Chapter 46
Levi
“Great, now she’s not answering.” I huff to myself after searching high and low for my phone. Do I call Tim? I type out a quick message to Tate.
Levi: Left my phone in the studio. Call me back.
I press my palm into my hairline without thinking and am left with a massive smear of hair gel on my hand.
Dang. I jog to the sink to wash my hands and inspect my hair again.
Luckily, not a strand out of place. I really went for the greaser look, and my grown-out mullet gives me a lot of hair to work with.
..and also to tame. Gabriella yells from somewhere in the house that our car has arrived.
My hands grip the marble vanity a little tighter, feeling the bite of the corner before letting go.
“Alright, God, let’s do this...” The words come careening out of my mouth so naturally you wouldn’t know I haven’t said that word in years. Not in a positive way, at least. I narrow my eyes at the guy staring back at me in the mirror. What’s going on with you?
“Levi Johnson, if you make me late to our red-carpet event, I will literally make sure you never walk anywhere again.”
I drop my gaze, grabbing my phone and leather jacket off the bed.
“You’re way too comfortable threatening bodily harm to people, you know that, right?” I say, hitting the last step into the foyer. She’s wearing a Canadian tuxedo and denim hat complete with the pressed rhinestone detailing.
“Yeah, well I never say anything I don’t mean. How legit is this look though?” she asks, twirling once like I need every angle to take it in.
“Pretty legit. You packed a Sandy in there somewhere, yeah?”
“Of course!” she snaps. “This isn’t my first rodeo.” Something in me says this girl hasn’t been to a rodeo in her life, but before I can say so, she’s ushering me out like a dog.
The line of cars outside of the Dolby Theatre is rivaled only by that of people on foot. The sound of people cheering penetrates the closed car door.
“Mom thinks I’m camping,” I say, reading aloud a sign from the crowd. Gabriella snickers in my ear as we both stare out the window of the nearly stopped car.
“Oh, look at this one—My boyfriend cheated on me and the only thing that will fix it is a selfie with Levi.” My smile tips as I consider sneaking out of the car for said picture.
“Don’t even think about it,” Jan’s voice calls out, exhausted and downright robotic as she continues to do whatever she’s doing on her phone.
“You know what, Jan...” I start, but Gabriella gives me a look that screams We only have a couple hours left, please hold it together! But it’s too late.
There’s an audible sound of her clicking off her phone screen before craning her neck up so that her eyes have direct access to shoot icy daggers directly at my face. “What, Levi? Do tell.”
Gabriella falls back against the seat behind her, making her cherry lips pop once before fixing her face to look annoyed.
I adjust in my seat to look directly at Jan, because that’s what you do when you meet a predator.
You stare them in the eyes and let them know you’re not scared or someone to be messed with.
“How you’ve treated Tate, Gabriella, and me has ruined not only my experience in the show but maybe in the industry as a whole.
Moreover, although you are good at what you do, I don’t think you’re happy.
” I sit back and wait for a reaction, but no matter what, I’m proud of myself.
I told her how I felt in a respectable way and didn’t let my emotions get the best of me.
Progress. Tina will be proud too. After a couple beats of silence so awkward and thick you could swim through it, Jan lets out her signature cackle.
“That’s where you’re wrong, my boy. I love what I do and make a ton of money doing it.
And although you and Gabriella may have strong feelings towards me, I’m not sure Tate feels the same.
” She flicks her chin in the air towards the window we were just looking through.
Gabriella and I both turn cautiously. Standing on the red carpet is none other than my best friend, Tim, followed by Callie and my mom, dressed to the nines.
The crowd lowers their signs as they try to place them. That is, until Tate steps out.
“Tate!” the crowd screams. “It’s Tate!” Everyone stands on their tippy-toes, trying to catch a look as a bunch of cameramen rush the group.
I press up to the glass, positioning my face at an unnatural angle to take her in.
True to self, she’s dressed in her signature yellow, but the dress is like something off the runway.
Tight fabric wraps over her chest down to her hips where big looping ruffles jut out asymmetrically till they hit the floor, exposing just the tip of her black pumps.
Her hair is loose and wild, falling over her shoulders in waves.
Crowning her head is something straight out of the 1920s.
A beaded black cap sits perfectly on top.
“Stop drooling, Levi.” Jan laughs, and I would be mad if she wasn’t right.
I’m totally drooling. Tate smiles her megawatt smile as she makes her way down the carpet.
People are losing their minds. She takes her time, receiving every extended hand in the same way you would greet a friend.
The car in front of us moves and we take its place.
My fingers twitch, wanting to reach for the handle.
“Okay, you two. Remember, you are engaged, so act accordingly. Next week, we will release a statement that the win impacted your relationship, and with so much love...blah, blah...you’ve decided to split.
” Gabriella looks at me before giving me a tight nod.
“Once Tate is about to enter the theater, Levi will step out and...”
Tate’s foot just then crosses the threshold of the doors to the building, and Jan all but yells, “Now, go.”