Chapter 8 #2
“You’re spoiling me.” She looks from the steak to me with wide eyes.
I take the seat across from her. “You deserve to be spoiled.”
“What would I do without you?” Granny pushes her salad aside and cuts into her steak. After she eats a bite, she dives right back in for more. “You outdid yourself.”
“Steak is one of the few things I know how to cook.”
“You won’t hear me complaining.”
I dig into my plate. This cut of meat is my favorite, and something I treat myself to often. Life is too short not to eat your favorite foods.
I’m diving into my baked potato when Granny clears her throat. “You know that I love having you here, but I feel like I’m keeping you from your life in LA.”
She would scold me if she knew that I have an offer on the table for another rom-com right now that I planned to pass on to stay here while she recovers. An opportunity I’m for sure going to pass on now that I know Mallory is here, too.
Granny already put up a fight about me paying for her surgery and her stay in the rehab facility.
If she knew how much I was paying for my rental house, she’d probably insist on paying me back.
Money means nothing in comparison to her health.
I don’t want her to feel like I’m missing out on something from being here, even though I am.
Family is my priority. They always have been.
“I’m in between projects right now,” I fib. “You know I always travel back and forth as my schedule allows.”
“This center gives me everything I need and more.” Granny tuts. “I’ll be here for at least a few months. I don’t want to be a bother.”
I reach across the table and set my hand gently on hers. “You’re never a bother or a burden.” I want to sell the fact that I want to be here. An idea pops into my mind, and my mouth is already moving before I can even think about what I’m saying. “I’m here for another reason, too.”
This lie has Granny raising her eyebrows. “Do I have to pry it out of you?”
“I wanted to visit my girlfriend.”
“Your costar lives here?”
“No, that’s a publicity stunt.” I rub a hand along my chin. “It’s Mallory.”
Granny’s eyes light up. “The Mallory who sang carols for us at your parents’ house? The Mallory you haven’t stopped talking about for three years? That Mallory?”
I nod.
“How long have you been together?” She pouts. “How could you hide this from me?”
“It’s pretty new.” I press my lips together, knowing this is a terrible idea, but there’s no stopping it now.
“I finally found her. I always told you that when I found her again, I wouldn’t be dumb enough to let her go.
I’d love to stay for a while if you’re up for it, so I can also date Mallory.
” I smile, trying to look more confident than I feel.
What if Granny wants to meet Mallory again or invite her over for dinner? She’s totally going to want to invite her over for dinner. What was I thinking? This is a terrible idea. Mallory wants nothing to do with me. I need to tell Granny the truth.
“I—” I start, but she cuts me off.
“I’m not one to stop young love.”
Well, I’m in this now. For better or for worse.
“I’m not exactly young anymore, Granny.” I rub the back of my neck.
“You’re young as a spring chicken to me.”
I laugh. She’s always used the funniest expressions and sayings.
“But if you don’t want me to call it young love, then I’m not one to stop true love.”
I swallow. “Love is a big word.”
“I know, but I thought you were smart enough for it to be in your vocabulary.”
“Hilarious.” I cover my mouth with a napkin to hide my smile.
“Don’t you hide that million-watt smile from me, Griffie,” she scolds.
I drop my napkin, feeling like a reprimanded child again. “Sorry, Granny.”
“Now, tell me all about how you reconnected with Mallory.”
I take a giant bite of my steak, hoping to buy myself some time to come up with a semblance of a story to tell her.
Just as I finish chewing, my phone vibrates on the wooden table.
I flip it over and see a picture of my agent.
Karina knows I’m here visiting with Granny, so if she’s calling, it must be important.
“Sorry, I should get this.” I swipe my thumb across the screen to answer the call. “How’s it going, Karina?”
She clucks her tongue. “You never stop making work for me, do you?”
“It’s why I’m your favorite client,” I answer, trying to sound lighthearted when I know this conversation is about to be anything but.
“No, it’s why you pay me the big bucks.”
