29. Griffin
GRIFFIN
T ension and anxiety radiate from Ashton on the car ride home.
She brushed off my attempts to soothe her, racing out of the venue. I made quick excuses to Jorge and promised to follow up soon.
I drive like a madman and make it home in record time. Ashton slams the car door shut and storms into the house.
The minute I step inside, Ashton is already mid-sentence.
“—this happen?”
Ashton stands in the middle of the living room staring at Luke, arms crossed.
“Some photographers for a celebrity site hid outside the Rhodes mansion and caught some video and pictures of the two of you.”
“Do people know who I am?”
Luke gently closes the laptop sitting on his lap. “Sort of.”
“Sort of? What does that mean?”
“Apparently, your new account was tagged on the images.”
“How? How could they possibly know who I am?”
Luke looks at me and then back to Ashton. He heaves in a big breath. “Wren tagged you in them.”
“Wren?”
The hurt that crosses Ashton’s face has me immediately wanting to hold her.
“But why? The two of us being seen together has nothing to do with the rescue or my blog. It doesn’t make sense.” She adds in a small voice, almost to herself, “Why would she do that to me?” She plops into the armchair.
I come around the chair and sit on the edge of the armrest, rubbing slow circles on her back.
“My guess is she thought by tagging you, that Griffin’s connection to you would elevate your status.
It puts you on the map, so to speak. Despite the, um, nature of the post, any press is good—especially when it associates you with someone like my cousin.
” He reopens the laptop and flips the screen around.
“It’s already helped you in one aspect. You have half a million followers now. ”
“I what?” She pitches her body forward, looking closer at the screen.
“Yeah. And the numbers continue to go up.” He shrugs. “Like they say, bad press is good press.”
With wide eyes and her mouth agape, she turns to me.
Luke rushes to fill in. “Some good has come of it, at least.”
Ashton jumps up from her seat and begins pacing the room. Roxy lifts her head from her bed, clocking her movements.
“Are you serious? How is this good? Griffin is practically engaged to America’s sweetheart, and here I come in, looking like I’m trying to steal her man.” She waves her hand at me. “How are you not freaking out? This can’t be good for you either!”
Why am I not more upset? I should be. It puts me in a precarious situation with Scarlet, her father, and our contract, not to mention the damage it could do to my own stellar image. Right now, my focus is solely on Ashton and making this situation better for her.
Luke interjects. “By Wren tagging the video to your accounts, she helped guide the narrative. People know you’re not some miscellaneous arm candy.
You’re his dog trainer.” He points to Wren’s specific post. “Her tagline reads: My new best friend with my favorite neighbor. So grateful for his kindness in helping our dog trainer get safely to her car after a recent ankle injury. Hero of the night. And if you haven’t heard of The Furry Godmother, look her up.
She’s doing amazing things for the animal community. Hugs.”
“At least she didn’t say my real name,” Ashton whispers. She chews on her thumbnail, still pacing.
I jump into her path, halting her. I grab her arms and hold her still. “Listen, this is a good thing. Now you have ample followers. You weren’t sure you could pull off a gala. Now’s the time to strike. Play off this notoriety and announce the gala event. Today.”
I hate the doubt and insecurity I see in her expression as she looks into my eyes.
“You can do this.”
Luke clears his throat. “That’s actually a great idea.”
Both our heads swivel in his direction.
“Thanks to Wren, people connect you with big names like Griffin Ford, Wren Reynolds, and the Rhodeses. You’re in the inner circle now.
People will jump at the chance to get tickets to the gala knowing you’re connected to them.
Animal lovers will go for the cause, but now you’ve also provided another reason for people to go—to rub elbows with some of Hollywood’s biggest stars.
” He leans into the couch cushion and rests his arm along the back.
“You should capitalize on this. Put out a teaser today; keep them plugged in. Once we have the venue nailed down, we’ll make a formal announcement. ”
Her face darts to mine. “I don’t know…there’ll be so much to do. I still have work at the shelter, plus finding a place to live…I don’t know how I can manage all of this.”
