Chapter Thirty Four #2
“Me too,” Harry replied, eyeing the wriggling kitten. “All the best with that tiny terror.” With a final nod, he made his way back inside.
Priya scooped Sir Puffington out of the tote and placed him against her shoulder, using one hand to hold him in place. He settled comfortably into the crook of her neck.
“Okay, fluffball,” she murmured, rubbing his back. “Let’s get you home before you cause more trouble.”
As Priya reached for the car door, the Ganesh key chain slipped from her hand, her keys falling into the narrow gap between the tire and the curb. She knelt, stretching to grab it, and suddenly Sir Puffington leaped from her shoulder and darted away.
“Oh, come on!” Priya groaned, snatching her keys and bolting after him.
The kitten disappeared around the corner, zigzagging through the crowd, slipping between feet, and barely avoiding getting stepped on.
Priya chased after him, her heart pounding.
The last thing she needed was to explain to Brooke that her prized kitten had disappeared into the chaos of TIFF.
She veered into the bicycle lane, crouching to keep track of him through the gaps between people’s legs.
“Sir Puffington!” she called, her voice rising, but the kitten didn’t even glance her way.
She crashed into a signpost, her foot catching on its base, and nearly nose-dived into the pavement.
“Miss! Excuse me, miss!” a voice rang out.
But Priya had no time to stop. The crowd ahead parted, revealing a path straight to the kitten, who stood momentarily frozen in place.
“Hey,” she called, rushing forward. “Over here, little guy.”
Spotting her, Sir Puffington bolted in the opposite direction.
It was at that moment that Priya realized he was sprinting down a red carpet toward a set of lofty stairs: The grand entrance to tonight’s film festival screenings.
Around her, throngs of festival-goers and photographers stood behind the ropes.
Priya had unwittingly raced past the barrier and was now standing on the red carpet with her greasy hair and saggy pajama bottoms.
Everything slowed to an unbearable crawl. Priya could hear her heart beating in her ears. Ba-boom. Ba-boom. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted two security guards charging toward her. A few feet away, Sir Puffington was about to hop up the stairs and slip from her grasp.
In a split-second decision, Priya lunged forward, reaching for him, only to be yanked back by the guards.
“Sir Puffington!” she called over her shoulder as they escorted her away. “No, wait! I’m not leaving without that kitten!”
With a bold jerk, Priya tried to free herself. The crowd broke into cheers. Priya’s heart leaped. They’re on my side! She could feel the energy shift, the murmurs rising in her favor. Even the guards stilled.
But then she realized the commotion had nothing to do with her. The real spectacle was unfolding behind her. As she turned, her breath caught.
Ethan stood at the foot of the stairs, bending over Sir Puffington, his hand extended toward him. Sir Puffington hesitated, then melted under Ethan’s touch, purring as Ethan scratched behind his ears. In one smooth move, Ethan scooped up the kitten and stood, cradling him in his arms.
The crowd went wild. Toronto’s homegrown movie star had just saved a helpless kitten on the red carpet. Cameras flashed. The press clamored for Ethan’s attention, yelling his name.
Ethan looked up. His gaze cut through the sea of bodies and locked onto Priya.
Priya’s world stopped. Her heart came to a jarring halt.
She forgot about the noise, the cameras, and all the people around them.
The world shrank to just the two of them.
And damn, the man took her breath away. Lit by the glow of the festival, his tux crisp and perfectly tailored, he looked every bit the Hollywood heartthrob the world worshipped.
But to Priya, he was so much more. He was lazy mornings and whispered jokes.
He was the warmth of fingertips and the heartbeat beneath her cheek at night.
She had seen the version of him no one else had, broken and breathtakingly human.
And now, standing at the other end of the red carpet, Priya felt the pull between them tugging at the core of her being.
Then reality came crashing down. Priya’s eyes shifted to the top of the stairs as Sienna Deville descended like a queen in a gold-and-nude gown that clung to her like second skin.
Reaching Ethan’s side, she slipped her arm through his and waved, her smile practiced to perfection.
The crowd roared its approval. Together, they were cinematic royalty, his dark intensity complementing her sultry allure.
“Over here!” the photographers shouted. “Over here!”
Sienna obliged with a graceful turn, showcasing her best angles, her gown shimmering under the lights. Her eyes skimmed over Sir Puffington before returning to the real moment, the one where she and Ethan owned the night.
Ethan, however, was a beat behind. Sensing her costar’s distraction, Sienna leaned in and whispered something in his ear. Ethan seemed to refocus, as if suddenly remembering his surroundings. He said something, then pulled away and started walking. Straight toward Priya.