24. Griffin
GRIFFIN
T he cockiness of Jaxon’s every word gets under every inch of my skin, testing my every nerve. The balls of this guy. Trying to move in on my girl.
Idiot. She’s not yours.
I hate not being able to claim she’s mine . At the very least that we’re dating.
Despite having my conversation with Scarlet, she wedged herself right next to me the whole night. Granted, that is the reason for my being here—to further prove our relationship. But every time I try to slip away to get to Ashton, she snags my arm and insists we meet someone else.
I only got a reprieve because she had to use the restroom. I darted directly for Ashton.
“How’re things with Scarlet?” Jaxon slips a hand into his front pocket, the gesture casual, not at all like he just shot ammo at me.
I narrow my eyes, knowing what he’s trying to do. He’s trying not only to get under my skin, but he’s also driving home the point that I’m not single and therefore have no right to pursue Ashton.
He’s right, but that’s beside the point.
There’s no way I’d let this guy—my nemesis of all people—weasel his way into Ashton’s life. I don’t trust the man, for one. With every role I’d ever auditioned for, he was right behind me, swooping in and stealing it from under me. I won’t let that happen with Ashton.
I clench and unclench my jaw. “Things with Scarlet are fine.”
“Gotcha, gotcha. See, what I think is”—he steps closer, his voice lowering—“you’re just keeping Princess happy, biding your time until her daddy gifts you a role.
Then you get said role and this relationship of yours”—he puts relationship in air quotes,—“just, poofs, magically disappears. Am I right?” He smacks my stomach like we’re frat brothers just messing around.
I am not amused.
He swipes the side of his nose with his thumb. “Look, just drop the fake act, bro. I know you don’t care for the woman. But I get it. Get your kicks where you can.”
“We’re done talking.” I stalk around him.
“All I’m saying is, stay in your lane.”
I pause my steps for some stupid reason, waiting to hear whatever further nonsense this man spews.
“You’re made for TV roles, pretty boy. Leave the film industry for the real actors, you know?”
I clench my fists and slowly turn, keeping my voice quiet. “I earn whatever role I get.” Even though I practically spit the words, they taste sour in my mouth, and doubt creeps in.
Is he right? Can I not hack it? Am I just some washed-up, mediocre television actor with only a notorious set of abs to his name?
Jaxon chuckles. “Sure you do. Hey man, I’m just trying to save you some misery.”
“How’s that?” Why do I keep talking to this joker?
He grabs a glass from a passing server and sips. “Wesley’s sought me out about his next film project. You and I both know, if it’s between you and me, who he’ll pick.”
Is that true? Surely not. Wesley would be breaching our contract. This idiot’s got to be blowing smoke. “Guess we’ll just have to wait and see, won’t we?”
He tips his cup to his forehead like a salute. “Guess we will. Enjoy the party, Griff. And say hi to your girlfriend for me…whichever one she may be.” He walks off, chuckling to himself, taking his waddling bulldog with him.
I inhale deeply and shake off some of my tension. I grab a couple of drinks from a serving tray and walk toward the ladies’ table. “Hey there, sorry about that, got tied up.”
Ashton keeps her head down, focused entirely on her plate.
Not the case with Wren.
“Did you, now? It seems you’ve gotten held up the entire night.” Wren arches an eyebrow, not letting me get away with crap. Her eyes dart to Ashton, wide-eyed, lips pursed, before looking at me again.
“I know, I’m sorry. It got a little crazy. But I’m here now.”
Yeah, you jerk. Like, problem solved. Let the fun begin. You’re going to have to do better than that.
“Uh-huh.” Wren stabs at the food with her fork, murder in her eyes.
I change directions. “Seems like the rescue is getting a lot of buzz. I overheard several people talking about it. That’s amazing, Ashton.”
“Yeah. It is.” She looks up briefly but jerks her gaze downward again.
I have some serious groveling to do. “Did you check your Venmo yet? Anyone send any donations?”
Her head leaps up like she hadn’t even considered looking until now. She pulls out her phone. “I don’t know, lemme check.” She clicks through her apps and opens it. “This has to be a mistake.”
