The Average Girl's Love Story

By Madison Getchell

Have you ever felt like you were just average?

 

Gabby Evanson can relate. Everything about her is average, including her job working at a public relations firm in New York City. But honestly, she spends most of her time daydreaming about the man of her dreams: Troy Taylor, a perfectly gorgeous actor who captures every woman's heart on and off the screen.

 

But then her average life gets turned upside down after Troy publicly insults an "average woman," and Gabby stumbles upon a meeting between her boss and Troy's manager. Gabby is convinced to go along with their plan for her to date Troy to help him win back his favor with the average women of America, and she finds herself in a dream come true with her dream man.

 

But when she meets Troy's best friend, Levi, she begins a journey of seeing herself the way God sees her and finding her dream man may not be exactly who she initially imagined he'd be.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Madison Getchell
• Release date: Feb 25, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215376638

Madison Getchell

Madison Getchell is an American author, wife, and mother. Any given day, you can find her writing, daydreaming, eating chocolate, or watching Audrey Hepburn movies. Maybe all at once. She discovered her love for writing when she was quite young and hasn’t stopped writing since. For her, writing is more than a hobby—it’s her passion, and she believes it was put on her heart for a grand purpose. She currently lives in Montana with her husband and two children, and she is continually drawing inspiration from their wonderful life together.

Book preview

Chapter 1

I dared to look into the eyes of the man I loved while trying to keep my emotions even. Let’s face it, Troy, I told him. We’re too different. And I know you say you love me, but I also know the things you say you love about me now are going to be the things you resent about me later. And I just think we should stop and really think about us before we go and break our own hearts.

He looked back to me with his blue eyes, all his emotions evident on his face, and I knew it was too late. I had already broken both of our hearts with my words.

I just want to be with you, he replied seriously. "Nothing else matters. Nothing else should matter." He took my hands in his while I tried to think of what to say back to him.

Gabby, a voice interrupted us.

I was pulled from my daydream to look at my best friend, Bree, to find her giving me a knowing look.

You’re doing it again, she let me know as if I wasn’t already aware of my bad habit of going into La-La Land.

No, I wasn’t, I denied even though it was pointless.

Yeah, you were. You had that glazed-over look again, she informed me. Let me guess, another Troy Taylor daydream?

I sighed, knowing it was futile to deny it. He was the star of all my daydreams—not to mention the star of all the current blockbuster movies, and to say he was out of my league was the understatement of the century. He was an actor known for his perfect features and his capability to cry on cue. The man could do it all. Not only did he have the perfect physique, jaw line, and blond hair, the man had the emotional range of a male Meryl Streep, and I guaranteed he was just as perfect in person.

I can’t help it, I told Bree. He’s so perfect.

He also doesn’t know you exist, she kindly let me know as she sat down at her desk across from mine.

He might. Subconsciously, I allowed myself to dream. There was that one time he’d come into our public relations office and glanced my way. Right before he got distracted by one of my coworkers dropping her cup of pens, and he immediately leapt into action to help her pick them up like a true gentleman.

Bree gave me a look. Please. I doubt he’s aware that anyone else exists in this world besides himself. And anyway, shouldn’t you be getting back to your own client? she reminded me.

I sighed again but nodded. I worked as a public relations representative at one of New York City’s finest firms. We represented anyone from A-list actors to presidents. Well, not me personally, but the other people at this firm did. I mainly handled rebranding for businesses. Despite the fact I had a degree in public relations and had been a loyal employee of the firm for five years, my boss, Laken Bradley, hadn’t deemed me worthy enough to handle anything else. So, I got stuck with the accounts no one else wanted, like deworming products for animals and wart removal.

So, here I was: thirty years old, working a job that seemed like a dead-end to a dream with no prospects for even the possibility of a date with any guy—let alone Troy Taylor. It wasn’t like I didn’t try or want to be in a relationship. It just didn’t seem to be in God’s plan for my life. I wanted something extraordinary, and I refused to settle for average with my relationships. Because, if I was being honest, everything else about me was average. Average family, average job, average looks...

Average life.

I went back to writing up a plan for a brand relaunch for a company that supplied incontinence care, but believe it or not, this wasn’t why I got into PR. I wanted to help people in a tangible way. And with the changing age and such a versatile degree, I figured I couldn’t go wrong. I was naturally gifted with writing and organizing. The communicating part? Not so much.

