27. Griffin
GRIFFIN
D espite my lack of sleep, I wake with a new sense of energy I’ve never had before outside of work. Each incredible kiss with Ashton at the beach last night played on a continuous loop in my mind, preventing sleep. But oh, what a reason to have insomnia.
Things changed between us under that dark sky. And I don’t just mean the intimacy between us. With Ashton fully opening up to me, I understand her true hesitations with me. My goal today is to show her we can have a normal, healthy relationship. I want to do something for her—make her feel special.
On the way home, before I dropped her off at Wren’s last night, she expressed a desire to use the money she’d accumulated to host a gala.
I’ve attended many such events used to secure donations.
Ashton said she’d never had the courage to host one, until now.
My heart swelled with pride at seeing just how much the shy, timid woman I met two weeks ago had already changed.
Instead of sleeping, I stayed awake all night researching venues for her gala. Roxy kept me company at the base of the bed. She stopped sleeping under the bed a couple of days ago but still hasn’t developed the courage to sleep on the mattress with me yet. We’re getting there.
Now I’m sitting at the counter, sipping a large mug of black coffee, continually refreshing my phone and hoping someone emails back allowing us a private viewing of a venue.
Luke opens the back patio door to the kitchen, freshly showered and shaven. Roxy takes the opportunity to dart outside, barking at some birds in the yard. “You’re up early.”
Little does he know, I’m on my third cup of coffee. I take a sip, keeping my eyes on my inbox. “Yup. Coffee’s still hot if you’d like a cup.”
He grabs a mug and pours. “How’d last night go?”
We left the party around ten o’clock, but hours flew by while we were on the beach. We didn’t get home until almost two a.m. I’m grateful Wren was willing to take care of Roxy and Teddy for us. “Good. I think.”
“Did you talk to Scarlet?”
“I did.”
Luke raises his eyebrows. “And?”
“And it went as well as one could expect when turning someone down.”
He squints his eyes at me. “You don’t appear to have any scratches or black eyes, so I guess you said something right.”
“I was actually impressed with her. She took it really well.”
“That’s good.” He pours himself a cup of coffee and asks over his shoulder, “How’d Ashton do at the party?”
A smile stretches wide across my face. I don’t even try to hide it. “Man, she did amazing. She had the whole party eating out of the palm of her hand. She raised over fifty thousand dollars.”
Luke chokes on his coffee. “That’s awesome.” After he properly swallows, he points a finger at me. “But I don’t think that’s the whole reason for that face. What else happened?”
I lick my lips and take a sip of coffee. “A man doesn’t kiss and tell.”
“Seriously? How’d you convince her to kiss your ugly mug?”
“Har, har.”
“I’m just messin’ with ya. I’m happy for you. I just hope you can balance two women—fake relationship or not, it could get messy.”
“It’s only for two more months.”
I can manage that, right?
I have to.
Now that Ashton’s opened up, and we’ve reached this new level of connection, there’s no way I’m going backward.
“If you say so. Just don’t let your dad catch wind of this. He won’t be too happy you’re testing the boundaries of your contract.”
I swipe my hands across my face. “My father. Funny you should mention him. He was at the party, too.”
“Oh?”
“With his new girlfriend.”
Luke laughs. “What else is new?”
I grip the edge of the counter with both hands and lean forward, “Who also happens to be Ashton’s mom.”
His face screws up into a mixture of disgust and confusion. “Seriously? Why was she there? What’s she like?”
“Honestly? Fake as all get-out.”
“What do you mean?”
“She played nice, but even her tone grated my skin. Ashton told me more about her relationship with her mom last night, and it’s not good. She’s awful, actually. Controlling and manipulative.”
“Kind of sounds like another parent I know,” he mumbles into his mug.
I’m not sure if he’s referring to his dad or mine. Although, I’ve allowed myself to be manipulated by my father—a habit I can’t help if I want him to stick around.
“What did Ashton say about her mom being there? Or the fact that she and your dad—” he shivers “—were together.”
Luke already knew about Ashton being on reality TV. He’d asked why she was choosing to use her blog’s name instead of her own when we set up her socials. But he didn’t know the depth of her complicated relationship with her mother.
“She doesn’t know.” My stomach tosses, rejecting that third cup of coffee. I didn’t want to ruin our epic night last night, so I never said anything.
