22. Theo
22
THEO
I step out of the sleek black car, reaching back to help Grace as she adjusts her dress and heels. Camera flashes pop like firecrackers, and photographers call our names, hoping to capture the perfect shot.
Grace’s fingers intertwine with mine, and we share a look—excited, maybe a little nervous.
“Ready?” I ask, squeezing her hand.
She grins, that signature sparkle in her eyes that has me hooked. “More than ready.”
Inside the studio, the atmosphere shifts from chaotic to intimate in its own way. Crew members rush around, headsets and clipboards in hand, adjusting lights and shouting cues.
There’s a low hum of excitement from the audience. I spot Rand Davis on stage, chatting with his producer. He catches sight of us, gives us a big grin, and waves us over.
“Look who’s finally here!” he says, offering a hand as he pulls me in for a quick hug.
“And Grace, you look stunning as ever. You guys ready to spill the beans?”
“Think so,” I say, glancing at Grace. She nods, her cheeks slightly flushed, but she squeezes my hand gently.
Rand chuckles, tapping his chin as he eyes us with a playful skepticism.
“Something tells me this is going to be my best episode yet. I am so grateful and beyond flattered that you chose me to make this announcement with you.”
“Couldn’t have thought of anyone better,” I say. “I’ve always appreciated how you stood up for me when the rest of Hollywood condemned me.”
“I believe that we can tell the reality of someone’s personality regardless of the mask they wear for the rest of the world. And you, sir, are a good human.”
“He certainly is,” Grace breathes as she gazes up at me adoringly.
The audience settles, and we take our places behind the backdrop before we’re revealed to the audience.
A couple of deep breaths calm the jittery excitement bubbling in my chest while Grace nestles in close, her leg brushing against mine.
Our hands find each other naturally, and I squeeze her fingers, feeling the warmth of her touch.
“And we’re live in three... two... one!”
The “Rand Davis Show” theme blares through the speakers, and the audience cheers wildly. Rand steps forward, waving to the crowd.
He’s a professional showman with all smiles and charisma, and he feeds off the audience like he was born for this.
“Good evening, everyone!
Tonight, I have two incredibly special guests, and I’m not just saying that because one of them bought me a very nice bottle of whiskey for Christmas.”
Rand laughs, glancing my way.
“Please welcome the man himself, Theo Rossi, and the love of his life—the incredible Grace Simmons!”
The applause is thunderous as we walk out, acknowledging the crowd with waves and smiles. I hear a few whoops and whistles, and as we sit down on the iconic couch, Grace leans over to me with a smirk.
“Quite the fan club you’ve got,” she murmurs teasingly.
I chuckle, nudging her back. “Nah, I think they’re cheering for you.”
Rand pretends to clear his throat, leaning forward with an exaggerated expression of curiosity.
“So, Theo, Grace, you two have been all over the headlines lately, and there’s a bit of a rumor going around that tonight might be the night you, I don’t know… clear a few things up?”
Grace and I share a playful look. Her hand is warm in mine, and I bring it up to my lips, pressing a quick kiss to her knuckles.
The audience collectively sighs, and Grace chuckles, her cheeks flushing just enough to be noticeable.
“You know, Rand,” I say, leaning back and keeping my arm wrapped around her. “I think those rumors just might be true.”
He raises a brow, feigning a scandalized look. “Well, well. Look at you, Mr. Smooth,” he says with a laugh.
“We’ve heard a bit of the story, so why don’t you summarize how the two of you met.”
Grace laughs, giving me a sidelong look. “Do you want to tell him, or should I?”
“Oh, go ahead,” I say, feigning a sigh. “You tell it better than I do.”
She grins, leaning toward Rand.
“It’s honestly nothing super special... except for the moment we’re in now.
As most of you know, I was dealing with a stalker and... well, everything my team was doing to protect me wasn’t working.
My manager and Theo are good friends, and Theo offered to let me stay at his house because of its location and security.”
“I will admit that she’s being nice; I was forced to,” I chuckle teasingly. “I’m a man who likes my privacy.”
“And he definitely let me know that,” she giggles. “He was very…rude and…arrogant.”
“Not arrogant, just… confident,” I interject, drawing laughter from the audience. I raise my hands in mock surrender, adding, “It worked, didn’t it?”
She rolls her eyes, but her smile betrays her affection. “He was definitely confident. But eventually, he won me over.”
Rand’s eyes narrow, feigning skepticism. “Eventually? Theo, you’re slipping. I thought you’d have charmed her in minutes.”
