Chapter 9
nine
. . .
BLAIR
I tried to convince Stella to join me tonight as my plus-one, but she ditched me for a yoga class. Instead, I beg Grant Hall, an exec at Wonderland Studios, to be my date. He’s a good friend, and we have zero romantic interest in one another. We learned early on that we make great replacement dates for each other, though.
My divorce is old news, but with the rumor that the new happy couple will attend tonight, there’s always a chance the press will ask if I’ve seen them or how I’m doing since the divorce. I hate that I care, but I don’t want to go solo for fear of all that might imply: Sad. Alone. Pathetic.
Since this is a premiere featuring a female lead actor, director, and writer, I’d rather they ask questions about the female talent I represent, but that can be a sore spot, too.
Right around the time I was getting married, one of the top female stars we represent held a meeting with all of TWA’s agency leads. She was getting typecast and wanted new ideas. I didn’t know Lance was already in deep with Everest Studios to lock the actress into a five-film deal with a new action franchise. She chose one of my ideas, and it killed the project at Everest. Lance was livid. He lost it. I’m pretty sure everyone heard him screaming that my “pussy-forward movement was a waste of everyone’s time.” That I was an idiot if I thought I could come in and really change this town’s hundred-year legacy of filmmaking.
Trades caught wind of the gossip, and while they didn’t have the exact details of what went down, there were murmurs I was on Lance’s shit list.
I’m just finishing my makeup when I hear my phone buzz and see a text from Grant.
GRANT
Just arrived. Should I come to the door and pick you up like a proper date would?
ME
I’ll be right out. No need to interrupt whatever call you’re likely on.
GRANT
God, why can’t you be my actual girlfriend? So understanding and low maintenance.
ME
Oh please, your work is your mistress. But I still love you.
GRANT
Ouch. Alright, back to work. See you shortly.
Twenty minutes later, we pull into the valet line at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures and head over to the red carpet. As we walk toward the swarm of paparazzi and camera flashes, I spot Sophia and Wyatt. He’s in all black. His pants are slim and hugging those thighs I seem to be obsessed with. He’s in a button-down shirt with no tie and the top two buttons open. It looks like he hasn’t shaved since yesterday, and it’s just amping up the sex appeal.
He runs his hands through his hair as he searches the room and turns and sees me across the atrium. Our eyes lock for a minute before I watch him slide those steel-blue eyes up my dress and down again with a look of appreciation.
It reminds me of when we first met. When we looked at each other, it was like we were hypnotized. It took too long for us to stop staring at one another. He was so beautiful. Every time he came to the clubhouse after a round of golf, he would make it a point to sit in my section, and we’d talk until he had to leave or my shift was up.
But then I saw Holly sitting at his table, and her hands were all over him. I saw how he looked at her and laughed with her, and I immediately backed off. I was convinced I’d misread my connection with Wyatt and shifted my desire for him into the biggest champion for the two of them to date.
I break eye contact and look around the red carpet to see if my ex is here. Thankfully, there’s no sign of him.
Grant places his hand on my lower back and guides me to the edge of the carpet, next to Sophia and Wyatt. Wyatt watches Grant’s hand and flicks his eyes to me as his jaw tenses.
“Blair, so nice to see you again,” Wyatt says.
Sophia turns with a smile on her face and immediately pulls me into a hug.
“Thank you so much for the passes. I’m obsessed with this show!” She says.
“Of course! Sophia, I wanted to introduce you to Grant Hall. He’s head of creative at Wonderland Studios. Grant, this is Sophia Ford.”
Grant takes Sophia’s hand, and she gets his full attention, which is surprising since he’s usually distracted by all the noise.
“Even more beautiful in person. Sophia, I’m honored to meet you.”
Sophia immediately blushes, and I catch Wyatt rolling his eyes as he turns away.
“And this is Sophia’s brother, Wyatt.”
Grant reaches out to shake Wyatt’s hand.
“Nice to meet Blair’s other half,” Wyatt spits out, almost angry.
I think my mouth drops open, but thankfully, Grant steps in to answer.
“Oh, we’re not together. Blair and I have been good friends since she started at TWA.” He smiles at Wyatt. “I don’t think it’s a good idea to mix business and pleasure, but if I did, she’d definitely be one to catch.” Grant gives me a wink, and I snap my mouth shut for fear I’ll say something I regret.
Wyatt gives me another look to see if I’ll confirm that fact, and I offer him a small smile, along with a slight look of rage. He nods and places his hand on Sophia’s back to escort her down the carpet.
“Someone’s jealous,” Grant whispers in my ear.
