Chapter 46 Lex #2
I had no idea the cameras captured the following moments—that heartbreaking beat when I’d stared out at the gray horizon, silver clouds and sad, distant rain creeping closer.
My chest squeezes at the image. At the dead, forsaken look on my face.
How had no one noticed?
I still remember exactly how I felt. My dark thoughts, my regret, my throbbing uncertainty.
I wondered if Stevie would watch the show—if she’d hate it, think I wrote that script solely to profit off her while spitting all over our story for a giant payday.
But that wasn’t the truth. The truth was that I wrote it for her.
I wanted her to watch it. I wanted her to pick apart every scene until she found the truth and could finally understand all the things I’d never had the courage to say out loud.
I wondered where she was.
What she was doing right then.
Mostly, I wondered if I’d ever see her again.
“Lex?”
I jolt upright on the couch and click Pause, my attention shifting to the shadowy figure at the bottom of the staircase. Stevie stands there, wearing a baby-blue pajama set, rubbing sleep from her eyes. It’s well past midnight. “Hey.”
“What are you still doing up?” She steps forward, glancing at the television. The frame is frozen on an image of me, staring out at the bleak sky, while everyone around me smiles. “Is that footage from the set?”
I swallow. “Yeah. The source footage—uncut. Forgot I saved it.”
She crosses the room, her steps light against the floor, and settles beside me on the couch. Her warmth seeps into my side as she leans closer, studying the picture on the screen. “You looked…lost,” she murmurs, her voice quiet but knowing.
“I was.” The admission tastes bittersweet. “I remember feeling like I had everything—success, respect, a team that believed in me—but none of it mattered.” My throat tightens. “Not without you.”
Her hand slides over mine, her touch grounding me. “I wasn’t much better off.”
My chest constricts, and I turn to face her, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “I didn’t know how to reach you without making a bigger mess of things.”
A small smile breaks through our mutual regrets. “Well, we’re not in the business of mess-free love, are we?”
I laugh, and it feels like a victory against the ache of the past.
The TV draws our eyes back to the paused frame. That version of me, the one staring at the horizon, empty and alone, a slowly fading memory.
“You know,” Stevie says, curling into my side, “if that guy could see you now, I think he’d be pretty jealous.”
I grin, pulling her closer, my lips brushing against her temple. “If he’d known you were waiting for him all along, maybe he wouldn’t have wasted so much time.”
She glances at me. “Doing what?”
“Writing fiction. When the real story was right here all along.”
Her smile is soft but radiant, the kind that warms me from the inside out.
“Well,” she whispers back, resting her head against my shoulder. “At least this story has a happy ending.”
***
“Good evening, everyone! It’s such an honor to be here tonight, celebrating the incredible talent that fills our screens and captures our hearts.
As someone who knows a thing or two about the magic of storytelling, I can tell you that it takes a special caliber to bring a character to life, to make us laugh, cry, and sometimes even question our own choices. ”
An actress stands at the podium in a red, off-the-shoulder satin dress, a ring of pearls around her neck and a beaming smile on her ruby lips.
“Tonight, we’re here to recognize the men who have done just that—who have poured their hearts and souls into their performances, leaving a lasting mark on our television landscape.
These actors have taken us on unforgettable journeys, and they deserve all the accolades for their artistry.
So without further ado, let’s take a look at the nominees for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. ”
She turns toward the giant screen behind her as clips begin to play, featuring fellow actors, all in the running with me for the coveted Emmy award.
Stevie sits beside me in a baby-blue gown, squeezing my hand. Her hair is pulled up in a mound of coffee curls, framing the delicate lines of her face.
I lean in, whispering in her ear, “Will you still love me if I lose?”
She pinches my side, wrinkles her nose. “Will you still love me if you win and I throw up all over a celebrity?”
I snicker. “Classic Nicks.”
“It would be more classic if I fainted.”
“Just don’t go near the stage.” I tug her closer, draping her trembling hand across my thigh.
The screen goes black, replaced by silence, the room wrought with anticipation.
“And the Emmy goes to…” Opening the envelope, the presenter pauses for dramatic effect before she glances back up. “Lexington Hall for Come What May !”
Music plays.
The audience goes wild.
