Page 60 of How He Got the Girl
While I might be ready to admit that I’m still attracted to Griffin, I’m not sure that I’m open to a future with him in it. Not when the whole purpose of this fake-dating contract is for him to get his dream movie role—one that will have him leaving for LA before we’d ever have the opportunity to explorewhatever this isbetween us.
He sets me in the backseat of Shayna’s car, Daisy Mae—affectionately named after one of her favorite Taylor Swift songs. “I can find you a water bottle before you drive home.”
“I’ll be okay. Thanks, though.” I don’t meet his gaze, knowing that if I look at him right now and see concern written all over his face—concern forme—that I might very well give in and kiss him. I can’t let that happen, not when I still have questions I need him to answer.
He’s quiet for so long that I finally glance up at him. Griffin is staring at me, his blue eyes soft but searching, as if he can feel the shift. As if he can see my attraction to him building and my walls slowly falling. That I finally believe this may not have been an act.
The hope, excitement, and uncertainty I feel are all reflected in his gaze. It makes me feel seen and knownwithout sharing any words, reminding me of how I felt on our first date. Like there’s a connection between us that supersedes anything I’ve ever known. I don’t know how long we sit there like that, lost in each other’s gazes, before Shayna clears her throat.
“We should probably get Mal home so she can rest,” she says.
Reluctantly, his eyes leave mine, and he smiles softly at my friends. “Right.” Griffin leans back in the car and presses a kiss to my forehead. “Please don’t hesitate to call if you need anything tonight.”
“She won’t.” Tess wiggles her eyebrows.
Once he’s a few paces away, my friends bounce excitedly.
“He’s in love with you,” Alyssa squeals.
“Totally,” Kelsey and Tess say at the same time.
“Did you see the way he went all broody, scooping her up in his arms like he was in an action movie and saving the woman he loves from all the falling buildings around them?” Shayna lets out a dreamy sigh, leaning against her car.
“What are you going to do, Mal?” Tess asks, looking at me knowingly. Since Kelsey started dating Tess’s brother, she’s become the perfect addition to our friend group, fitting in seamlessly like the puzzle piece we didn’t know we were missing.
“You looked like you were about to kiss each other like the world was ending.” Alyssa fans herself with her hand.
“I felt like I was watching a romance movie play out right in front of me.” Shayna giggles.
I’d be lying if I didn’t feel the same way. I felt more flutters in my stomach from Griffin’s eye contact alone than I’ve ever felt kissing another man. The only thing that beat that feeling was my first kiss with Griffin.
“I should go save my brother before Evie starts asking him where babies come from.” Tess blows us a kiss goodbye.
The rest of my friends pile into Daisy Mae.
“When are you going to see him next?” Alyssa shakes her shoulders and makes a kissy face.
I shove her arm. “Probably not until Christmas Eve at my parents’ house.”
“He’s coming to your house for Christmas?” They squeal again like a horde of schoolgirls at a boy band concert.
“Did I not tell y’all that?” I hum.
“You certainly didnot.” Shayna frowns—as much as the epitome of sunshine can frown—at me in the rearview mirror.
“Oh, this is about to be good.” Kelsey turns in the passenger seat, grinning at me.
Once I’ve talked to Griffin about the interview, I think it might be time to see if the sparks are still there because they were definitely buzzing between us tonight.
If I still feel them, then I think it’ll be just like Kelsey said: the story of us is about to get good.
If the snow falling outside is any indication of how today will go, I’m hopeful for a peaceful day. A fresh start.
But I agreed to spend today with Griffin, so my anxious anticipation to see him doesn’t leave me feeling very peaceful.
I had told myself I wouldn’t see him again until the Christmas celebrations at my parents’ house. However, Griffin made it impossible to deny his request to see metoday. He wants to find his granny a small tree from the local lot for her to have in her facility. Once my mom learned what we were doing, she gave me all her extra Christmas decorations so we could jazz up the space.
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t scared to see his granny again—tolieto her. But Griffin said he couldn’t put her off any longer. Turns out, she’s been asking to see me again since the day our faces appeared in the tabloids. And I may be stubborn about many things, but I’d never deny her wishes to see her grandson happy, even if she doesn’t know that it’s not entirely real.
