Page 104 of Born to be Wilder

She claimed she wanted Buck to be at the premiere to see her work, which was Marge-speak for I want everyone to know I’m in this movie, and also, I think I look badass.

“I think you look amazing,” Roxie crooned, her attention pulling from the A-lister and turning to Marge, her fingers playing with the fringe on the vest.

Marge slung an arm around her. “Well, Buckshot definitely has a thing for you, purdy lady.”

Roxie lowered her head onto Marge’s shoulder, and I smiled at them, then pushed a little closer to Tom.

“How you doing, baby?” he asked.

I inhaled a deep breath and let it out through my nose. “I’m okay. This is just… a lot.”

“Well, it may be a lot, but you look beautiful.” He kissed the top of my head. “Although, I am a little disappointed you didn’t show up in your costume like Marge. I heard you looked like a schoolmarm. I never told you I have a fetish for schoolmarms, but… well, I do.”

“Shut up!” I burst into laughter, the moment easing the tension coiling through my stomach like snakes had descended on my entrails.

Doris leaned across Axel, her face glowing. “Can you believe we got to walk the red carpet? I still can’t believe it. Me. Doris. I walked the actual red carpet and there were photographers and everything!”

She looked stunning in a floor-length pink gown that I had helped her pick out, her hair swept up, makeup professionally done. Axel looked equally sharp in his tux, and the way he kept looking at his wife with awe in his eyes made my chest tighten with happiness for them.

“You were beautiful out there,” Axel said softly, and Doris blushed.

“Just wait for awards season,” Marge announced to no one in particular, turning in her seat to survey the crowd. “I’m hearing Oscar buzz. Lots of it. Best Picture, probably. Maybe Best Actor for Jackson. Probably for me too. Supporting at least. You never know. Buckshot could really pop out in her scene.”

“We were extras. We aren’t getting Best Supporting Actor awards, Marge.”

She shrugged. “Well, even if the Academy doesn’t recognize my genius, it still sounds like it’s definitely in the running. Can you believe we could be in an Oscar-winning film?”

The absurdity of that statement hit me fresh. We’d stumbled onto a movie set in Louisiana, we’d become extras in a Western, and now we were sitting in a packed premiere theater in Los Angeles, waiting to watch ourselves on-screen.

My gaze drifted to the empty seat beside me.

The lights would dim soon. The movie would start. And that seat⁠—

I looked away, swallowing against the tightness in my throat.

Tom’s hand found mine. He leaned over, his lips brushing my temple. “I love you. And I’m so proud of you.”

I managed a smile. “It’s been a crazy year since we filmed this.”

“It has.”

“One of the hardest of my life.”

Tom squeezed my hand but didn’t say anything.

“But tonight,” I said, forcing brightness into my voice, “tonight we celebrate.”

Movement caught my eye, and I looked up to see Marge standing, waving both arms over her head like she was trying to signal a rescue helicopter.

“Anders! Clarice! ROGER! DAN!” She made finger guns, shooting them repeatedly at them while they tried to navigate the aisle. “Hey! Over here! It’s me! Buck! Buckshot! It’s me!”

They glanced over, faces registering something between recognition and panic, then sprinted for their seats.

Marge sat back down with a satisfied nod. “Probably got a lot going on tonight. Premiere nerves. Very busy.”

“Or they’re avoiding you,” I suggested.

“Why would they do that? They loved me. And they really loved Buck.”