Okay, so maybe I had stretched myself to fit into the PR mold, but I couldn’t say I loved helping greedy companies give themselves facelifts. But I decided it was too late to turn back now. And I figured maybe Laken would give me a chance one day, and I’d get my big break. But honestly, I didn’t foresee that happening anytime soon. As motivated as I was, I lacked what PR required most: confidence.

I’d never been confident in myself. Maybe it started in grade school when I’d become about twenty pounds overweight, and kids called me Flabby Gabby on the playground at recess. Or maybe because in high school, I had gotten a terrible outburst in hormones that resulted in severe acne, and people called me Scabby Gabby.

Thankfully, with some dietary changes and growth spurts, along with the end of puberty, my acne had mostly disappeared, and I had leveled out weight and height wise, and I was now at a healthy weight. But I was certain I would never have chiseled abs or cellulite-free thighs, and sometimes when I looked in the mirror, I still saw that fat, little girl or the pimple-faced misfit. Now, don’t get the wrong idea, I’m not completely hideous even though I did feel like it some days. I was not ugly, but I wasn’t gorgeous either. I was just totally and completely ordinary.

And if you think my work life was dull, my home life was even more pathetic. I wasn’t into the bar or club scene, and all the guys I knew at church were either married or should never be married. So, most nights, I found myself cuddling a pillow on my couch while I watched movies with beautiful people falling in love for me.

That night was no different. I found myself alone as I mouthed the lines to my favorite movie of Troy’s about a man who falls in love with a woman about to be married to someone completely wrong for her. His movies were never vulgar, and though they kept the moments of passion in check, it was enough to melt my romantic heart. Along with most of America’s women between the ages of twenty to forty.

As the two main characters embraced and kissed at the end, I found myself aching to experience that type of love with someone. I had very limited experience dating someone, and I’d never truly fallen in love before. Well, not unless you count my imaginary relationship with Troy.

God, please send my perfect man, I found myself praying aloud. I don’t want to die a lonely spinster, and let’s be honest, I’m not getting any younger.

I didn’t get a yes or no answer immediately, so I went to bed, hoping God could work a miracle. And maybe even get me a date with Troy Taylor. But before I fell asleep, I heard my phone go off, and I looked to my phone to see Bree had texted me.

Did you see what your dream boy posted?

Uh, oh. I clicked on the link she’d sent with the text, and it led me to Troy’s social media account to a post he’d done just a half hour ago. He had posted a picture of a young woman who looked like she was having the worst day of her life only made worse by spilling her coffee all down the front of her white shirt, revealing her less than perfect physique underneath. With the picture, Troy had written, What does this woman and the sun have in common? They both hurt your eyes to stare at.

His post crushed me as I realized the image I’d created of him was far from who he probably really was. Sadly, there was no such thing as the perfect man. My next thought was that I pitied whoever was representing him at our firm. They would no doubt be pulling out their crisis communications plan to try to fix what he’d done.

I fell asleep, figuring I was going to die a lonely spinster after all.

Chapter 2

So, the Troy mess aside, what did you do last night? Bree asked me as we walked to work the next morning. The building was located in uptown Manhattan off East 57th Street near the famous Madison Avenue. It was definitely a posh district, but our firm catered to the wealthy. Sometimes, Bree and I would meet up on our walk to get coffee together before we faced the day. This morning, we’d mostly talked about the Troy fiasco, but I was happy to move on from it. Even if the topic of what I did last night wasn’t nearly as exciting.

I shrugged to her question as I opened the front door of the multiuse building, and we walked inside. Well, a prince showed up at my door with flowers and a carriage waiting so he could take me out on a romantic ride before he begged me to marry him. You?

She snorted out a laugh. You seriously need a life. She paused. Then again, so do I.

Bree had been my best friend since I started at the PR firm. She had been hired on one month before me, and we were instantly soul sisters. We had a lot in common, and we’d both been new to the city at the time. I was raised in Montana before I moved to Florida to go to college. After college, I had applied for jobs all over, and since I’d always wanted to live in New York, I took the job with Laken. Bree had grown up in Iowa, and like me, she’d ended up in New York City on a whim. Unlike me, she was outgoing, and she spoke her mind. And though her personal style was a little outside the norm, she owned her vintage meets punk style. It was more than I could say for myself, who didn’t even have a personal style.

At least we’re losers together, I pep talked us.