“He’s not jealous. He’s nosy. I’m trying to sign Sophia, and he’s playing the protective-older-brother game.” Hopefully, Grant doesn’t notice how I keep glancing at Wyatt. It’s a dead giveaway that I’m excited at the idea that Wyatt could be jealous.
“Ok. Whatever you say.” Thankfully, Grant drops the topic. “Sophia seems nice. I’ve not had the chance to work with her yet.” I watch his gaze follow her down the carpet.
I would think more of it, but he rarely dates—even less now that he has full custody of his six-year-old daughter.
Grant and I make our way down the red carpet, and just when I think I’m in the clear, a journalist stops me as we’re stepping off the line. I tell Grant to go on in and I’ll catch up with him. Thankfully, it’s a simple question about the ladies in Pink Slip . It’s a quick exchange, but the distraction means I don’t realize Billy and Kandi have arrived and are right behind me until it’s too late.
“Baby girl! How are you? So good to see you.” He kisses me on both cheeks in the most pretentious way as I awkwardly try to lean away from him. “You know Kandi, right?”
I twist my lips into what I hope is a smile and realize that I’m only nodding my head. I look around and notice all the flashes and cameras facing our way and start to panic. The last thing I want is to be photographed with them. Why did I send Grant away?
Kandi places her arms around his neck and leans in to kiss him—I’m guessing to claim him because she thinks my silence is jealousy. I should say something, but my mind is blank. When I’m about to turn and run from the scene, I feel a hand on my elbow, and it’s Wyatt, smiling at the photographers.
“Excuse me for interrupting. I need to steal this beauty away for a minute.” He puts his arm around my waist and places a kiss on my temple as he guides me through the crowd. We walk into the nearest bathroom, and once we’re inside, he turns to lock the door, and his arm traps me against it.
He bends down to look into my eyes, and his hand comes under my chin, lifting my face so I’m looking at him.
“You ok?”
“Yeah. Thank you.” I push off the door because having him that close to my body makes everything inside me feel like fireworks. I tell myself it’s the adrenaline from seeing Billy and Kandi, but teenage Blair is giddy as fuck right now.
“I don’t know why I froze out there. I knew they would be here.” I walk over to the sink and check my makeup and hair in the mirror. My eyes dart to look at him in the reflection. He’s leaning against the door with his hands casually in his pockets. I can’t tell what he thinks, so I keep talking.
“It’s just embarrassing when your failures get photographed and splashed all over the gossip magazines. I hate it and try to avoid it at all costs.”
He just smiles and then pushes off the door. His steps feel like slow motion until he’s standing beside me. He reaches out to tuck a loose lock of hair behind my ear.
“I wouldn’t consider the split with Billy a failure, but I understand what you’re saying.”
His hand is still resting on my shoulder, and I can’t tear my gaze from his right now. When his eyes dip to peek at my lips, it’s easy to forget all about how much he hurt me and instead I imagine what his lips would feel like on mine.
A knock at the door pulls us out of our trance.
“We should get back out there.” I walk to the door. “I’m sure Sophia and Grant are wondering where we are.”
“She sent a text a few minutes ago. She’s headed into the theater with your friend Grant . ” His eyebrows raise as he emphasizes “your friend.”
“Grant is harmless.”
“He looks comfortable with you.”
“He is,” I say. I won’t apologize for having good relationships with male colleagues. “We’re just friends.”
I can feel Wyatt’s body against my back as he reaches around to open the door for me.
“Good.”
My heart races again, and I need to get these butterflies under control. We’ve both obviously moved on. What happened was so long ago, and even though we were friends first, what we had was just a fling. Besides, I’m trying to land his sister as a client. I need to keep everything professional.
When we exit the bathroom, he reaches down and laces his fingers through mine. It’s hilarious how quickly I fold on my stance to stay professional. I shake it off and assume it’s all for the crowd of reporters and photographers still around, just a friendly gesture. He’s just helping me out, taking one for the team.
Whatever you need to tell yourself, Blair.
We make our way into the theater, and I shiver as he places his hand on my lower back to guide us to our seats. Since we are the last ones to show up in our section, I’m now sitting next to him instead of Grant. Sophia and Grant are a few seats down and she leans forward and looks over me to ask Wyatt what took so long. Her gaze darts back and forth at us both.
“Lines for the bathroom were long,” Wyatt says.
I smile at her awkwardly, hoping it looks like I’m confirming his lie.
The lights go down, and the show begins, but all I can focus on is Wyatt’s thigh pressed against my knee. He moves his elbow to the edge of the armrest, leaving space for my arm, but my attention is fixed on how big his hands look resting on his leg. I immediately hate how my body betrays the pep talk about professionalism I just gave myself.
Swallowing the desire, I focus on trying to make it through the next fifty minutes.