“I’ll help,” Luke pipes in.
I rub my hands up and down her arms. “You know I will too. I guarantee Wren would love to help.” I dip my chin to her eye-level. “Let me hire someone—a party planner? I bet I could even get the name of the one Scarlet’s father used for his party.”
She scrunches her nose and sticks out her tongue.
I laugh. “Okay, maybe not that one. But another one? I’m sure there are plenty available on short notice for the right price.”
She crosses her arms and takes a step back, oscillating between looking at me and Luke. “Fine, but I don’t want you funding any part of the event. We’ll use the money I raised at the party last night.”
“Fair enough.”
“And if you’re going to help me, then you should both be on my board along with Lynn and me. If you’re going to be this invested, then you should get some credit for the event, too.”
I smile, enjoying this take-charge version of Ashton. It’s a good look on her. “Works for me.” I turn to Luke. “Luke?”
He inhales and stands, grinning. “I’m in.”
She bites her lip. “Okay, then, let’s do it!”
I yank her into a hug. “That’s my girl.” The words are out of my mouth before I even realize what I’ve said.
Her eyes widen and her lips soften, tilting upward at the edges.
I meant it. In my mind, she’s mine. At least, I want her to be.
When the time is right. I realize I come with…
complications, but when all this mess with Scarlet is over, I want to date Ashton for real.
Make it official. Make it public. Put my stamp on it.
Whatever. I want the whole world to know I’m crazy for this girl.
I nearly open my mouth to tell her just that, but the doorbell rings.
I walk to the entryway and open the door. “Dad?”
“We need to talk.” He holds up his phone, freeze-framed on the video from last night. His tight expression indicates this will be anything but an uplifting conversation. He pushes past me and into the entryway.
“Well hello, Dad. Come on in, please.” Roxy rounds the couch, barking for the first time ever at a guest in my house. “It’s okay, girl.” I pet the top of her head, and she stays steady at my side, her hackles still raised.
“I don’t have time for your sarcasm, son.” He gives a cursory glance to Roxy. “I can’t believe you actually kept the beast.”
I ignore his comment. The faster I can find out what he wants, the better. “Did you come by for a reason?”
“Yes, for you to explain this video.” He holds up his phone. “Why you’re with this woman and not your girlfriend at your girlfriend’s house?”
I shove my hands into my pockets, wishing my dad would treat me like his son, instead of belittling me like an errant teenager. He missed that window.
“It’s not some stranger. It’s my friend, Ashton. You know—” I almost say, “ your girlfriend, Edith’s daughter ,” but bite my tongue. Now’s not the time to argue about it.
Instead, I straighten, matching his height. “I’m helping her organize an event for the nonprofit rescue she’s getting off the ground.” I lean in closer. “A rescue I intend to serve on the board for.”
“Excuse me? We haven’t discussed this.”
“You’re my agent, not my boss. Pretty sure I can do whatever I want with my free time.”
Dad scoffs. “Except when everything you put your name on comes with millions of witnesses. You can’t just go investing your time in things without discussing them with me first. There are repercussions.”
“Actually, I can.” Some deep part of me hopes Dad will see how much I need this. Something outside of work. Something I want to do. “It’s something I believe in. I’m excited about it.”
“Son, the only thing you need to be excited about is your next role with Wesley Rhodes. That’s where your focus should be. Not on some…pet project.” He gestures to Ashton, still in the living room, as if she is the charity case and not the organization she represents.
I step toward him. “That’s enough!”
He matches my challenge, inching closer, and nails me square in the chest with his finger. “No, that’s enough from you. Son, you better get your act together, or you might as well throw your career in a dumpster fire because that’s exactly where it’s headed with these kinds of choices.”
I lift my chin. “Maybe I don’t care anymore.”
“That’s garbage, and you know it. This is everything you’ve been working toward. I’ve been listening to you gripe for years about Malibu Shores . I’ve handed you the perfect segue on a golden platter—Scarlet. And now you toss it in my face? You’re too close to waste it.”
