Page 65 of Sway

Epilogue

Salomé-Six Months Later

THE LIMO PULLS up to the curb. Our driver opens our door and Genya and I step out. Cameras flash, the starry explosions of light following us as we walk down the red carpet. My first ever. Genya’s in a custom-made Armani tuxedo and I’m rocking Versace.

I nearly squeeze Genya’s bicep right off him. “Oh my God!” I whisper. “Is that Jennifer Aniston?” She is even more gorgeous in person. Wow—I’m actually here with all these stars. I grab Genya’s hand and try to get out of the way of the big celebrities.

Ryan Seacrest waves me over. Are you kidding me? “Hey, everyone, it’s Salomé Sanchez from Dancing under the Stars,” he says to the E! cameras. “How does it feel to be nominated for an Emmy?”

Freakin’ fantastic, chico! “It’s just such an honor. I’m so happy to be nominated.”

“And who are you wearing? You look gorgeous,” he says.

“Thanks, Ryan. I’m wearing Versace and Genya is wearing Armani. Now don’t put us on your worst dressed list.”

He laughs. “No chance of that. Good luck, Salomé.”

It’s so loud I can barely think—all the fans are screaming and the noise of limousines circling the block is louder than I ever guessed when I was watching this thing from my couch. Our limo was in line for the red carpet for an hour. My face was plastered against the window trying to spot celebrities. I saw Tina Fey and Eva Longoria, and I even saw a silver Hummer limo with studs all over it. I wonder who was in that one.

We walk through the throngs of reporters and lean over the rails to sign autographs for the fans. They’re all corralled behind a steel gate. One guy is holding a sign that reads, Baila conmigo, Salomé. He’s cute, too. My first groupie. I blow him a kiss.

Shit, is that the cast of Walking Dead? I love that show. Would it be totally lame if I got an autograph?

“Excuse me, honey, I think you’re coming undone,” I hear a voice say. I look up and Ellen DeGeneres is shielding me from the photographers. Oh damn, I think my breast tape came loose. I rub my chest on Genya to readjust. Cool. Wardrobe malfunction avoided.

“Thanks, Ellen. I love your show.”

She leans on her gorgeous wife, Portia. “And I love yours. I can’t wait to have you on.”

Me on Ellen! I’ve totally arrived.

We head to the auditorium and are escorted to the reality television section.

Jenny’s already in her seat, looking stunning in a Vera Wang gown. She is holding hands with Tim.

“Good evening, Salomé,” Tim says. “You must be honored that as a Latina you were nominated for choreographing a dance from your culture.”

“My culture? Christ, Tim, you’ve been hanging around Jenny too long. She got you writing a dissertation on Mulan, yet?” Damn boy is totally whipped.

Jenny leans in to me as I sit next to her. “Can you believe this?” she whispers. “Remember what we were doing last year?”

Who could forget? “Yeah. But I could totally go for some margaritas now.”

Jenny starts to get up but quickly sits back down. Benny and Diana, newly engaged, walk down the aisle and sit in their seats two rows in front of us. Jenny gives me The Look. We don’t even recognize Diana anymore. She got tacky implants last month, and her golden hair is now a bright platinum shade.

“Jesus,” Jenny mutters. “Next she’ll carry around a crazed Chihuahua with a diamond-studded collar.”

“Oh, stop. Vika says it’s lonely in that mansion, so if she needs a dog . . .”

“She doesn’t need a dog, she needs her friends.”

“You’re preaching to the choir, Jen.” I jab my thumb Diana’s way. “It’s Miss-I-Don’t-Answer-My-Own-Phone-Anymore who needs the lecture.”

“Hey, guys,” a sexy male voice says. I shift my gaze over Jen’s shoulder. Tony and Vika have finally strolled in.

“It’s about time,” I say as Jenny and Tim stand to let them through to their seats. “I thought you two were going to blow the whole thing off.”

“Never,” Vika replies. One of her curls has escaped the up-do that probably took her hairdresser hours to do. Of course it looks perfect hanging there. “Did you see that E! reporter out there? The guy practically tackled me and wouldn’t let go. Antoshka finally had to give him Vulcan mind meld.”