Addison takes the phone from me for a minute and helps me put on the capelet that covers the thin beaded straps. The shoulder cover is sheer with intricate beading at the hems and sprinkled throughout it. Somehow, it brings the entire look together. Addison continues talking to Chelsi as she places a pair of shimmery heels in front of me that I step into. I stare at my reflection as she clasps a diamond necklace around my neck and hands me diamond dangly earrings. I tune out the conversation between her and Chelsi as I fiddle with the tiered ruffles on the skirt, trying to picture how everything will look once my hair and makeup are done.
“I definitely think her hair should be in some type of updo to show off her neckandto accentuate the capelet,” Chelsi offers asAddison walks around me with the phone, giving her a full three-sixty of the look.
“I agree,” Addison adds. “I’ll send the makeup artist and hairstylist a few ideas since they aren’t doing a run-through beforehand.”
For a moment, I wonder whether Addison and Chelsi have forgotten I’m here because they’re carrying on like they’re lost in their own little fashion world. Chelsi’s excitement makes me wonder why she hasn’t tried something fashion adjacent in her career. She’d be so great at it, and it’s clear it fills her soul in a way I know accounting never did. PR doesn’t seem to, either.
“Are the two of you done talking about me yet?”
Chelsi and Addison chuckle in unison.
“It’s not our fault. I never get to talk about this stuff, so I’m milking every opportunity I get with Addison,” Chelsi replies. Although I can’t see Chelsi’s face since Addison is holding the phone, I imagine she has a dreamlike expression, almost like a kid in a candy store. “I know there are a ton of other gowns for you to try on, but I really think this is the one, Kate.”
Addison nods in agreement. “It’s completely your decision. We can keep trying more on until you’re sure.”
I close my eyes for a minute, picturing myself on Jake’s arm after we step out of the limo onto the red carpet as the cameras flash. His hand is on my lower back as we walk step-by-step together. That’s when I know for certain that this dress is “the one.” A wide grin grows across my face as I open my eyes and stare at my reflection one more time. “This is it.” I turn to look at Addison.
“Hell, yes! My best friend is going to look so fucking hot!” Chelsi exclaims from the phone, so loud I’m sure the neighbors heard her. “I cannot wait to see the pictures on the internet.”
I’m glad someone’s excited about the prospect of seeing me on the red carpet because my stomach is already a ball of nerves, and we’re still two days away from the movie premiere.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
jake
I takeKate’s hand in the limo, waiting for our turn to get out and walk the red carpet. Although it may appear on TV that you hit the red carpet the moment your limo pulls up, that’s definitely not the case. It all depends on where you fall in order of importance, and based on our arrival time, it looks like we’re sandwiched somewhere in the middle.
“You look beautiful,” I whisper to Kate, even though the driver has the partition up and we’re alone in the back.
It won’t be that way for long. Anna is meeting us on the red carpet, and Jason’s likely inside schmoozing already. He lives for these types of events. Not me. I only attend when it’s required for my job, but I have to admit there’s something different about tonight. It’s the first time I have someone on my arm who truly supports and loves me. In a way, I’m actually excited to be here and introduce people to Kate.
Kate smiles at me. “Yes, you’ve told me half a dozen times now.”
“But have I told you how much I can’t wait to get you out of that dress?” I wiggle my eyebrows and look up and down herbody. “I can’t believe you’re all fucking mine. I’m the luckiest man in the world to be with you.”
Kate blushes, accentuating the pink stain already on her cheeks from her makeup. I wish I could kiss her. Have her straddle me in the car and let out all this pent-up energy, but Addison practically threatened me with my life if I mess up Kate’s dress, hair, or makeup before the night is over. It wouldn’t surprise me if Chelsi put her up to it, knowing how I can’t keep my hands off Kate. Knowing the effect seeing her in this dress would have on me.
“The feeling is definitely mutual,” Kate murmurs, running her fingertips along my inner thigh. She bats her long eyelashes at me seductively as her hand dances along my groin, lightly caressing my growing erection.
I hiss as she touches the head of my cock through my pants. “As much as I hate myself for saying this… You need to stop. I cannot walk the red carpet with a hard cock.”
Kate chuckles, tossing her head back slightly, wearing the widest grin. She looks so fucking beautiful.
“I’ll stop only because I’m afraid of Anna and how she’ll react if you’re pitching a tent in pictures. If it wasn’t for her, I would spend the next few minutes teasing you just like you love to do to me,” she says softly, dragging her finger down my neck.
Fuck. This woman is everything. How did I get so lucky to call her mine?
I take her hand in mine and kiss it. “I love you, Kate.”
The limo pulls forward a bit and then stops. The driver rolls down the partition to tell us we’re next in line and should be pulling up in a couple of minutes. Kate tenses slightly, so I rub my thumb in circles on her hand to help soothe her anxiety. Walking a red carpet is always stressful, no matter how many times you do it, but it’s unfortunately more unforgiving for women.
Men tend to get a free pass when it comes to what they wear—not women. Entertainment shows and social media love to dissect every aspect of a woman’s appearance, giving zero fucks about what it does for that specific person’s self-esteem or the message it sends to others. It’s why I was insistent on having Kate spend the entire day at the spa yesterday and work with Addison on her outfit. I wanted Kate to have all the resources to feel her best before the vultures pick her apart. Because they will, no matter what I, or anyone else, says or does.
When the driver pulls forward and stops, I squeeze Kate’s hand as someone outside opens our door, giving us the official signal that it’s time to make our grand entrance.
“We got this,” I whisper to Kate, kissing our joined hands one more time before letting go and stepping out of the limo. After I adjust my jacket and pants, I reach for her to help her out. Thankfully, the initial unloading area is separated from photographers, giving everyone a chance to ready themselves before stepping in front of the countless flashing lights.
“Great! You’re here. You look gorgeous, Kate,” Anna says excitedly as she pops out of nowhere, because I definitely didn’t see her when I exited the limo.
