20. Jess
Jess
Mandola Davison shimmered in her purple gown as she called out the nominees’ names. Everyone focused on the stage, but I kept my eyes on Danny. He had styled his hair the way I liked it, and his tuxedo fit him perfectly, but that wasn’t why I couldn’t stop watching him.
He had a nervous energy about him. Danny had perched himself on the edge of his seat, ready to burst. His enthusiasm was contagious. I realized my leg had started bouncing in anticipation. He caught me staring and gave me a quick wink, like he knew whose name sat in that envelope.
My phone buzzed like crazy, making my tiny handbag vibrate against my side. Our “team” had sent a flurry of messages. With a flick of my wrist, I tipped the watch Danny had given me for our one-year anniversary and watched the texts scroll by out of the corner of my eye.
Faye: We saw you and Uncle Danny on screen!
Paige: Tell Danny to sit up straight and stop covering his face with his hand.
Faye: Your dress is awesome! It makes whoever is on the other side of you look like a has-been.
Paige: lol. She is a has-been.
Faye: If you guys bail after this, will you get soup dumplings?
Paige: You just had soup dumplings!
Stella: Who is this? What did I mess?
Stella: *Mess
Stella: MISS!
“What does the dream team have to say?” Danny asked.
Danny hadn’t even turned to look at me. I smirked and adjusted my seat.
“Faye wants soup dumplings, Stella is clueless, and Paige says to sit up straight and stop covering your face with your hand.”
“Tell Paige I said, ‘bite me’,” he replied with a smirk. But He sat up straight and put his hand on mine. The buzzing continued, and I silenced my phone with a tap on my watch. The big event we’d been waiting for was about to happen.
“And the Emmy goes to….”
The world seemed to slow down as Mandola tore the envelope open. Then she threw her arms up in the air, flashing everyone her megawatt smile. “Sebastian Glass for the role of Roderick Galfast!”
Danny jumped to his feet screaming in victory. He tackled Sebastian, who sat in front of us, pulling him into a bear hug. The crowd erupted in cheers as I shot to my feet, clapping wildly above my head while the theme from Valley of the Red Tyrant played.
Sebastian turned to Danny, embracing him. He had a grin so wide it practically radiated joy. Behind his smile, his eyes glistened with tears. Decades of playing small roles had finally led to this moment, and I could feel my own eyes welling up.
After Danny, I was next in line for a hug, and I squeezed him as tightly as I could. “Congratulations, Salazar,” I said into his ear.
Over the applause, I heard him whisper, “Thank you ever so much, Jessica.”
Sebastian stumbled through the row of stars and placeholders, nearly tripping on the steps in his haste to reach the stage.
When Mandola placed the Emmy in his hands, his smile seemed to light up the entire theater.
Danny slid his arm around me, planting a kiss on my cheek.
I glanced at him, his smile somehow even larger now, but I couldn’t help feeling a little sad as we sat back down.
Sebastian had been the only nomination from the season even though it had been praised by critics and fans alike.
His nomination was well earned, but Danny deserved more than a moment onstage doing an award presentation.
A gift basket was hardly the recognition he deserved for his performance.
As everyone sat down, I leaned over to kiss Danny on the cheek and whispered, “You should have been nominated as well.”
He turned and smiled at me, his hand reaching down to squeeze my knee. “I’m absolutely fine. Did you forget that I have an Emmy?”
“Daytime Emmy,” I teased.
His fingers brushed the inside of my thigh, sending chills up my spine. He leaned over to brush his lips against mine. “It still counts,” he murmured, his tone as playful as mine.
I nudged him, trying not to laugh. We turned our attention back to Sebastian who already had the crowd in stitches with his acceptance speech.
“-and of course to the cast and crew for their infinite support. More importantly to craft services for their diligence in keeping my food so highly salted, my blood pressure is now higher than Matthew McConaughey on a Sunday afternoon.”
I let out a snort of laughter which caused Danny to laugh harder.
As the laughter died down, Sebastian’s smile and tone softened.
“Finally, there are two people I wish to thank, as I would not be here without them. The first is Jessica Richards. She not only campaigned tirelessly for me to get this role, but also shared her grandmother’s notes on Roderick.
Jessica, this award means many things, but my greatest honor would be to know your brilliant Nana somehow approves of my performance. ”
My throat tightened as I blew him a kiss. Danny’s hand took mine and gave it a gentle squeeze. We were both so proud.
The orchestra began to play Sebastion off, and everyone laughed as he stomped his foot in rage. “Don’t you even dare! I have waited forty-five years for this moment, and I refuse to yield to a producer with delusions of grandeur and a stopwatch!”
The crowd cheered as Sebastian refused to walk off the stage.
“And finally, to my brother in arms, Daniel Finnegan! There would be no award or Roderick in my life without your passion and dedication in ensuring my character existed in this series. Sharing the screen with you has been a gift beyond measure. You speak the language of the heart. Your performance in this production doesn’t just touch the soul…
it inspires it. In all fairness, you should be standing here beside me. ”
Danny’s eyes glistened as he dabbed at them with his fingertips, and Sebastian flashed a sly grin.
“However, the name on this award is mine, and you’ll have to pry it from my cold, dead hands to get it away from me.
Thank you, thank you all! May Saint Genesius bestow his blessings on all of you tonight! ”
The music from the orchestra pit began to swell again. Sebastian gave a flourish of a bow and walked offstage to a standing ovation from the crowd. I felt Danny place a handkerchief in my palm as I realized that tears were streaming down my face.
I turned to see him smiling at me, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Let’s get out of here.”
I scoffed at him in shock. “Are you serious?”
“Dead serious,” he said, standing up and offering me his arm. “I don’t see how the evening can top that moment. All I want is to go home and get out of this ridiculous get up.”
Honestly, all I wanted to do was get him out of that tuxedo as well, but for other selfish reasons.
I took his arm and let him lead me past the others in the row.
“We should at least make an appearance at the Vanity Fair party. Sebastian is going to be there, and you should get some pictures with him.”
“Is that my fiancée’s advice or my publicist’s?” he teased as he helped me onto the stairs.
“Both,” I said firmly back at him.
“Rubbish.” He shook his head. “I’m not going to steal Sebastian’s moment.”
“Then what are we going to do?” I asked.
He smiled mischievously. “I have five days before season four starts filming, and I intend to spend every moment with you, Paige, and Faye doing something absolutely ridiculous. However, first things first, let’s find our driver and hit Kao’s. I’m craving soup dumplings.”
As we exited the amphitheater, I was laughing so hard that I didn’t notice the wrinkle in the carpet. I found myself tripping, and when I tried to regain my balance, the heel on my shoe snapped. I reeled backwards, right into Danny’s arms.
“Really Jess,” he said with a smile. “You have to stop falling for me.”
I reached up and ran my fingers through his hair, then pulled him down for a kiss. I’d never stop falling for this man.
I belonged to him, and he belonged to me.
Suck it, Kismet Sizzle.