Chapter 36
Chapter Thirty-Six
Juliet and Robbie had perfected events together. It was easy, once they’d worked out logistics. Once they’d gotten comfortable together, it was natural.
Even at their first couple of events together, though, she hadn’t felt the way she did tonight. The way she’d felt all night long.
Nearly everyone she’d spoken to had asked her how she’d liked the film, given that they’d finished the screening an hour ago.
Juliet wouldn’t know; she’d barely watched the damn movie.
How could she watch the movie when Darcy was sitting next to Kerrington Kosta?
Fine, she was also sitting next to Juliet.
But Kerrington was on her other side, and Kerrington had leaned in and made comments – comments Juliet hadn’t been able to hear – several times during the movie.
Darcy had laughed or nodded or leaned in and whispered something back that Juliet, again, hadn’t been able to hear.
Robbie ducked down, doing his trademark leaning-in whisper against her ear. “You’re so tense, I think you might crack in half any second now. And people can tell.”
There was a gentle warning in his tone, as if he had to warn Juliet about the tension flowing through her. As if she didn’t feel it coursing through her veins, making her feel as though she were mere seconds from turning to stone.
But how could she not be tense when she heard Darcy laughing?
Darcy’s laughter was a sound that Juliet’s impeccable hearing could pick up on from a mile away, at this point. She’d been able to pick out her laughter from a crowd even before they’d truly met. Bawdy and real.
Darcy was standing twenty feet away, laughing at something Kerrington had said to her.
And Robbie thought Juliet didn’t know she was tense?!
“Thanks,” she muttered back, folding her arms over her chest, flicking him a glare. “I didn’t realize.”
He leaned back, holding up his hands. Quiet amusement was etched into his features. “Hey, I figured I’d tell you. Fake-boyfriend and real-friend, to fake-girlfriend.”
She tried her best, she did, to take in a deep breath, as she reached up and pinched the bridge of her nose. “Yeah. I know.”
“Incoming,” he whispered, with just the right amount of urgency that she snapped to attention and managed to swallow down the ranging, boiling emotions ready to burst out of her.
She turned, leaning slightly into him, just in time to face Nik.
“That song!” His exuberance was clear in his face, in his voice. He kissed his fingertips, throwing them into the air. “There wasn’t a dry eye in the theater. As soon as you two sent it to me, though, I knew.”
His compliment landed inside of her in a place that usually released the most serotonin through her body. Her music, her work, resonating the way Nik was saying – and it was true; she’d heard the sniffling in the audience – it had always been the thing that drove Juliet.
But this wasn’t just her music, it was their music.
Hers and Darcy’s, and Darcy –
Nik turned, reaching up to wave at Darcy. “Over here! We’re talking about the song!”
Juliet’s spine snapped straight up, a vicious satisfaction coursing through her.
She and Darcy had taken photos together and had done a few interviews when they’d arrived earlier, on the red carpet.
Their outfits complimented one another’s perfectly, without being too matching, which gave Juliet a satisfaction she’d never felt before.
Darcy in her revealing, black dress, Juliet in her molten silver gown.
Both of their evening wear was sleek, with clean lines, no frills.
The designer was the same, even though their colors and exact styles contrasted.
Darcy had been so warm at her side, and she’d given honest, thoughtful responses about what it was like to work on the soundtrack.
But she had been able to feel Darcy’s stiffness. Things weren’t normal between them, and Juliet had still been trying to sort through Darcy’s reaction to Robbie joining them.
It wasn’t crazy; Juliet understood that. Of course, she understood that.
But having Robbie at her side had offered her the best, most consistent, easiest level of protection for so long. Since the very beginning of her career. To Juliet, it was like a security guard at events like this, just as Juliet was to him. Not offering physical safety, but a shield from scrutiny.
To Juliet, this arrangement with Robbie was second nature. And she’d never had anything real with anyone else, so it hadn’t ever been something she’d had to think twice about.
Darcy’s reaction was making her think twice. She’d spent the hours with her stylist lost in her own thoughts, anxiety threading through her.
She’d said it to Laura before Darcy’s tour – Darcy wasn’t a liar. Omitting her sexuality was one thing. Actively being a party to this front was another.
And after they’d done their first pass before the movie, after they’d talked to the requisite number of people and gotten their photo taken a handful of times, Darcy had wandered away from her. Leaving Juliet with Robbie on her arm, as per usual during evenings like this.
