure what Griffin’s stance is. It probably should’ve been something we talked about before all of this. Made some ground rules and set boundaries.
I mean, he kissed me during our photoshoot. I never planned on our lips meeting ever again, but when it seemed necessary to keep up this charade, I caved. And although the kiss was gentle and ended before it even started, it still affected me.
It brought me back to the flurries of snow hitting my face, the taste of snickerdoodle hot chocolate, and the warmth and safety I felt in his arms.
Those are things I cannot be feeling right now. Memories I’d rather stay in the long-term reserve, never to pop up again. But it seems that’s what Griffin does. He just pops into my life and reels me in like a fish on a rod with no chance of escape.
Griffin squeezes my hand hard, like he’s trying to get my attention. “I’ll check with Granny as long as it’s okay with you, beautiful?”
My eyes widen as they dart to him. “Hmm?”
He smiles, and I wonder if he knows that he’s the source of my distraction. I wouldn’t put mind reading past him at this point.
“Your mom said Granny and I better be at Christmas next week.”
“Right. You both should come.” I hate how breathless I sound.
Griffin’s brows dart up in surprise. I blame it on this stupid trance he put me in with all the touching and thoughts of kissing.
“Wonderful. Mallory’s brother will be thrilled to meet you.” Mom looks like she’s about to burst with joy. Probably at the idea of having the whole family here, but also at the fact that her only daughter just brought a man home for the first time…ever.
I snort. My older brother, Connor, is one of the most reserved people I know. He has a grumpy exterior that no one has ever been able to break. I glance over at our family photos hanging on the living room wall and find him smiling in only a handful—one handful of smiles inphotos across a lifetime. Yeah, I’m sure he’s going to bethrilledto meet my celebrity fake boyfriend.
My parents pepper Griffin with more questions while I lean back and enjoy the focus not being on me. Well, as much as I can enjoy myself when Griffin’s fingers are laced through mine. He rubs his thumb along the palm of my hand, sending goosebumps trailing up my arm. It doesn’t seem to bother him in the slightest, like it’s instinctual to touch me like this.
I tighten my grip on his hand, forcing him to stop moving. I can’t think straight with him doing that, and I need to keep a clear mind around him to avoid falling back into his arms.
Griffin shoots a worried glance my way before turning back to my parents. “I had a wonderful time tonight. But Mallory picked me up, and I want her to be able to get home before it’s too late. I heard it’s supposed to get icy tonight.”
“So thoughtful.” My mother flings her hand to her chest, looking at us like we’re a couple from a romance movie come to life in her dining room.
Griffin insists on carrying all the dishes to the kitchen while I say goodbye to my parents.
“You found yourself a real keeper, sweetie,” my mother whispers in my ear as she hugs me tightly.
“I know.” The words taste bitter coming out of my mouth. I hate that the first man I brought home to meet my parents is all a sham. I want a relationship like my parents have someday, and I know they want the same for me. I feel awful giving them hope for a famous future son-in-law when it’s all a lie. But I think it would be even worse to tell them the truth now.
My dad pulls me in for a hug next, cracking my back with the force of his squeeze. “I love you. And I like Griffin, but you let me know if he ever wrongs you, and I’ll take care of it.”
“Um, thanks, Dad,” I manage to say without laughing.
Griffin walks back into the dining room and shakes Dad’s hand before giving Mom a hug. She holds onto him for longer than I expect, patting his back as she says something too quiet for me to hear.
