22. Chelsi
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
chelsi
Searching through dresses on the garment rack, I appraise each one to see if it’s what I envision Kate wearing to the ACM Awards.
Addison has done a fantastic job, picking out a few dozen dresses for Kate to consider, but I know my best friend well enough to realize it’ll be a cold day in hell before we convince her to try on anywhere near this many.
She’ll try on five, maybe six options before giving up and picking whichever one looks the best, even if she doesn’t like it.
I refuse to let that happen on my watch.
This is Kate’s first red carpet as Jake’s wife, and I want her to have a positive memory of this event, unlike the last one.
Although she looked absolutely breathtaking when she went to the movie premiere with him, the internet was more vicious than usual.
Picking on what she wore, insinuating she was a gold digger.
Crafting a list of more suitable women for Jake to be with instead.
It quickly spiraled out of control. Even Anna couldn’t stop the snowball of vitriol from occurring.
This red carpet has to be different for Kate. She deserves to feel like a princess, walking hand in hand with the love of her life. A lovely fuck-you to everyone who didn’t believe in what they had. A perfect way to showcase how true love can conquer anything the world throws at it.
“What about this one? It’s a couture piece from the Armani spring line,” Addison says, holding up an iridescent gown with spaghetti straps that fades from pale blue to light green to a hue of blush.
“It’s gorgeous, but I don’t think Kate will like it. She needs something more structured, with classic elegance, for this red carpet. A dress that makes her feel glamorous without looking like she’s trying too hard.”
Addison nods, continuing to search through the rack.
We’ve set up all the dresses in one of the guest bedrooms at Kate’s house, hoping it would make her feel more comfortable than trying everything on at Addison’s studio.
I might’ve been pretty insistent about the location, even though I know it would require a ton of work for Addison and her team to lug the countless dresses, shoes, and accessories here.
I’m optimistic this will make the process easier on Kate.
Finding the perfect dress isn’t just about how it looks on you; it’s also about how it makes you feel, and I’m a firm believer that the environment is a significant influence.
The moment I see the black Versace gown with the full skirt and handcrafted floral cutouts, I immediately know it’s going to be a top contender.
I can envision Kate’s hair cascading in soft curls, framing her face with a large statement necklace and dangly earrings, adding a pop of color.
My mind races through options for her eye makeup, trying to find the perfect style that fits the dress and complements her skin tone.
It’s almost like my brain builds the entire look, swapping out different variations until I’m certain I’ve found the right one.
It’s no different from how I assess every red carpet on TV.
Constantly dissecting every aspect of the look and throwing out suggestions for improvement.
Kate may not love my nonstop commentary on fashion, but it fuels my soul in a way that nothing else ever has.
It doesn’t take more than a few minutes until I’m pulling out the dress, shoes, and accessories, setting them up as one of Kate’s try-on options. Completely lost in my own thoughts, I don’t notice Addison walking over until she’s standing beside me.
“Wow!” Addison exclaims with one hand on her hip. “That’s a fantastic look for Kate. Hell, for legitimately anyone. How did you pull that together so fast?”
I shrug, setting down the earrings I’ve selected for the dress on the table. “It kinda pops into my head, similar to how Cher’s closet worked in Clueless.”
Addison shakes her head. “Your eye is unmatched. I’ve been at this for years, and it would’ve taken significantly longer to pull all of this together. Tell me again why you aren’t working in fashion?”
I laugh, waving my hand at the ridiculousness of the suggestion. “This is a hobby for me. Not a career.”
“You could make it more than a hobby. Aren’t you still trying to figure out what’s next for your life? What if you tried to make a go of it in fashion?” Addison asks, her eyes full of sincerity.
“I don’t know,” I reply, looking away to avoid her seeing the vulnerability on my face. “Not sure jumping into another career change in my mid-thirties is the brightest idea. I did that with my last job, and we all know how well that turned out. I’m currently unemployed with no options.”
Addison scrunches her eyes and presses her lips together tightly. “I don’t think that’s true. Anna told me she offered you a role on her team.”
I nod, glancing back in her direction. “She swears it’s genuine, but it’s hard not to assume there’s a hint of obligation in it. After all, Jake’s one of her biggest clients. You know he’d do anything for Kate, and she’s made it very well known how much she wants me to stay in Nashville.”
“I see,” Addison murmurs, crossing her arms against her chest. “Listen, I’m not an Anna whisperer like Max, so I can’t explain exactly why that woman does what she does.
However, I do know that, when it comes to her clients, she wouldn’t let anyone near them who she doesn’t think is top-notch.
Reputation means everything to her. She wouldn’t risk it for anyone, no matter who they are. ”
I twirl a piece of my hair around my finger, winding up the curl like I do every time it’s wash day.
“That’s good to know. The last thing I want to do is feel beholden to anyone, especially a new boss.
I want to earn whatever role is next in my career based on who I am.
My work ethic and results. Not because of who I’m friends with. I don’t want to go through that again.”
Addison’s face softens. “I assume you’re talking about Logan.”
“Yes. That motherfucker is the worst.”
She chuckles, covering her mouth with her hand to stifle the sound.
“Logan may be the first person to use you because of your proximity to Jake, but he won’t be the last. I’ve been in the business a long time and have a great radar for pinpointing those types of people, but a couple of them still get through every once in a while.
” She pauses, gently placing her hand on my arm.
“Trust me when I say this: no one in Jake’s circle is going to give you anything you don’t deserve.
If Anna offered you a job, it’s only because she sees your potential.
Just like I do. In fact, I’ve been wanting to talk to you about—”
“Let’s get this over with,” Kate says, walking into the room, looking annoyed.
“Please tell me you have a few options that won’t cause me to end up as a meme on the goddamn internet.
I swear, I’ll go into hiding and never attend one of these events again if I have to go through the same drama as last time. ”
Addison smiles at Kate. “I promise this one will go much better. Wait until you see some of the options Chelsi pulled for you.”
Kate’s face lights up as Addison walks her through the selections we’ve designated for her to try on first, giving me hope my best friend will have a better experience this time around.
The next two hours are a complete blur as Addison and I help Kate in and out of various gowns, switching out accessories, and taking notes about what she likes.
At the end of the session, Kate selects a look that I picked out for her.
Addison walks me through how to mark the alteration so the seamstress will know how to fit the dress properly.
It’s an aspect of this process I missed the last time since I wasn’t there in person.
Once we’re done, I head to my bedroom, blissfully happy and exhausted.
Working with Addison was an adrenaline rush, one I didn’t expect when we got started.
There’s something exhilarating about finding an outfit that makes someone feel and look their best. In many ways, it’s Kate’s armor, shielding her from the internet bullies.
And I helped make it happen.
I collapse on my bed, thinking about how much I’d love to do this every day. Find ways to make others feel beautiful and confident in their attire. It’s the dream scenario.
After letting out a deep sigh, I cover my eyes with my hands, contemplating how hard it would be to chase a career like that. One I have zero training in, besides the hundreds of hours I’ve spent watching awards shows. Highly doubt that qualifies me for anything.
Oh, the joys of being an adult.
Can’t follow your passion because you have to be responsible and pay bills.
Even if a career in fashion isn’t in the cards for me, at least I had the chance to see what it would be like for a few hours.
And maybe that is enough.