“What do you mean she doesn’t know? Didn’t she see them at the party same as you?”
I shake my head. “She took off before Dad arrived to wrap his arm around his new flavor of the month.” I shudder.
“Are you going to tell her?”
I have to—eventually. But I’m not ready to explode the tentative growth we’ve made. “At some point.”
“Dude, you can’t keep that kind of thing from her. What happens when y’all get together for some kind of family dinner? That’d be quite the reunion.”
I rub my brow line. “I know, I know. I will. Just not today.”
“It’s your funeral.”
I refresh my email to distract myself. A new one comes through my inbox. I click to open it. “Yes!”
Luke rounds the counter to stand next to me. “What is it?”
“I looked into some venues last night. Ashton wants to host a gala for her rescue to secure more sponsors.”
“Okay, so why are you looking? Shouldn’t this be her project?”
“It is. It is. I just wanted to help her get jump-started.” I shrug. “Figured it couldn’t hurt throwing my name around a little, see if we could secure a venue sooner.”
“How soon?”
“Within a month.”
“Why the rush?”
“Just trying to capitalize on the connections she made last night. Keep the idea fresh in people’s minds.”
Luke steps back, resting against the counter, his eyes narrowing. “How long have you been researching? Did you sleep at all last night?”
“Not a wink.”
“Dude, you must have it bad,” he says, crossing his arms. “You’re taking some huge risks here, publicly connecting your name with hers. You’re gambling your chance with Wesley over a woman you just met two weeks ago if this stuff gets leaked.”
“Screw him.” My anger simmers to the surface, thinking about Jaxon’s comments last night and the way Wesley flaunted Ashton’s mom at me just to see my reaction.
“Uh, excuse me? What’s wrong with you?”
I cup my hand behind my neck and rub. “I’m just not sure all this dog-and-pony-show business is worth it.
” Maybe I’m dreaming a little, but there’ve got to be other possibilities in film I haven’t considered.
Maybe I don’t have to do the dumb Hollywood song and dance to land a role I want.
Maybe I can obtain one simply due to my skills rather than politics.
“Dog and what? What are you even talking about right now? I think you need some sleep, brother.”
I laugh at his bewildered expression. “I’m just tired of the stupid hustle.
Why should I be obligated to be in a fake relationship just to secure a role?
It’s dumb. I should be allowed a personal life of my own.
So, yeah. I’m going to do something I actually want to do with my time instead. And I want to help Ashton.”
He’s quiet for a minute, scrutinizing my face, probably questioning if I’m throwing my whole career down the drain. I probably am, but I hope not. If I am, Ashton’s worth the risk.
“Okay then. How can I help?”
I stand, bolstered by his support. “Thanks, man.”
Luke swipes my phone off the counter. “The Gatsby? Wow. You don’t mess around.”
The Gatsby is one of the most popular locations in Los Angeles, notable for hosting elaborate and expensive parties.
“Only the best for my girl.”
I snag my phone back and shoot off a quick text to Ashton, telling her to get ready because I have a surprise for her. Then I text Wren to ask if she’ll watch Teddy for us for a few hours.
Luke scoffs. “ Your girl, huh? You best be careful, Griff.”
“I will. Ashton knows we can’t really be together -together in public.”
“No, I mean with Ashton.”
“What do you mean?”
“She seems pretty eager to escape the spotlight, given her history. I’m not sure your…lifestyle will be what she wants.”
A pang of doubt stabs my chest. My career wasn’t enough to keep my mom in my life, and now it could be the very thing that steers away my potential soulmate. And yet, I can’t help but still want both.
“She’s strong. I’ll protect her from any backlash.”
“I’m sure you’ll try, but you’re not Superman. You can’t protect her from everything. Hollywood is vicious and she’s a sweet person, which makes her stand out even more. The press will eat her alive.”
“I appreciate the concern, but I think she’ll be fine.
” I stretch out my stiffness. “I’ve got to get ready.
You okay looking after Roxy and the foster pups for me for a few hours?
” The puppies are romping around in their playpen, and Roxy is lying in her favorite spot on the porch, soaking in the sunshine.
“Sure thing.”
“Great. Thanks.” I head to the shower, excited to spend my day with who I want to the most—Ashton.