Bree nodded to my statement, but then she thought of something as we got into the elevator to go up to the twenty-fourth floor. Oh, did you hear Stephanie got fired?

I looked to her in surprise. Stephanie had handled some of the biggest clients at the firm, though thankfully, not Troy. Otherwise, his people would be in a world of trouble.

No. What happened? I asked. I hadn’t known Stephanie well, but I knew her well enough to know she wouldn’t do anything ridiculous.

I don’t know much. All I know is that she went into Laken’s office after work yesterday, threw a hissy fit about something, and walked out without a job.

I made a face at the situation before realization hit, and I looked to her. Bree. This could be my chance.

She nodded, way ahead of me. Yeah. You could finally get out of rebranding.

I smiled and nodded before another realization hit. She’s probably got dozens of people lined up to take the accounts.

You should just go talk to her about it. So that way, she knows you’re interested.

It sounded so simple. Putting it into action on the other hand...

I don’t know. What if it comes off badly? I mean, Stephanie just got fired.

What do you seriously have to lose? she asked me pointedly.

Oh, I don’t know, my job which supplies my penthouse apartment and addiction to designer couture, I kidded. In truth, I lived in a closet apartment I could barely afford, and I did all my shopping on sales racks at discount department stores.

Bree rolled her eyes at my words as the elevator doors opened, and we stepped into the world of exaggeration and invention. I didn’t hate everything about the firm. I just wished we were actually helping people who needed help.

Bree and I got settled at our desks right next to each other’s just as I spotted Laken walking through the main room to head to her office. At the sight of her, I got to thinking about Bree’s words. What did I really have to lose? Absolutely nothing.

A fire lit inside of me, and I looked to Bree. I’m going to do it.

Bree knew immediately what I was talking about. Yes! Good luck.

I hopped out of my chair and followed Laken and caught her just as she was sitting down at her desk. At the realization I had reached her office, I then realized I had no idea what I was going to say. I froze at the doorway, hesitating a moment as my thoughts stalled in my own brain.

Did you need something, Gabby? Laken broke me out of my moment of paralyzing fear when she noticed me standing in her threshold like an idiot.

Um, I— I stumbled to get my words out. I was hoping I could talk to you a moment. That is, if you’re free.

Laken exhaled as she looked to her phone. I have a few moments. Come on in.

I nervously made my way over to her desk and sat down in the chair across from hers. First, um, I just want you to know how much I appreciate every opportunity I’ve gotten here, I began, trying to keep myself from hyperventilating. And I was wondering if there was any possibility for me to get out of rebranding and to take a step in the direction of being an account manager. Maybe for private clients rather than just writing catchy slogans for companies.

She thought on my words before she nodded. I’m guessing you heard about what happened with Stephanie?

I nodded. And though I feel bad about how things turned out with her, I do want you to know I’d be willing to take on some of her accounts.

She went quiet a moment as she thought on her next words. Gabby, you are creative and an excellent writer, she began before she continued. But I have you where I need you. We all have strengths and weaknesses, and to be honest, your written expression is your strength. To be a manager for private clients requires a great deal of oral expression, which is not a skill you’ve built up yet. Keep up the good work where you are, okay?

I nodded, trying not to let her see how crushed I was. Okay, well, thank you for taking the time to talk with me.

Sure, she replied with a phony smile before she looked to her phone, obviously done with our talk.

I stood up and left her office just wanting to cry. I walked back over to my desk before I plopped back down in my seat in defeat.

How did it go? Bree asked me.

I exhaled sadly. She told me she has me where she needs me. And then she told me I suck at communicating verbally. But in a nice way.

Bree made a sad face. Oh, Gabby, I’m sorry. At least you can say you tried, right? And I don’t think you’re that bad. Just when you get nervous.

I laughed once. Which is pretty much every time I’m talking to a new person. I exhaled again and shook my head. She’s right though. And if being able to smooth talk people is a necessity for this job, then I don’t even know what I’m doing here.

Because you do a great job for your clients. You make them feel important and special, and you help make them successful. Who cares if you get tongue-tied occasionally? Everyone does, she assured me.

Not everyone, I argued. But you’re right. I’ve worked here for five years, and I’ve done excellent work for the company.

She nodded. Yes, you have.

Yeah, I nodded then too before I came to my decision. I’m going to go quit.

