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Kline was talking on his cell and turned when he heard her on the stairs, smiling then dropping his jaw."I have to go," he said to whomever was on the line, hanging up without taking his eyes from Rhiannon. "Oh god. You look amazing.Just--amazing. But aren't you going to wear the other dress? I thought we agreed..."
"The other one's fine, but I feel more myself in this one," she said, with a crimson smile. She knew she looked good. Better than he had considered when she was trying dresses on, and with the dramatic makeup, she knew the look was perfect. "Is that a problem?"
He frowned slightly."I guess not if you’re comfortable.You do look really good. Just…flashbulbs can…it's very…theatrical.Greta did a brilliant job.You look lovely."
Rhiannon's eyes narrowed slightly as he frowned, and she lifted her chin a little letting him talk himself into the praise."Well, I guess you're dressed?Just need to tie your tie.Want some help?"
"Nah. I'm going like this. Everyone else will be very sleek. I'm going Rat Pack."
"You mean fresh off a bender. That's a look now?" she said, checking the small black clutch she was carrying.
"It's something different," Kline said, somewhat defensively. "Are you ready?"
"More than. We'd better go, or we'll be more than fashionably late."
They got into the limo where Kline was restless and fidgety. "I'm nervous," he said. "I can’t flub my lines. I have to be perfect. And what if Keenan roasts my nudes? Or what if he doesn’t roast me at all?"
"I don't think you have anything to worry about. The press loves you," Rhiannon said. His nudes? Who cared about his nudes? Everyone loved looking at his ass.
"Yeah,” he sighed, wringing his hands. He pulled a little compact out of the inner pocket of his jacket and opened it up to the mirror, fussing with his hair.
What was she doing here? “Oh, Thad said to tell you to break a leg,” she said, crossing her own legs. No sooner did she say it than her phone beeped, and she looked on the display to see Thad's name. "Speak of thedevil," she said, emphasizing the last word as she answered the phone.
“Oi. Are you two on your way?"
"In the limo now. Should be reaching the lineup very soon."
"Everything okay?" he asked. Oddly enough, he had been the one to talk things out with her a bit the day before, when she confessed her upset and the reasons why.
She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "For the moment."
"You'll be fine. Can't wait to see this smashing frock you're wearing."
"You'll know me when you see me," she teased.
Kline shifted next to her, looking a bit antsy, so she told Thad that she had to go and ended the call. "He said good luck again."
"He called me this morning."
"That's my third call today. I think he’s worried you’ll forget I’m with you and wander off in an ego haze."
“What?”
“You know, get so caught up in yourself that you forget I’m here.”
He frowned at her, lines appearing between his eyebrows, showing the makeup placement there. “Fuck him. That’s really bitchy to say. This is a big deal for me.”
They were quiet for a time, as they drove through Beverly Hills, passing other limos as they went. When they reached the auditorium, they were lined up in a long row of cars that queued around the block. He was really nervous. She could see it in the white of his knuckles. The slow parade moved steadily forward, and Rhiannon reached over to take Kline's hand. "You're going to be great. Don't worry."
He kissed her hand with a bit of distraction. "Thanks. I'm really glad you're here with me."
"Even in this dress?" she teased.
"Yes. Even in this dress," he said, nodding. "You do look fantastic."
"I always look better when I'm comfortable," she said, with an elegant shrug. "So, they'll be interviewing you on the carpet and after, right?"
"Likely. It's to be expected."
