Chapter 29
It’s been a week since Mallory told me she was falling in love with me, and I still haven’t come down from the feeling. I’ve been walking around with my head in the clouds, a permanent smile pasted on my face. One that I never want to fade.
But I have a feeling it will after today. I don’t think it’s possible to leave Mallory behind tomorrow and still wear a grin, even if I’m excited about this movie. Saying ‘see you later’ to her is going to be the hardest thing I’ve done.
One thing at a time, I remind myself. I have to say my goodbyes to Granny first. Today is a whole day of mixed emotions, so I’m going to embrace them. I can feel both joy and dread at the same time.
Ted drops me off and I head inside, waving hi to the receptionist as I pass by. When I arrive outside Granny’s room, I’m greeted with a flood of memories from when Mallory came here with me. With a deep breath, I knock on the door.
“Come in,” Granny’s gentle voice calls out.
I walk in with a forced smile and pull her into a hug. She presses a kiss to my cheek before pulling back.
“You’re feeling a little thin.” Granny pats my stomach. I can’t imagine I’ve lost much weight since I saw her last, but it’s her job to worry about me. “You need some sweets. The dining hall has the best banana pudding. I could get you some.” She gestures to the door, and I shake my head.
“Thanks for the offer, but I can’t stay long.” I help her back into her recliner and sit on the edge of the coffee table across from her.
“I know, I was just trying to prolong our goodbye.” Her smile is as warm and sweet as a chocolate chip cookie straight out of the oven. “I’m so proud of you, Griffie. This role is going to open even more opportunities for you. I know it.”
Her words bolster my spirit. “Do you think the Griffies will jump from the rom-com to the fantasy train?”
“They will if I tell them to,” she tuts.
I raise my brow. It’s taken over two years, but I caught her red-handed. “Ha! You finally admitted you’re the creator of my fandom.”
Granny’s mouth drops open, and she sputters. “I— You— I did no such thing.”
“Sure.” I’m not one to second-guess her intentions, so I let it slide. Even though we both know the truth. “I know you’ve said you’ll be okay, but I feel awful leaving you here alone.”
Granny waves off my comment. “Oh, don’t fret about me. I’ve made a few friends to keep me company. And, like I said, the banana pudding really is something to talk about.”
“Well, I just can’t compete with banana pudding.”
She shakes a finger at me. “Don’t go twisting my words, Griffie.”
“I’m just kidding.” I wrap my hand around her dainty, wrinkled fingers. “I’ll miss you.”
“Me too, but I refuse to be sad when I’m so excited for you.” She squeezes my hand with surprising strength. “I do have a question, though.”
“Yeah?”
“How are you feeling about leaving Mallory?”
I lean back in my seat and sigh. “I’ve been trying not to think about it.”
“Lucky for you, there are cell phones now and the fancy video calls.”
“It’ll be hard to talk as much as I want with the time difference and demanding schedule.” I inhale a shaky breath.
“How does that make you feel?” Granny asks.
“I feel horrible complaining since I know how lucky I am to have my Mallory and my career, but it feels like I’m going to be leaving half of my heart behind tomorrow.”
“It’s okay to be excited about the movie and also sad about leaving the girl you love behind.
” Granny pats my arm. “I’ve seen the way you two look at each other.
And, trust me, she’ll still feel the same way when you get back.
Feelings that deep don’t change in a few months.
You two are meant for each other. Just like your grandfather and I were. ”
I didn’t know my grandpa well. He died when I was ten, but every story I’ve heard about him has made it feel like he’s still here, still part of me. I think that’s the best we can hope for when we’re gone—that our legacy will live on through our loved ones from the impact we’ve made on them.
Granny always called Grandpa her soulmate.
She said she’d never love anyone the way she loved him.
And she’s stuck true to that promise. Even though she lost him young, she never considered remarrying.
I’ve always dreamed of a love that big, so hearing her compare me and Mallory to them is the highest compliment.
She smiles, making the wrinkles around her eyes and mouth deepen. “A little distance won’t change that.”
“Thank you. I love you.” I pull her into a hug, careful not to squeeze too hard.
She sniffles. “I love you, too. Now, go leave that sweet girl with something to remember you by until the next time you’re able to visit.”
I laugh and press a kiss to her wrinkled cheek. I think I’ll do just that.
“I’m going to miss you, beautiful.” I run my hand over Mallory’s hair, trying to memorize the feel of each strand.
Now that I have the honor of calling her mine, I don’t know how I’m going to leave her tonight.
There will be plenty of time to miss her in the coming months, but I want to be present while she’s beside me.
Mallory snuggles deeper into my side, resting her head on my chest and her legs across my lap. “I’ll miss you, too.”
I lose all sense of time holding her, soaking in the scent of her tropical shampoo and the way she fits perfectly in my arms. I’m about to ask her what she’s thinking, when my shirt begins to feel damp. I rub Mallory’s back in small, soothing circles and press a kiss to the top of her head.