Wait, what? she asked in surprise. No. You can’t quit and leave me here.

So quit with me, I offered.

I can’t. I need the income.

So do I, but I find it difficult to believe this is the only way to make it, I declared before I shook my head in determination. My whole life, people have walked all over me, but you know what? Watch me walk to Laken Bradley’s office and quit, I told her in a moment of bravery, and I stood up out of my chair before I marched with my head held high back to Laken’s office. I had no idea what I was going to do, and I said a prayer that God would help me with whatever was going to happen next. All I knew was that I didn’t want to be stuck in a dead-end job I hated for the rest of my life, and now that I knew Laken had no intention of ever promoting me, I knew it was time to move on.

I reached Laken’s door and knocked once before I opened the door, expecting Laken to be in there alone. What I found was her and another woman sitting in her lounge area of her office in an intense-looking meeting.

I instantly regretted my decision. Oh, I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize you were in a meeting, I quickly spoke before I went to shut the door when the woman I didn’t recognize stopped me.

Wait, she commanded, and I paused in the threshold. She studied me a moment while I stood there uncomfortably under her gaze. Why don’t you come in for a moment? she offered me, and I glanced to see Laken giving the woman a look of confusion as I stepped into the room.

What about her? she asked Laken when she was finished scrutinizing me.

Laken laughed once. Gabby is one of my employees here at the firm.

Perfect. Then she knows how this game is played. Just look at her a moment, and tell me what you see, she urged my boss.

I self-consciously folded my arm over my stomach to grip onto my other arm. What are we looking for exactly? I asked nervously.

Neither of them elaborated while Laken looked me over. Finally, she nodded. The average woman.

The other woman nodded in agreement. Exactly.

Gabby, why don’t you have a seat? Laken offered, obviously giving in to what the other woman wanted.

I came further into the room and took a seat across from her and the other woman on the other side of the coffee table.

Elizabeth Franks, the unknown woman introduced herself as she reached over and shook my hand.

Gabby Evanson.

Gabby, maybe you can help us with a problem we are having, Elizabeth spoke. Are you a fan of Troy Taylor?

I shrugged, trying to come off as nonchalant. Yeah, he’s alright I guess.

Well, as you have probably seen and heard, he’s not too popular with anyone right now, Elizabeth then stated, obviously referring to Troy’s post not being well-received by his fans.

I made a face and nodded. He’s created quite the mess to clean up.

Exactly. We’d like you to help with that.

M-me? I asked, unbelieving this was really happening. I was finally getting my break. You want me to represent Troy Taylor?

Not exactly, Gabby, Laken quickly squashed my dreams, and I looked to her. But we could use you to boost his image, she informed me, and I furrowed my brows. If I wasn’t his PR rep, then how would I help boost his image?

Elizabeth took the reins on explaining. Look at you, she spoke as she once again sized me up. You don’t demand attention. You’re not a beauty queen or a ten-foot-tall model.

I made a face. I wasn’t sure where she was going with her words, but I didn’t like the direction so far.

But you know what you are? she then asked.

I shook my head, afraid of what she was going to say.

You’re relatable. Your lack of showiness in your appearance and demeanor are exactly what the average women of this world need to see. Specifically, what they need to see with Troy Taylor.

Huh? I asked, not following.

What would you say to dating Troy? Elizabeth then blindsided me before she continued. It would just be for looks, of course. And it would only have to be for a few months. Just until the public is convinced Troy is not as shallow as he appears and that he doesn’t hate the average woman.

I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out except a bewildered laugh. Is this a joke? I then wondered, unable to stop myself from feeling suspicious. Did Bree put you up to this?

Laken shook her head. No, we are completely serious.

About me dating Troy Taylor? I reiterated, still not believing this was happening.

They both nodded, and I found myself shaking my head out of shock and hesitation.

I don’t think so, I turned them down. I could just imagine Troy’s face when he found out he’d have to date someone like me, and I never wanted to see that look of disappointment on his face.

Gabby, you’re the perfect person to do this assignment. You know exactly how to spin things so the press will love you two together, and you have the look we’re in search of, Elizabeth spoke. Plus, you’re not a mindless actress just looking for a boost in her career.

And maybe if you are successful in helping Troy regain his image, I might reconsider your current position in the firm. You wanted a chance to take on a big account? Well, here it is, Laken dangled the bait before she shrugged. Not to mention you get to date America’s heartthrob without any strings attached. So, what do you think? she offered.

