AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’d really prefer to stay here all night and strip you out of this beautiful dress, but we should get going. Are you ready?”
I nod, unable to speak past the nerves racking my body.
“Limo is here, so I’ll meet you in the foyer in a minute.”
“Okay, I’ll grab my clutch.”
Jimmy insists on supporting me in my sobriety by not drinking himself. I hate that he needs to do that, but I hate it more that I’m probably not ready to be around him while he casually drinks. One day hopefully, but not today.
Snagging my purse off the dresser, I steel myself for the onslaught of questions I’ll face tonight. I hope that for once in my life, I don’t crumble under the pressure.
* * *
“Ready?”
I nod. “As I’ll ever be.”
Jimmy knocks on the tinted glass, and the driver opens the door to let us out. Jimmy steps out first, turning to extend his hand to me. With my hand safely in his, I step onto the red carpet. The press is snapping pictures and calling our names on one side of the blocked area, fans screaming behind them. On the other side is the large wall of fabric advertising the movie.
Just pretend you’re on a shoot. Play the role.
I put on my best smile and hook my arm through Jimmy’s waiting one.
Fans scream his name as we step up the carpet. The sea of red is already sprinkled with a few other celebrities I recognize. Jimmy waves with his best movie star smile.
God, he was made for this role.
One of the handlers approaches and asks us to stop for some pictures, first with us as a couple, then each of us on our own. This part I can do. It’s second nature. It might have been a bit since I’ve been on a modeling shoot, but I’ve still got it.
After we’ve smiled for a few rounds of photos, the reporters call us over. Jimmy wraps my hand in his, and we step toward the pack of wolves. The first few keep it short and sweet, asking questions about Jimmy’s movie and the one we’re here to see tonight. I smile at his side, my eyes fixed on Jimmy.
I should have known it wouldn’t stay that way.
Once we reach the reporter from Celebrity Hot Shots and she’s finishes asking the usual questions, she glances at me. “Lilah’s overdose and recent stint in rehab has been much publicized. How’s she doing today?”
Jimmy’s smile wanes, but as he stares at me, his smile returns. He looks back at the reporter. “Well, she’s standing right here. Why don’t you ask her yourself?”
“Of course,” the mini pit bull says with a fake smile and moves the mic in front of me.
Jimmy squeezes my hand.
“I’m taking it one day at a time and I’m focused on my sobriety right now. Things are going well.” I smile, hoping to give the impression that she didn’t unnerve me.
“That’s good to hear. And since you’re here together and holding hands, can we assume that you two are, in fact, a couple?”
She shifts the mic back over to Jimmy and I stare at him. Why, I don’t know. We discussed this and how we’ll handle the question, but maybe he’ll change his mind now that he realizes he’ll be answering questions about my sobriety and overdose until the press forgets.
“I can confirm,” he says. “We are together, and I am madly, irrevocably in love with this woman beside me.”
He brings our joined hands to his mouth and kisses my hand. Tears prick my eyes and I look at him as though he’s my prince, which he is.
He gives me a chaste kiss on the lips. “Lilah is working so hard to gain her sobriety, like millions of other Americans whom I’m sure can relate to her struggle. Watching the strength she has, has been nothing short of awe-inspiring.”
The reporter flounders for how to respond before thanking us and sending us off.
Jimmy squeezes my hand again as we walk away. We share a relieved a smile, both happy that the announcement is out there. After years of dodging the question and never giving into the are-they-or-aren’t-they chatter, our relationship is public and official.
Though it’s scary and my heart is beating out of my chest, when I stare at Jimmy, there’s relief and excitement for our future too.
