42
“How Likely Is Luna Aldridge to Join Kieran Alexander at NYC Saving September Premiere?”
—LVH Knows
“CLOSE YOUR EYES! Keep them closed!” I ordered Kieran, holding on to his hands as we entered the theater lobby through the back door.
He looked so striking in his forest-green suit.
Hundreds of people shouted outside, waiting for the cast of Saving September to walk the red carpet.
Interviewers were checking sound, photographers were testing cameras, and fans were looking back and forth, trying to pinpoint the entrance.
“You know, just because you’re a US champion now doesn’t mean you can do whatever you want,” he teased, keeping his eyes closed.
“Oh, really?”
“No, you can do whatever you want.” He smirked, leaning forward and planting a kiss perfectly on my lips without seeing me. “Does this have to do with your dress? Is it that short one hidden in the back of your closet I like that makes your—”
“Makes her what, Kieran?” my father spoke up.
Kieran froze and cleared his throat. “Mr. Aldridge, I didn’t realize you were here. How is your father part of the surprise?” he whispered.
I suppressed my laughter. “He helped make a call or two. It was worth it.” Hopefully. “You can open them now.”
He sighed. “Finally—Abuela?” His eyes shot open wide. Abuela, in a long, powder-blue dress and shawl, pulled her grandson into a hug. “What are you—Mom, Dad?”
I stood to the side as he took in his family. There was no surprise that Franny was here, as he attended all these events with his brother. But now, he stood beside their grandmother, sister, mother, and father.
“How… what are you doing here?” He stared at them as Abuela gave Mila and their mother space to hug Kieran.
“We wanted to be here for your final premiere,” his mother responded warmly, holding her son’s face.
“But…” He looked at his mother, then to his father standing several paces behind, then to me.
I went to speak up, but Mr. Alvarez surprisingly stepped forward.
“Mr. Aldridge gave me a call and told me that he would be coming to New York for the weekend to support his daughter, as well as attending your premiere. He said this would be a perfect time for our families to meet, since his daughter is very much in love with my son.” He folded his hands behind him and gave me a quick glance and smile.
Kieran turned to me in wonder, as if he was still alarmed that I loved him.
If Mr. Alvarez and I hadn’t spoken on the phone before he flew in, I’d be terrified to hear what he had to say next.
“I don’t understand…” Kieran responded, looking to me.
“Let him finish,” I reassured him.
His father continued. “I was thankful for the invitation, but thought it’d be more appropriate if everyone just came to our home in Spain.
” Kieran’s jaw was tense, unmoving, as his father spoke.
Walt and Dad watched, also nervous. “But then he went on to tell me that he’s seen every one of Luna’s tennis matches for the first decade of her life.
The ones she did for fun, the ones she lost, the ones where she was still learning, and the ones where her career took off.
He told me that the best part wasn’t that she’d win or lose, but that he’d gotten to see her become the woman he had predicted she would when she was born. ” He reiterated the story softly.
I looked at my dad, tearing up at the thought of him viewing my career with such compassion.
“It made me realize how much I’ve missed of your life.
Luna had told me—rather candidly, but it didn’t make her wrong—that you’re not happy because of how I treat your career.
” His voice thickened, emotion coating his words.
“So I watched your first movie, and then your second, and your third, and fourth, and every one after that. And I read the articles on them and the work you put into them, training for different roles and learning different languages, only for you to never watch them. I can’t believe I took part in making someone so talented and never realized it.
” His father’s voice cracked. He quickly cleared his throat.
“I’m sorry for ever making you feel like you shouldn’t be proud of yourself.
I am so proud of you,” he said, tears brimming in his blue eyes.
Kieran paused. I held my breath, hoping this was the right decision.
Then he wrapped his arms around his father and pulled him into a hug. His father squeezed him right back. His mother, grandmother, Mila, and Franny all had tears. Even Walt looked up at the ceiling to keep it together.
“All right, familia, time to get on the carpet now!” Nari announced, peaking her head in through the main door.
My heart settled for what felt like the first time in a year. Finally, everything was okay.