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“Hey, the feeling is mutual.”
***
We walked the red carpet forAll Aboardhand in hand. It was surreal and as much fun as I’d expected it to be. Naomi Price was there for the event, and seeing her talking to Charlie and Liam gave me secondhand awkwardness. Charlie sidled up beside me once we’d made it past all the cameras and into the theater lobby.
“Was it awkward talking to Liam’s ex?” I asked her.
“Not really. She was congratulating us on the baby. She’s not that bad,” Charlie said. “Now that we’re married and she’s seeing that guy from the Marvel movies, I think she’s moved on.”
“What a relief.”
Charlie looked at me with slightly narrowed eyes. “She used to date your boyfriend too.”
“Yeah, but their relationship was a publicity stunt and before my time, so it’s not exactly the same. Either way, I’m more excited to meet Hallie tonight than anyone else.”
Meryl Streep walked by, and we both grew silent.
“Okay, this is cool,” Charlie whispered.
“Act chill, act chill, she’s stopping.”
We both tried to act as if we weren’t starstruck. But we were. Meryl Streep looked back over her shoulder and winked.
“Oh my gosh,” Charlie finally said when she had left the area. “Do you think she heard us?”
“Yes. She 100 percent heard us.”
Rhett slid his hand around my waist. “Ready to go in?”
I smiled up at him. “Yes, sir.”
“There’s that Southern hospitality.”
“I’ve got more where that came from, y’all.”
Liam joined us and took Charlie by the hand. “We’d better go find our seats so you can get off your feet.”
“We’ll meet you in there,” Rhett said.
“Have a blessed day!” I said to their retreating forms.
“Okay, goofball.” He leaned over and kissed my temple. “I have someone I want you to meet.”
I lowered my voice. “Is it Meryl Streep? Because I don’t think I could handle that.”
He chuckled, then checked his phone and looked around. “No. It’s someone much closer to me.”
His sister. She walked over to us in a gorgeous navy-blue dress that set off her blonde hair perfectly. “Hi, I’m—”
“Hallie!” I said, pulling her into a hug. “It’s so nice to meet you.”
She stepped back, and she didn’t look like she wanted to run from me, which was good. She had Rhett’s same eyes and straight nose, carrying enough resemblance to make them look like siblings despite the opposite hair colors.
“Your hair is beautiful,” I said.
“Thanks.” She patted the edge of the low chignon. “That means a lot coming from you.”
I waved those words away.
