Chapter 27
I walk to Mallory’s front porch, eager to see her for the first time since we’ve returned from LA.
Telling her about my audition for the fantasy movie was both relieving and terrifying.
I felt so much better not holding that information back from her, even if it was only for a day.
But talking to her about the potential of leaving in the next few weeks physically makes my heart ache.
We ended the conversation with her telling me she was happy for me and that she wants me to pursue my dream, but it still makes me sick to my stomach.
I already left her once for an audition, and it took me three years to find her again.
We’re officially dating now, but it doesn’t seem wise to start our relationship by spending months apart, where I’ll have very little time to talk to her, and be three hours behind her, thanks to time zones.
I don’t want this to be something that ends up coming between us.
I inhale a deep breath and release it slowly through my mouth. I’m getting ahead of myself. I haven’t even been offered the role. There’s still time to figure it out.
After my heart returns to a normal rhythm, I raise my hand and knock on the front door. I offered to help Mallory bake cookies for her upcoming school fundraiser, and I figured it could be a fun activity for us to get a few photos or videos to post together.
It’s refreshing being able to post footage together for real, like the ones we shared on social media from the red carpet. Although I had to stop reading the comments on that one before I started to track down and punch every man leaving comments about how hot Mallory was.
The door opens, and Kelsey’s dog, Winston, runs to me, licking any stretch of visible skin. Once my ankles and hands are thoroughly slobbered on, he seems appeased. I ruffle the fur on his head. “Hey, buddy.”
Mallory laughs, and I move my gaze up, finally getting a good look at her.
Her hair is up in a messy bun with a few wavy hairs framing her face.
She’s in a magenta long-sleeved shirt and jeans with a lacey blush-pink apron over her outfit.
And she’s just as gorgeous in this as she was at the movie showing.
“Are you ready to bake your heart out?” she asks.
I nod. “Put me to work, boss.”
She steps to the side with a raised brow and a smirk, letting me inside. “Boss? I like the sound of that.”
“I’ll call you whatever you want, beautiful.”
I move into the kitchen. Mallory walks to the other side of the kitchen island.
Leaning her elbows on the counter, she looks at me playfully.
“Boss will do, for now. But I’m sure I can think of some other names.
” She tilts her head, looking like the sassy girl I quickly knew I needed in my life from the moment I met her. “Well, at least ones I could call you.”
The suggestiveness in her tone leaves me both wanting to know what names she’s thinking of and also slightly terrified of what they could be. My cheeks warm. “I think I’d be interested in hearing those later.”
“I’m sure you would.” She smirks and throws me an apron. “Put this on unless you want to mess up your fancy sweater and jeans.”
“I got these from the clearance rack at Kohl’s, thank you very much.” I pull the white apron over my head and tie it behind my back.
“Does saying that make you feel better about being rich and famous?”
“I’ve only made two movies.”
Mallory gets the oven preheating and starts grabbing ingredients from the fridge and pantry. “One of which has made over one hundred fifty million.”
“I don’t get to keep that money.”
“I know that, I’m just saying that I think that makes you famous. And since your salary for the movie is public knowledge, I’d say that makes you rich as well.”
I love how she keeps me on my toes, never knowing what she’s going to say next.
What Mallory doesn’t know is how much of that money is now gone.
Between what I’ve donated to charities, my granny’s hip replacement and top-of-the-line rehab facility, my house rental here and my apartment in LA, security teams for my rental and Mallory’s house, my drivers, the private jet, and all the normal costs of monthly living, I’ve spent a lot of my earnings.
But I’d do it all over again if it brought me back to her. To end up here in her kitchen with Taylor Swift playing in the background like the soundtrack of our lives.
She snaps her fingers. “Earth to Griffin.”
I blink rapidly. “Sorry, what was that?”
“Can you put all the dry ingredients into that bowl?” She hands me a recipe notecard.
I salute her. “Sure thing.” I carefully measure flour, baking powder, and salt into a bowl while Mallory beats butter, sugar, brown sugar, and eggs with a mixer.
I use the back of a butter knife to even out my ingredients, wanting these cookies to be perfect. Once I’ve finished, I pass over the dry ingredients to her. Before I know it, she’s worked her magic and is sliding cookie sheets into the oven.