Wren leans over, trying to glance at Ashton’s phone. “Why? What’s wrong?”
Ashton looks at me. “It says there’s almost fifty thousand dollars in here.”
“Sounds about right.” I sip on my drink, confident in her and her passion for animals, unsurprised she’d been able to move people into action from a mere interaction with her.
Wren pulls Ashton into a side hug. “That’s amazing! See! I told you! Wasn’t all this socialization worth it?”
Ashton laughs, putting a shaking hand over her mouth, and nods.
“This calls for a celebration,” I announce.
Wren lifts her cup into the air. “Hear, hear!”
Finally, finally, Ashton’s beautiful smile is back on her face where it should be.
“How about we kick this joint and go out for a celebratory treat?”
“I’m game,” Wren pipes in. “My calves are killing me in these shoes. It’s not easy keeping heels from sinking into the grass all night.”
“Sounds good to me,” Ashton chimes as she pats Teddy’s head.
They stand from their chairs just as a hand clasps my shoulder from behind.
“Not leaving so soon, are you?” Wesley grins. His daughter trails behind him, talking to someone.
“Oh, hey, actually I think we might.” I awkwardly stumble through my words. “If that’s okay?”
He guffaws. “Oh, I’m just giving you a hard time. But first, there’s someone here I want you to meet.”
“Okay, sure.” I feel like a fish caught in a net.
Wesley steps aside to reveal a woman in a hot-pink tailored pantsuit.
She’s in her fifties or sixties, I would guess.
Her short-cropped hair is dyed with a mix of blonde highlights and lowlights.
If her straight posture and nose tipped in the air weren’t enough indication of her wealth, her Louboutin heels and Louis Vuitton purse are.
She gasps. “Griffin Ford? Oh my goodness. The Griffin Ford?”
She strides toward me, pulling me into a hug. Her potent perfume overloads my senses, making me gag. She releases me just as quickly as she grasped me and tosses me to the side. The interaction makes me dizzy.
“Ashton? What are you doing here?” Her tone surprised, yet condescending.
Ashton immediately shrinks in on herself, her previous joy extinguishing as quickly as a flame. “Hi, Mom.”
My jaw nearly falls to the ground. Her mom? Here?
While Ashton hasn’t fully divulged all the details of her relationship with her mom, her body language tells me everything I need to know. Her mom is the last person she wants to see.
I step forward, blocking Ashton from view. “She’s here with me.” Though unnecessary, I stand a little straighter, my chest puffing out.
The woman’s eyes dart from behind me to my face. She lets out a nervous chuckle, trying to recover from the harsh tone she used to greet her daughter. “Oh, don’t be silly. I mean her no harm. We’re on good terms, she and I.” She leans slightly to the side, speaking around me. “Aren’t we, darling?”
When Ashton doesn’t reply, her mom turns her focus back to me.
“Silly me, I didn’t properly introduce myself.
I’m Edith Blake, Ashton’s mother.” Her voice pitches higher.
“Though you wouldn’t know it since she cut herself off from me.
” She chuckles again, as if she can laugh off her not-so-subtle dig.
Her attempt to make light of this awkward encounter is abysmal. The tension thickens the air.
Wesley steps up, wrapping an arm around Edith’s shoulder.
“When Edith shared some of her life’s story with me last week in our meeting and recounted having two daughters”—he says, gesturing to Ashton—“one of them named Ashton, I thought it seemed too coincidental for the two of them not to meet. And look, I was right. A long-lost family member. Quite the family reunion, huh?” He opens his other arm to welcome Scarlet into his embrace.
Wesley looks to Ashton. “We can give you two a moment to get reacquainted if you’d like.”
Ashton has yet to remove herself from behind me, nor has she said a word.
“That would be lovely,” Edith replies.
At the same time, I say, “No.”
Scarlet steps forward. “Babe, let these ladies chat. I’ve still got plenty of people to introduce you to.”
A small voice chirps behind me, “Excuse me. I’ve got to?—”
Ashton takes off across the yard, hobbling toward the house as quickly as her injury will allow.
I take a step in her direction.