I clench my fist, hating that he thinks this is the only way I’ll land a film deal and the doubt it festers inside me.
He speaks low, his tone harsh. “You’d best get your act together and be the man I raised you to be.
I’ve scheduled a public date for you and Scarlet tonight.
We’ve got to wash away all this bad press and make it clear who you’re really with.
You better sell the act like your life depends on it.
Or you can forget about Wesley’s multi-million-dollar film contract sitting on my desk. ”
That stops the tirade sitting on the tip of my tongue. “He made a formal offer?”
“Of course he did. The biggest you’ve ever had in your career. But I swear, if you break his girl’s heart—you screw this up—you can forget about this project.”
I don’t know what to say. It’s my dream come true. And yet…it comes at the cost of spending more time with Scarlet. More stupid, scripted fake dates being her doting boyfriend. I’m no better than a puppet on strings. I guess that makes my dad not my agent, but my puppeteer.
“Whatever you do in your private life—” his voice is low and menacing “—had better stay private. Got it? Now, clean up. You’ve got a date tonight. And you better act the hell out of it.”
With that, he spins out the door.
“What a jerk,” Luke hisses from the living room.
I see only red. I storm off to my bedroom—every bit the moody teenager Dad claims I am—and slam the door, hoping it’ll make me feel better. It doesn’t.
As scolding, hot water streams down my overheated face, I clench my jaw. Why do I always let him walk all over me like that? Why can’t I just stand up to him and tell him my life is none of his business? He’s had too much control for too long.
It’s got to stop.
When I return to the living room, groomed to perfection for my date, the room is empty. Luke sits on the back porch, a glass of iced tea and a book in his hands. “Where’s Ashton?”
“She left.” He shrugs like it’s no big deal that she’d leave without telling me. Then again, I’d done the same.
“Where’d she go?”
He puts the book in his lap and arches an eyebrow. “Look who cares now.”
“I know. I’m a jerk. I should have apologized for my dad.”
He tilts his head. “Just your dad?”
“Yeah. Okay. Me, too. I was an idiot.”
He sets his book on the side table and crosses his arms. “You know that woman was nearly in tears when your dad steam-rolled his way out of here, and then you stormed off like a grumpy raincloud.”
“A what?”
“You heard me. Your dad was harsh. He spoke about her like she was trash and wasn’t even in the room.”
I plop on the couch across the coffee table. “I know. My dad has been running my life for far too long. He overstepped this time.”
“I’ll say.” Luke leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “You know what you should have done?”
I turn my gaze to him.
“Tell him off yourself. Right then. Even I had a hard time holding back. I wanted to punch my uncle in the jaw.”
I crack my knuckles, anger rising within me again. “I know. He’s become obsessed with my career.”
Luke arches an eyebrow, waiting.
“I know. I know. I hate that he has this film role dangling in front of me like some golden carrot. I plan to say something soon.”
He tilts his head, narrowing his eyes.
“I will! I promise. I’ll go on this stupid date tonight, let the dust settle, and approach him about it then.”
“Good. Because if you have any chance of being with Ashton—for real—you need to set your dad straight. Also, Ashton may’ve mentioned she would be at Wren’s.”
I jump from my chair. “Why didn’t you start with that?”
“Hold your horses, cowboy. I think she could use some alone time…or girl time…or whatever. Why don’t you talk to her when you get back tonight? Let her and your emotions calm down first?”
My phone chimes in my pocket.
Dad
Reservation is at 7:00. Don’t be late.
He attaches the details of the restaurant—a highly popular locale for Hollywood stars and a hot spot for paparazzi. I glance at the time. It’s just after six. I’ll have to head out soon if I’m going to make it on time.
“Fine. I’ll go fake wine and dine Scarlet and be back early.”
Luke retrieves his book and opens it to his bookmarked page. “You might want to text Ashton and do some groveling first.”