Fuck.
Guess I won.
Stevie whips toward me, wide-eyed and tearful, looking like she might puke. Cameras pan all around us while industry royalty whistle and applaud. A big smile sparkles to life, not because I won the Emmy but because my girl is by my side while it happens.
Shit. I might actually fucking cry.
Curling a hand around the back of her head, I pull her in for a bruising kiss. As I go to stand, Stevie reaches over and flicks remnants of dark-red lip stain off my mouth with her thumb, and I’m sure I’ll see the image front and center on magazine covers by sunrise.
Buttoning my coal-black suit jacket, I make my way onto the stage and accept the trophy handed to me. It’s heavier than I thought it would be. The piece glints in bright lights, a representation of not just my achievement but of the story told and the impact made.
It’s more than that too.
It’s a testament to every late night, every struggle, and every moment that led to this point. The good, the bad, the ugly. It’s not just for me; it’s for her.
For Stevie.
I clear my throat and approach the podium, bending to reach the mini microphone.
“Damn.” That’s all I say as I take a long pause to stew over my speech, and the audience chuckles from their seats.
“You know, when I wrote this script, I didn’t have any expectations.
Not really. It was more an outlet for me, a way to right my wrongs in some roundabout way.
” My gaze skims the crowd, emotion billowing.
“To be honest, it was an apology letter to someone I let down a long time ago. A way to lay bare my heart and hope she might see the truth hidden inside every scene. I thought if I could just get the words down, maybe…I could make sense of it all.”
I meet her eyes across the way, her image distorted by lights and strobes.
Her smile is brighter.
“As I stand here holding this award, I realize that it’s not just a reflection of my work; it’s a tribute to resilience, to love, and to the people who lift us up when we stumble.
So thank you to my incredible cast and crew for believing in this project and for pouring your hearts into it alongside me.
Thank you to my agent, Rudy Sinclair, for keeping the smile on my face, even when I didn’t think I had anything to smile about. ”
Rudy whoops from the crowd. “Love you, man!”
Everyone laughs.
“And to you, Stevie St. James,” I finish, pointing a finger at her. “I hope you know that this is all for you. You were and are my inspiration, and in the end, it’s your story I wanted to tell.”
Applause echoes in my ears as I inch back from the podium.
But something stops me.
I’m not done yet.
I take another step forward, blinking down at the stage.
“Before I go, there are a few more people I’d like to thank tonight,” I announce, hesitating, drawing out the silence.
I swallow, glancing at the cool metal in my hand.
Then I take a deep breath, close my eyes, and let it all out.
“Bianca Kendricks. Julian West. Veronica Hall.” My throat stings, heart galloping.
“I want to thank them for opening my eyes and for showing me exactly what is wrong with Hollywood.”
The cheers die out.
Laughter fades.
The audience goes deathly silent.
I glance around the room, from face to face, squeezing the award as a wave of certitude washes over me.
“I’m grateful to these individuals for revealing the cracks in the facade that so many prefer to ignore.
Their actions have been a reminder that we must hold ourselves accountable, demand integrity, and do more to protect our children. ”
Stevie watches me, a hand cupped around her mouth, tears spilling from glazed emeralds. Her head bobs up and down, encouraging me, egging me on.
I pause, my voice steady. “In light of this, I’ve decided to retire from acting indefinitely.”
Gasps bleed through the sea of people, shocked faces staring back at me.
I lock eyes with my girl, my heart heavy with truth, conviction, and love.
“I’ve come to realize that the best way to uphold these values is to find a way to create change in a system that often undermines them.
It’s time for me to seek a new path. And that path is one where I can truly live out my dream with the woman I love.
” A smile touches my lips as I swallow down the knot in my throat, nodding at Stevie.
“So as we celebrate achievements tonight, let’s also remember the responsibility that comes with them.
” With a final breath, I step away from the podium as the music starts to play, giving me my cue. “Do better, Hollywood.”
My eyes wheel back to the front row, where the love of my life sits in her silky blue dress with diamonds in her eyes. Tears of pride and love glitter back at me as she sends me a megawatt smile and begins to clap.
I lift my trophy in the air, knowing I’ve truly won it all.
“Thank you and good night.”