I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out immediately. This wasn’t a good start. I think I’d— I stopped, trying to think of an eloquent response without coming off fangirlish. That would be— I stopped. Me date Troy Taylor? This couldn’t be real. I mean, only if he agrees to it, I finally got out.

He already has, Elizabeth spoke as she pulled out her phone and began texting someone.

But he doesn’t know anything about me, I pointed out, still in shock.

He doesn’t have to. He’s an actor, so he’ll be just fine, Elizabeth reiterated.

So many different fearful questions popped into my head at that moment. What if he didn’t like me? What if he thought I was completely ugly? What if nobody bought the fact Troy would date someone like me? I didn’t voice any of my fears as Elizabeth looked up from her phone at me.

Why don’t you and I head over to his place and get you two acquainted with one another? she suggested.

My heartbeat picked up its pace. Right now?

She nodded. The sooner the better.

Now I really wished I would have worn something cute to work today.

What about my job? I asked Laken, unbelieving she was fine with me just leaving for the day.

Gabby, this is your job. I’ll have someone handle your accounts for the time being. For now, you focus on fixing Troy’s image and on making the women of America fall in love with him again. Think of it like rebranding, Laken replied, and I nodded like a zombie.

Why did I feel like I had just gotten in way over my head?

Chapter 3

Elizabeth swept me out of the office before I could even speak a word to Bree about what was going on. She informed me we’d be going to Troy’s New York home in the Upper East Side of Manhattan, just a jaunt from the office. She had a car and driver, who drove us while we sat in the back. By now, I had figured out Elizabeth was Troy’s manager, and she was on the phone the entire drive while I tried not to have a panic attack.

I had no idea what God was doing, but it was too late to back out now. Especially when we pulled up in front of a beautiful, brick building with ornately decorated white accents on a picturesque, tree-lined street. Elizabeth ushered me out of the car, and I followed her up to the front door where a main-level attendant allowed us access into the building. Then she led me to the elevator where she had to put in a code for it to take us up to the penthouse.

She remained on the phone even as she unlocked his front door and let herself into his extravagant home. It was completely updated and pristine with expensive-looking wood floors and décor. And white everywhere. So much white.

In the kitchen, the smell of coffee met my nose, but Troy was nowhere to be seen. Maybe he had disappeared? That was okay with me. I was about to tell Elizabeth that I had changed my mind, that I was the wrong girl. I mean, what if he was a jerk? If that post was any indication of his true personality, I wasn’t even sure I wanted to meet him.

Elizabeth hung up the phone as she led me to the outdoor terrace where we found Troy sitting and sipping his coffee while he talked with someone on the phone. He was just as perfect in person as he was on screen. His hair was perfectly combed despite the fact I had a feeling he’d recently gotten out of bed. He was wearing lounge clothes, but I could see his toned muscles under his white shirt, and I tried not to stare.

When he saw us, Elizabeth snapped her fingers at him to get off the phone, and he quickly said his goodbyes before he hung up. He glanced to me a moment before he looked to Elizabeth, who spoke first.

I told you to get dressed.

I did, he argued.

She shook her head in annoyance. Whatever. Troy, meet Gabby. Gabby, please excuse his lack of personal care, but believe it or not, this is Troy Taylor.

He smiled, showcasing his perfectly white teeth, as he stood up to shake my hand, and I made a move to close the gap when I tripped over my own feet, but as if Troy was well-versed in this move, he quickly caught me in his arms.

Woah, I hope you are a lot more graceful spinning stuff for the press than you are walking in... he trailed off as he looked down to my shoes. Sneakers, he finished in apparent wonder before he chuckled and looked back to me as he let me go.

I stared at him wide-eyed a moment before I realized I hadn’t said a word yet, and my mouth was open. I snapped it closed and looked away shyly.

Okay, well, I have some fires to put out, but I’ll leave you kids to get to know one another, Elizabeth spoke.

You aren’t staying? we both asked at the same time.

No, I don’t have time to chaperone. I’ve made reservations for you both to have lunch at Jena Se Qua at twelve-thirty. Be there and make your public debut, she instructed us. But Gabby, she said as she looked to me and cringed. There will be cameras there, so please change your outfit before you go. ‘Kay? Talk soon, she spoke before she dialed another number and left us.

Troy and I stood there awkwardly for