Mallory turns around and walks my way with a playful glint in her eye. “You know, you have something right here.” She reaches up and touches my cheek, leaving behind something that feels like dust.
I narrow my eyes slightly. “Did you just put flour on my face?”
“It was already there.” She shrugs, feigning innocence.
I grab a small pinch of flour from the container, rubbing it between my fingers before swiping some across Mallory’s nose. “Mm-hmm. Just like you already had flour on your nose.”
She places her hands on her hips. “Don’t start a fight you can’t win.”
I lick my lips, and satisfaction courses through me as I watch her eyes dip to them. “I’d only lose because I’d let you win. Since I’m a gentleman and all.”
“It sounds like we’re both winners, then.” Mallory goes up on her tiptoes, her eyes still on my mouth. It would be plain rude to refuse an invitation like that. I brush my nose against hers, teasing. Mallory wraps her hands around my neck, tugging my mouth to hers.
It feels like we’ve done this thousands of times, the way our lips seem to know each other and move together. But it also feels like the first time, passionate and exhilarating.
It’s as clear to me as the sky after a huge storm. If it’s not Mallory, it’s no one for me.
She tilts her head, giving me the perfect access to the hollow spot on her neck. I move my lips there, and she lets out a small sound that I love even more than her laugh because this sound is only for me. I smile against her skin.
I can’t help but think that Mallory was right. In this moment, I’d say we’re both winners.
I’ve thought Mallory was beautiful since I met her, but seeing her in action with her students at this fundraiser takes it to a new level. Her passion for teaching oozes out of her, and she looks just as at ease and natural with the kids as she does on the ice.
Right now, she’s surrounded by a horde of young girls who look like they’re trying to convince her to do the inflatable obstacle course they’re standing by.
I can’t help but smile like a lovestruck fool, watching her in her element.
That is, until I see a young boy stomping his way over to me.
I readjust my ballcap. This is Mallory’s work event, something for her students and school, so I’ve just been trying to keep the focus off me.
It hasn’t been entirely effective since parents, teachers, and students in attendance have still asked for pictures, but everyone’s been respectful.
But the scowl the young boy walking toward me is wearing makes it seem like that’s about to change.
“Hey, you.” He crosses his arms like he’s trying to look more menacing, even though he’s four feet tall. “I’ve seen you and Ms. Porter all over the magazines at the grocery store. What are your intentions with her?”
“How old are you?” I laugh, thinking he’s kidding, but if his eye daggers could kill, I’d be dead.
“Old enough to know how to treat a woman.”
I don’t know if this kid watches movies that are too mature for him or if his mom reads him romance novels every night. But either way, he seems to think he’s wise beyond his years in the romance realm.
I bend down, getting to his level. “I can’t tell you that I’ll always be perfect, but I promise to always treat Mal—I mean, Ms. Porter—how she deserves to be treated. Like the queen she is.”
He narrows his eyes and looks me over like he’s Gordon Ramsay and I’m an undercooked risotto. Finally, his gaze softens. “I guess you’re okay.” He points a finger at me. “But if you don’t treat her right, you’ll be on my list.”
On his list? This kid can’t be serious.
“Good to know.” I ruffle his hair. “Enjoy the bounce house.” I push up on my knees and hightail it out of there. When I see Mallory still standing with the group of girls, I head her way.
She smiles when she sees me approaching and turns to the girls. “I’ll go on the obstacle course with y’all after Principal Abernathy’s speech.”
That answer seems to appease them because they skip away.
Mallory turns back to me. “I saw you were talking with Aiden.”
Well, now I know what name to tell Karina to watch out for in my hate mail.
“If you can call it talking,” I chortle.
“He’s a little precocious.”
“A little?” I cross my arms. “That kid is either going to be the future president or on America’s Most Wanted.”
“You’re not wrong.” She laughs. “I hope he didn’t scare you away.”
I wrap my arm around her waist as we head to the stage set up on the opposite side of the gymnasium. “There’s not a single thing in this world that could scare me away.”
She beams up at me. “I have to go stand by all the teachers for the principal’s speech, but I’ll find you after?”
I kiss the crown of her head. “Sounds good.”
As she moves to the stage, I head to the back of the crowd, trying to blend in.
