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I held my breath, unsure of what would come out of those cherry-red lips when her eyes met mine. “I’m just honored to be on his arm. I’m so proud of him.”
I exhaled, able to breathe again.
“Have you always been an adoring fan?” Charmaine asked.
“I might’ve had a crush on him ever since his Treemont High movies. And I may have hung his posters on my wall.” Scarlett offered a coy smile so genuine, I wondered if there was any truth to it.
“Oh, honey, haven’t we all.” Charmaine laughed, clearly loving Scarlett’s candor. “Just one more thing before you go,” she said, shoving the mic toward her. “Your gown is absolutely gorgeous. Who are you wearing, honey?”
Scarlett beamed. “Valentino.”
Chapter 19
SCARLETT
Iexhaledtheoxygenburning in my lungs. My pulse pounded so fast, my head spun. Nothing could prepare me for the experience of walking a red carpet, and I prayed we headed inside soon for fear my rubbery legs might give out.
After we left the Entertainment Tonight interview, we’d made it two-thirds of the way toward the grand entrance of the hall. The purplish lights glowed enticingly around the entrance under the fading sunlight, giving the white colosseum-style building an ethereal appearance.
A few more pictures. A few more questions and smiles, and we could go inside, I told myself.
Several media outlets snapped photos, shouting my name as we paused to allow them a better angle. “Scarlett, what do you think about Thorne’s latest stunt on the golf course?”
And another: “Is it true they might replace you onThe Soldiers Within Us?”
My smile tightened, and beside me, I felt Thorne tense. It was the first a reporter had brought up the incident, but I could tell from the way these guys aggressively snapped and asked questions, they were genuine paparazzi and not from a legitimate media outlet.
We moved down the carpet a couple hundred feet more to freedom when a morning host anchor I recognized from Wake-Up America approached from the sidelines. “Thorne, over here!”
Thorne smiled and nodded, taking a step closer as the reporter spoke into his microphone. “We didn’t think you’d show.”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” Tension creased the corners of Thorne’s eyes.
“How do you feel about the new article in Celebrity that labeled you as Hollywood’s Bad Boy? Do you think you’re a liability?”
My stomach clenched on his behalf.A liability?That must’ve been some article.
Thorne rocked slightly on his heels, then brought his free hand up to his tie and cleared his throat. “I didn’t. Must’ve missed that one. Now if you’ll excu—”
“Sources say you’re unraveling, that they’re looking to replace you. Any truth to that?”
“No comment.” His eyes hardened, and he placed a hand on the small of my back, guiding me away.
“Don’t you think fans deserve to know?”
Thorne’s step hitched, and his shoulders slumped.
“Do you think maybe you’ve limited your career?” the reporter shouted. “Maybe Treemont High was it, and you’re a one hit wonder.”
A huff of air escaped Thorne’s lips, a sound that was half laugh, half desperation as he glanced back. “I learned a lot on the set of Treemont High, but I’m not done yet. I have a lot in me the world hasn’t seen.”
“How much longer until you’re in trouble again?” one paparazzo shouted.
“Do you have a drinking problem?” another yelled.
“Are you doing drugs?”
My throat tightened as they hurled questions at him, faster than a baseball. This was the negative press Thorne had been trying to avoid, the whole reason we were together on the red carpet tonight.