“True.” I laugh before sobering, remembering she has a reason for calling. “What’s up?”
“Have you checked your phone recently?”
“No.” My mouth tugs into a frown. “Am I missing something?”
“Oh, only about one hundred pictures, videos, and articles about you and a mystery woman.”
I rub a hand over my face. “I was worried about that when I saw a bunch of phones pointed at us.”
“What were you thinking, Griffin?” I can practically see her pacing in her office, shaking her head.
Because she’s the kind of person who works in the office, even on a Sunday.
“No. You weren’t thinking,” she continues.
“That’s the problem. How am I supposed to spin this for your benefit?
We need your romantic comedy to do well, if you want to keep the new rom-com movie offer on the table.
And especially if you still want me to try to get you an audition for that fantasy script you loved, The Heartless Prince.
” Her tone rises an octave. “How is your rom-com going to do well, you ask?” Karina sighs.
“By being seen everywhere with Britt. Not some mystery woman.”
My heart constricts at the thought of losing my dream role. I rub the back of my neck, thankful she can’t see me as I deflect. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard you talk for so long. You’re usually so busy.”
“My role as your agent is to save your career. That’s what I’m doing.”
“That’s why you’re the best, Karina.”
“Who is she, Griffin?” She sounds tired. I bet she’s squeezing the stress ball I bought her after our first meeting. It has my face on it, so hopefully it’s somewhat cathartic for her to squeeze the crap out of my head while working overtime. “What happened in that coffee shop?”
“That’s the question that’s been running through my head since yesterday.”
“You don’t even know who she is?”
“Oh, no. I know who she is. I just have no idea where we stand.”
She sighs. “What’s her name?”
“Veronica Mallory Porter. She goes by Mallory, though.”
This bit of information seems to shock Karina into silence.
After I landed my first movie and hired Karina as my agent, I told her all about Mallory.
She could tell how upset I was that she even had her team try to look for her, but Mallory was like a ghost in a cemetery: she haunted me, but I could never find her.
A few beats later, Karina exhales loudly. “No kidding. After all these years of looking, you found her in a coffee shop?”
“Right where it all began. Well, not the actual coffee shop, but you get the picture.”
Karina groans. “I’m going to take a wild guess that you’re not going to change your mind about the latest rom-com? The offer’s already on the table, and it’s a good role.”
But it’s not the role I’ve dreamed of. There will always be another movie. There’s only one Mallory.
“I’m not changing my mind,” I say, resolute. “I’m going to stay in Louisville, but I’m still interested in an audition for The Heartless Prince.”
“I’ll try to work my magic, but this situation just got a whole lot stickier. I think we need to include her in the conversation.”
My heart drops into my stomach. I’ve been thinking about how much work this will be for my agent, but I failed to consider how much this will impact Mallory.
The girl who doesn’t have social media because she didn’t want her students to ever find anything online about her that could be embarrassing.
This is worse. So much worse. Like her life is being put on a billboard with spotlights shining on it for the entire city—the entire world—to see.
“Can you contact her and set up a call for the three of us tomorrow?” Karina asks. “That way, I don’t have to go over everything twice.”
I’ll have to track down Mallory’s phone number, but that shouldn’t be hard considering I know her full name now. “Aye aye, captain.”
“And try to stay in your rental until this blows over.”
“Affirmative.”
“You can’t see it, but I’m rolling my eyes.”
“You’d better go catch them.”
Karina lets out a long breath. “You don’t pay me enough for this.”
“I’ll have Granny make you her famous buttermilk pie once she’s back on her feet and overnight it to you.”
“Now you’re talking.” Her voice sounds softer, more concerned, as she says, “I know you’re still getting used to the spotlight, Griffin. But just remember that the paparazzi won’t stop until they get what they want. So be careful, and call that girl before this blows up even more.”
With that, the line clicks. Karina never signs off phone calls. Usually, I don’t mind it. But this time, it feels ominous, like the current predicament I’m in.
Looks like I need to find Mallory…
Again.