But her attention had been fastidiously centered on Darcy.
Especially given that Darcy had seemed to connect with Kerrington almost immediately.
With Nik calling Darcy over, he was unwittingly corralling Darcy back to Juliet, and –
She narrowed her eyes, her hand tightening against her champagne flute, when she realized that Kerrington was walking over as well. She supposed it made sense, given that Kerrington was his daughter; why wouldn’t she also come over?
“Glukia mu,” he sang out in Greek, directed at Kerrington. “You were outstanding. And Darcy – I was just telling Juliet how I knew your voices would be exactly what I was looking for.”
Darcy smiled widely at him, and Juliet analyzed it like she was some sort of master in body language. The smile seemed very genuine, like Darcy had lost the tension, the negative emotion that had been tying her up earlier.
“Thank you so much for the opportunity. Seriously, it was…” She flicked her gaze to Juliet quickly, then back to Nik. “It’s been the experience of a lifetime, being here. I’ve never been to a premiere before,” she stated, candidly.
Offering that earnest charm she had, without even trying.
“As I said earlier: it might be your first, but it’s definitely not going to be your last,” Kerrington asserted with authority.
Kerrington Kosta was – incredibly irritatingly – a Greek Goddess in modern form. Tall, striking features, her dark, wavy hair flowing down her back. She had a presence.
And she was an out bisexual woman. So, there was also that.
Juliet brought her champagne to her mouth with such a sharp intensity, her bottom teeth clattered against the rim.
Darcy looked at her immediately, not missing a single thing, tilting her head slightly.
Kerrington also turned her attention toward Juliet, giving her a glowing smile, as she offered her hand. “Juliet, it’s nice to finally, officially, meet you. Sorry we didn’t have a chance to do this earlier when the film ended.”
It had been a bit hectic, after the applause. Conversations broke out, people were filtering in and out of rows. Darcy and Kerrington had walked off together.
She took Kerrington’s hand in hers, firmly shaking it. “Nice to meet you. Officially.”
If she’d met Kerrington a year ago, she’d have felt so differently about her.
She was unapologetically out, so Juliet wouldn’t have ever considered starting anything with her even if it seemed there was interest from Kerrington’s side.
But… she’d have at least enjoyed the attraction she’d have felt.
She didn’t enjoy how attractive Kerrington was, now. Not a single iota.
Dark hair, dark eyes, coy smile? Just Darcy’s type.
But also taller than Juliet, curvier than she was, obviously far less complicated.
Kerrington was the definition of Hollywood royalty; the Kostas had been famous for multiple generations.
Directors, producers, actors – there wasn’t a corner of the film industry they didn’t have their fingers in.
Kerrington didn’t have to be fearful of someone squashing her career for coming out, not with the Kosta name.
Kerrington was also a very talented actress, which was salt in the wound.
She then introduced herself to Robbie, who excitedly returned the handshake.
“Dad, if you don’t mind excusing us, I was just about to bring Darcy over to introduce her to Avery, before she leaves. You know she’s not long for an after party.” Kerrington lifted her eyebrows, politely waiting for her father to bring up anything else.
He waved both of his hands at them. “Go, go. I just wanted to tell you – again – how thrilled I am with the song, that was it.”
“Well, again, thank you,” Darcy returned, her smile so genuine.
Kerrington started to turn, clearly ready to lead Darcy away from Juliet – from the group once more before she paused and looked between Juliet and Robbie. “Would you two like to come?”
“No. Thanks.” Juliet’s voice was sharp and she could feel that her smile was, too.
Would she like to accompany Kerrington and Darcy over to meet Avery Wilder, lesbian actress?
She’d have to tear her hair out. Or someone’s hair. Who knew whose it would be? It wouldn’t be Darcy’s gorgeous golden locks, and that was about all she could promise.
She was this close to snapping already, when faced only with one of them. If she had to watch both of these women look at Darcy, in her open-backed, thigh high slit black dress that highlighted her cleavage…
Pointedly, Juliet turned to look at Robbie. “I need another glass of champagne.”
Two hours later, Juliet was pacing in her foyer.
This was not how she’d expected tonight to go.
She’d been looking forward to this premiere for weeks. Looking forward to being with Darcy, to hearing that emotional, heartrending song they’d written and performed together play for the audience in a movie that was sure to be an Academy Award nominee.