I clear my throat as Mallory’s breathing steadies. “What are you thinking?”
“Your arms feel like home.” The words come out raw, filled with emotion. It was hard to leave Lover’s Grove, to leave my parents and Granny behind for my career, and LA has never felt like home to me. I haven’t had that settled sensation since leaving Tennessee, not until I found Mallory again.
Tears sting my eyes, and pain twists my heart like a sharp knife. I truly consider calling Karina and telling her this is a huge mistake, that I don’t want to go because I’ve already found what I was looking for.
I keep telling myself that this distance will make our relationship stronger.
We’ll grow our communication skills and not take a minute of time together for granted.
Plus, Mallory would never let me give up the movie.
But it doesn’t mean that I don’t think about how different life would be if I were a normal person able to find a new job to be near the woman I love.
Because I do love her. More than acting. More than life itself. More than I ever imagined possible. But I can’t imagine telling her that now. It sounds ridiculous, like, Hey, I love you. But now I’m gonna hop on this plane, and I won’t be back for months. Okay, love you, bye.
Yeah, that’s not going to fly.
I run my hand along her back, settling it on her hip. “I haven’t had a true home since I left Lover’s Grove for LA, but I found it in you.”
She lifts her chin, leaving our lips a breath apart. “That sounds like it should be a line in a movie.”
“What can I say?” I press my mouth to the corner of hers, teasing. “You inspire me.”
Mallory closes her eyes and murmurs, “Does that make me your muse?”
“My muse.” I kiss her cheek. “My girlfriend.” I move my lips to her forehead. “My favorite person.” I kiss the tip of her nose. “My beautiful girl.” I lower my head, dragging my lips along the hollow of her neck.
Mallory huffs impatiently, grabbing my stubbled cheeks. My laugh is swallowed by her mouth covering mine. Our lips move together in a flurry of passion, every tug and graze filled with the words we’re unable to say—the see you later we don’t want to speak aloud.
There’s no feeling that compares to this.
This connection is greater than anything I ever dreamed of experiencing in my lifetime.
Better than any screenwriter could come up with.
It’s the kind that comes from knowing each other deeply, growing together through trials, and coming out stronger on the other side.
I tug her closer and deepen the kiss. My fingers graze the soft skin of her back, under her sweater. She sighs against my lips and moves her hands to my hair, tugging at the strands. I tilt my head back, craving her touch.
“I’ve been meaning to ask you…” Mallory kisses the soft spot under my ear. “How do you always taste like cinnamon?”
I wasn’t even sure she noticed before, but now that I know the truth won’t scare her away, I say, “I started chewing cinnamon gum after I met you, since you loved the snickerdoodle hot chocolate so much.”
She scans my eyes. “Why?”
I kiss her lips, slow and flirtatiously. “So that I would taste like your favorite flavor if I ever found you again.”
“That’s the most thoughtful”—Mallory leans in and grazes my lips with hers—“and hot thing I’ve ever heard.”
I lower my mouth to hers again, and we continue to kiss and talk until the sun starts setting.
“Are you all packed and ready to go?” Mallory plays with the hair at the nape of my neck.
The truth is that I’m not ready for any of this. But is anyone ever prepared to find their person and leave them for the second time? There’s no amount of preparation that will make me feel ready to leave Louisville. To leave Mallory. But I have to.
“For the most part.” I sigh, glancing at the time on my phone. “I should probably get home and finish packing since I have an early morning.”
“What time does your flight leave again?”
“Eight.”
Mallory pushes up from the couch and extends her hands to me, helping me up. “At least you don’t have to be there too early since you’re leaving from that private airstrip.”
I walk with her to the front door. She stops and turns to face me. Tears brim in her eyes, and I hate that I’m the cause of them. I open my arms and she falls into them, her head fitting perfectly under my chin.
“I’m only a phone call away,” I say, my voice thick with emotion. “And we’ll figure out a schedule for visits and video calls as soon as I know what my schedule looks like.”
“I know.” Rising onto her tiptoes, Mallory presses her lips to mine. “I’ll be here cheering you on.”
After squeezing her tight one more time, I offer her as encouraging a smile as I can muster. “I’ll see you soon, beautiful.”
She nods and opens the door for me, leaning against it like it’s the only thing holding her up. “Bye, Griff.”
I move past her into the cold and walk to the waiting car.
With my hand on the door handle, I look back, and my heart tugs in my chest when I see Mallory still standing there, watching me leave.
I wave and blow her a kiss. She reaches her hand into the air like she’s catching it before holding it close to her chest.
If I don’t leave right now, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to. I open the door and slide into the backseat, feeling a heavy weight in my chest. Not just because I’m leaving Louisville. No, I’m leaving my heart behind with it.