“And what’s this?” I said, my voice a low, playful tease as I slipped the lapel of her jacket between my fingers. “You look nice. Nice enough even the staff can’t keep their hands off you. You wouldn’t like me when I’m jealous, darling.”
“She wasn’t hitting on me. Although you getting jealous is really good for my ego, especially when you look like that. Maybe I should be pretending she was.”
“Let’s not play dangerous games. Sadly, we don’t have enough time for me to stake my claim.”
“Ah—um.” She coughed into her hand, suddenly very red. She knew full well I had fucked her in a studio before and that I would do it again, and that with the way she was looking at me—and the way she waslooking—I would absolutely do it again right now, if the driver weren’t idling outside. “Maybe, er, maybe later.”
“Oh, I plan on it,” I laughed. “I’m going to havequitea bit of pent-up energy.”
“Well. Whatever will we do with that, I wonder?” She let her eyes glide down and up my body, looking over the long, sleek silver dress I was wearing, clearly appreciative. I dropped my voice.
“Miss our ride, if you keep looking at me like that.”
“Shit, I forgot the car. And the event.”
I laughed, and I kissed her cheek, light and swift so as not to ruin anyone’s makeup. I took her hand—a bit of a reach, with my sky-high heels and Julie’s flats exacerbating our height difference—and we stepped outside to the cold November wind,where the car was idling in the front. Julie stopped, and I turned to laugh at the look on her face.
“Try not to look too starstruck over a limousine, darling. The cameras are brutal at these events, and it doesn’t do to be caught out looking impressed.”
“Ah, just… Kingmaker is going to be so smug.”
“Kingmaker? What’s he got to do with this?”
“Back when we first met, he insisted on my goal of riding a limousine drinking champagne with my… hot… supermodel girlfriend.”
I laughed, tugging her towards the car. “Well, we’re not having champagne quite yet, but it will be at the afterparty, so you’re taking things one piece at a time. You can report back to Kingmaker another time.”
“Maybe let’s swing by Tasty Slice on the way back and see if he’s there scheming something.”
“Hm. Maybe the driver will be amenable. I’m curious what Tubman’s up to.”
She joined me in the limousine, and I settled in against the side, letting out a shaky breath and trying to relax once we were moving. Julie squeezed my hand, moving closer to me.
“You’re going to kill it.”
I smiled tiredly at her. “Not much to kill. I’m not one of the big stars, and most people are going to be looking past me. But it’s been a while since I last had a movie premiere. And I’ve never brought a partner to one…”
She laughed, pressing closer into my side. “Relax, Freckles. You could trip and fall right there on the red carpet, and still nobody would notice anything from the shots of us except how tiny your girlfriend is. I’m there to make you look tall and sexy and imposing.”
“Being short does not make youanyless sexy and beautiful and absolutely red-carpet-worthy, but yes, I do imagine people will be commenting on that.”
“I know you’re only just easing back into it, but you’re a really good actor. And you’re really good at press events. You always have been.”
I kissed the side of her head. “I’ll just feel better once this is done,” I said. “And you? You’re not too nervous? I mean, I’m pretty sure this is your first, unless I’ve been sleeping on the film industry out of Benley, Missouri.”
“I mean, Benley’s got Hollywood on its knees, I’ll say that, but you know me, I’m just on the business side, so sadly I must say this is my first time attending.” She shrugged. “I’m chill, though. I’m just walking in there with my incredibly hot girlfriend who I love and obsess over, and I get to watch everybody else confirm that I have the hottest girlfriend ever.”
“You’re going to be watching everyone think the leads are much hotter than me.”
“Then I’ll dive into the press crowds and beat them all up, but I feel confident about the fight. Lower center of gravity, you know. I can get their legs.”
I laughed. She had a way of getting through to me, and eventually, I did relax.
It’d be fine. Just like everything always was with Julie there. Houdini really did have a few magic tricks.
The event was already alive with activity once we arrived, the press crowding in all around, and I gave Julie a loaded look,are you readywithout saying a word. She gave me that easy, confident smile that saidI’m ready for anythingwithout saying a word, and I kissed her once before they opened the limo door, and I stepped out and helped Julie out after me, cameras flashing.
More of them than I’d expected, actually. I hadn’t expected my… professional dalliances over the last two years to spill over to increased interest in the modeling and acting world, but I guess Shiyun was big enough people noticed me. I minded my angles while I walked, and Julie kept up well next to me, having gotten rigorous training from Linyue on being red-carpet-ready.