“Trust me, I tried,” I say with a grin, glancing at Grace. “But it turns out she has standards. Can you imagine?”
She stifles a laugh, and the audience breaks out into applause and laughter. Rand watches us with a smile, nodding along.
“So, is that when the sparks started flying?” he asks.
Grace turns to me, her gaze softening. “It’s kind of hard to pinpoint when it all began. But when you know, you just… know.”
Her hand shifts in mine and my fingers trace gentle circles against her skin. There’s something so grounding in this moment, the way we’re sharing our story together. And, I realize, it’s the perfect segue.
“Actually, Rand,” I start, and he perks up, his eyebrows lifting. “We wanted to share some news with everyone tonight.”
“Oh, I love news,” he says, rubbing his hands together like he’s ready for a juicy secret. “What kind of news are we talking about here?”
Grace takes a deep breath, her eyes shining. I look at her, my heart pounding a little faster. This is it. I turn back to Rand and the audience, unable to hide my grin.
“We’re engaged.”
The crowd erupts, cheers filling the air. Rand’s mouth drops open in exaggerated surprise before he’s up on his feet, clapping wildly.
“Well, that is some news! Congratulations, you two!”
He exclaims, grabbing my hand for a shake before pulling Grace in for a quick hug.
“I must admit, I didn’t see that one coming.
So... how long has this been in the works?”
I glance at Grace, savoring the way her smile lights up her whole face. “A while,” I say. “But we wanted to wait for the right moment to tell everyone. This felt like the perfect place.”
Rand nods, still grinning. “You’re full of surprises, Theo. Grace, how does it feel?”
She laughs. “It feels amazing. I couldn’t be happier.”
There’s a sweetness in her voice, something soft and true, and I wrap my arm around her, holding her close.
The audience is still cheering, and Rand gestures for them to quiet down, giving us his classic mischievous grin.
“I have to say, I’ve known Theo for a long time... and it’s nice to see the good guy finally win.”
He leans back, crossing his legs with a grin.
“All right, now that we’ve got that out of the way...
I have to ask—who made the first move?”
Grace shoots me a look. “Oh, that was definitely him. But he’ll say it was mutual, won’t you, Theo?”
I smirk, holding up my hands. “It was mutual, but I may have nudged it along.”
“Nudged it?” she teases, narrowing her eyes at me. “More like charged forward full steam.”
The audience laughs, and I lean in closer, dropping my voice low enough that only she can hear. “What can I say? When I want something, I go for it.”
Her eyes meet mine, and there’s that heat, that simmering spark that’s just between us. I hear Rand clearing his throat dramatically, and we both pull back, chuckling.
“Save some of that for later, you two,” he jokes, wagging a finger at us. “I’m not sure my audience can handle that level of steaminess. We may be late night, but we’re not on Skinimax.”
Grace and I exchange a grin, but I feel her hand tightening around mine.
“So, what’s next for you two lovebirds?” Rand asks, settling into a more serious tone. “Big plans?”
“Well,” I say, glancing at Grace, “we’re hoping for a small, intimate wedding. Just close family and friends. And then… well, maybe start a family of our own.”
The audience sighs, applauding, and Rand raises his glass to us in a mock toast.
“Here’s to love, life, and big dreams,” he says. “And to our favorite power couple!”
As the segment ends, Grace and I steal a moment just for us. Her eyes are shining, and I brush a thumb over her cheek, feeling the steady thump of my heartbeat.
Rand gives us a nod, thanking the crowd as he wraps up the show. When he turns back to us, he smiles, genuine and warm.
“Congratulations, you two. Truly. You deserve it.”
Grace leans into my shoulder as we make our way offstage, the audience’s applause echoing around us. We step out of the studio into the cool night air, and I pause, pulling her close, my hand finding her waist.
“You know,” I murmur, my voice a little rough, “I think I might be the luckiest man in the world.”
She laughs softly, her eyes shining up at me. “I think I’m pretty lucky too.”
Her arms wind around my neck, pulling me closer until there’s barely a breath between us.
“Marrying you,” I say, my voice low and confident, “will be the best decision I ever make.”
She presses a kiss to my lips, and I lose myself in her touch, the world fading away. The cameras, the crowd, the show—it all disappears, leaving only us tangled up in a moment that’s entirely ours.
“Let’s get away again. I have the perfect place,” I tell her.
“Ohhhh, I’m intrigued,” she teases. “Whisk me away.”