I came to support Mallory, not to have a spotlight on me.
As the principal begins talking, my phone vibrates in my pocket.
Karina’s name flashes on my screen, and I know that I should probably answer.
Peering over the crowd, I find Mallory already looking at me.
I hold up my phone, frowning. She gives me a little wave, so I step out into the hallway and answer the call.
“Hey, Karina.”
“Do you want the good news or the good news?”
“Give it to me.”
I hear a rare smile in her voice. “You got it.”
My mouth falls open as her words sink in. “Wait. You’re telling me they want me for the lead role in The Heartless Prince? I thought they weren’t going to decide for a few weeks?”
“After they saw your audition, they didn’t want to see any more. They knew they’d found their heartless prince.” Karina laughs.
It’s so uncharacteristic of her that I can’t help but balk. “What’s so funny?”
“Thinking of you being heartless.” She pauses, and I can hear papers shuffling. “I guess that’s why they call it acting.”
“Thank you?” My voice rises, making my statement sound more like a question as I attempt to process everything.
I’m going to be the heartless prince. It’s truly my dream role…so, why am I not excited?
I run my hand along my chin, the feel of the scruff against my fingers bringing me back to reality. “You said there was more good news?”
“Oh, right. They want you here next week for a chemistry read.”
I wouldn’t consider that good news when it means leaving Mallory sooner than expected. I swallow hard. “Then after that?”
“You’ll begin your extensive physical training. They mentioned that you’ll need to work on combat skills, weapons training, and potentially some stunt training on top of normal physical training and dieting.”
“Okay.” I pace the hallway. “Can I get back to you?”
“Get back to me?” Karina scoffs. “You’re kidding, right?” She sighs like I’m her most exasperating client. “This is what you’ve always wanted.”
“I just need a day to figure things out here.”
She’s quiet again, and that scares me more than her screaming at me. Her silence speaks volumes for someone who is always brief and onto her next task. “Is this about Mallory?”
“Yes,” I answer honestly. “And Granny.”
“If Mallory cares about you, she’ll be fine with you leaving to film. She has to know this is how relationships work in Hollywood.” The sound of more rustling papers comes through the speaker. “They need teachers everywhere. It’s not like she’s stuck there for her job.”
I would never ask that of Mallory. Not when I know how much her family and friends mean to her.
“And I’m sure Granny will understand,” Karina adds. “You have her in a great facility.”
I know she’s right, but I can’t have her tell the director that I’ll be there next week without talking to Mallory and Granny first.
“I’ll call you back soon, Karina.”
“Griffin, I need—”
I hang up. I’ve never done that to my agent before, but I know Karina will find a way to get me the time I need.
I return to the gymnasium, closing the door softly behind me so it doesn’t make a loud sound as the principal finishes her speech. I find Mallory in the crowd again, and I can see the concern written across her face from here.
Is everything okay? she mouths.
I nod, shooting her a forced smile. There’s no use ruining her work event. My dilemma will be the same in a few hours as it is right now.
“Please make sure to check out the sweets table and silent auction.” Principal Abernathy clasps her hands in front of her.
“Now, we don’t usually include sweets sale items in our silent auction, but this year we have a real treat.
There are a dozen cookies baked by the actor Griffin Reynolds and our very own Mallory Porter. ”
A few excited squeals sound from the crowd, and a large group of moms rushes to the side of the room where the auction is set up to bid on my cookies.
Seeing as I only measured the dry ingredients, I wouldn’t classify them as my cookies, but as long as it brings in money for the school, I don’t care what they label them.
I dip my chin as they run by, hiding my face. Thankfully, most people who have recognized me have been pretty quiet about me being here. I want this to remain a school fundraiser, not turn into a Griffin Reynolds event.
The principal watches the mass exodus with wide eyes. “Thank y’all for supporting our school. Enjoy the festivities, and go, Wildcats!”
Mallory quickly makes her way to me once the crowd disperses. “What’s wrong?” she asks.
I purse my lips, not wanting to lie to her. “We can talk about it later.”
Her forehead creases with worry. “I can leave early if—”
“Go spend time with your students. Everything will be the same in a few hours as it is now.”
I only hope that’s still the truth after she finds out I might be leaving next week.