Scarlet’s hand clasps on my forearm. “Let her go. She needs a minute.”
I study her face. It’s surprisingly full of sympathy, but there’s also a hint of pleading in her gaze. Her father’s watching this whole exchange—as well as half the surrounding party. He arches an eyebrow.
Is this a test? Is he trying to get me to break the terms of our contract? Is that what this is all about? He doesn’t actually want me to be in his next film? He’d rather have Jaxon? We restored Scarlet’s reputation in the public eye, so as far as he’s concerned, my work is done.
No way. Not gonna happen. I’ve tolerated this relationship for nine long months. I’m not about to throw in the towel when we’re this close to finishing it. I need this film role.
“I’ve got it.” Wren’s voice pipes up from behind me.
I forgot she was even here.
“You take the dogs. I’ll go check on her.” She hands me the leashes to all three dogs, then slips off her shoes.
In a low voice, I say, “I’ll be there as quickly as I can.”
She nods, then takes off in a light jog, carrying her heels in each hand.
“Such a sensitive girl that one is. She always has been,” Ashton’s mom says.
My jaw ticks. “That must be where her big heart comes from.”
“Oh yes, yes. I’ve caught wind of her little furry philanthropic idea. Perfect party for her to capitalize on that, it would seem. I taught her well.” She laughs and smacks Wesley’s bicep like the two are old chums.
I cross my arms. Scarlet stands steady next to me. I feel a slight camaraderie between us at this moment.
I’d like to tell Edith her daughter is absolutely nothing like her, but instead, I keep the conversation civil. Ever the showman. As my father taught me to be.
“I don’t see your dog, Ms. Blake. What brings you here tonight?”
“I invited her,” Wesley volunteers. “We’ve been discussing various project ideas for her next reality TV series.”
“Oh really?”
“I figured you might have heard about it since your father was the one who brought her to me as a new client.”
“He’s a good man, that Thomas Ford. And mighty handsome, too.” She winks. “I can see where you get your good looks from.”
This cannot be happening.
As if saying his name conjures him, my father appears next to Edith and slips an arm around her waist. Not in a friendly, client sort of way, but a we’re-on-intimate-terms sort of way.
I’m going to be sick.
“Evening, Son. I see you’ve met Edith, one of my new clients. The brightest shining star in reality television.” He winks at her, and she titters like a schoolgirl in response.
Bile rises in my throat.
“You two kids having fun?” He gestures to Scarlet and me.
I’m afraid to open my mouth, unsure of what might escape. Scarlet rescues me.
“We are, actually.” She looks at me and smiles. “I’m in need of another drink, though. You want to walk me over to the bar?”
Shock ripples through me. Mere hours ago, I told this woman I only wanted friendship despite her having feelings for me, and here she is helping me?
“Sure,” is all I can manage.
“It was so nice meeting you, Griffin. I hope to see you again soon,” Edith then turns to my father. “Maybe even dinner together sometime? It’s been so long since I’ve had a family meal.” To me, she adds, “Maybe you can persuade Ashton to come too. Assuming that’s okay with you, Scarlet?”
“We can arrange that.” Dad squeezes her side, and her smile widens.
Over my dead body.
Scarlet slips her hand into mine and tugs me toward the bar. “Sure. Well, we’ll catch you guys later.”
Teddy looks up at me, whining as if sensing the storm brewing under my skin. I try to calm my racing heart. “It’s okay, boy.” Stupid me. He’s probably more worried about Ashton. “I’ll get you back to her, don’t worry.” Roxy and Teddy, along with Churro, allow me to tow them along.
“You okay?” Scarlet whispers.
“Yeah.”
“What was that all about?”
“I have no idea.” I comb my fingers through my hair. “I need to check on Ashton, though.”
She nods, her face solemn. “I figured.”
“Are you going to be okay?”
“I’ll be fine.”
The way she says it is like she wants to add “ eventually .” Which is fair enough. I did land a pretty solid jab on her tonight.
I kiss her cheek. “Thank you,” I say, hoping the gesture conveys my sincerity for a multitude of things. Primarily for the strangeness of the situation—being rescued by the woman I just crushed, only to chase after my crush.