Chapter 8
My knee bobs up and down the entire limo ride. I don’t think I am cut out for this. I was comfortable being behind the scenes. Never in the photos the paparazzi takes of Aidan. I always just blended in with the background, and I was okay with that.
“Hey,” Aidan says softly, putting his hand on my knee that won’t stop moving. I look at him. His soft blue eyes are concerned. “You don’t have to do this…I can tell my driver to turn around and we can figure out another arrangement. I know it’s a lot. I kind of threw you into this because I needed a quick solution, but if you have any doubts, let me know, please.”
His hand is still on my leg and my lips part. I have never before felt this kind of reaction from anyone’s touch.
“I’m fine. Let’s do this.” I move my leg out from underneath his massive hand. Internally, I am actively shouting at my small stomach-flips to go away…indefinitely. They are no longer welcome!
“I’ll be right by your side. There may be times where I have to let go of your hand because they want to do quick interviews, or they may want photos of me by myself, but I promise that I won’t leave you behind.”
As I nod, the limo comes to a stop. I take a deep breath and say, “I trust you.”
Aidan gives me a side smirk, revealing the sexiest dimples and smile-lines around his eyes. I’ve never been close enough to his face to notice his perfect imperfections. He has the perfect amount of stubble on his jawline. This is a much better look than his full-out mountain man beard he was rocking since he broke up with Natasha. He used to be clean-shaven. I think this version is better.
“Hales?”
“Huh?”
“You ready?” He holds out his hand. I take a deep breath and put my hand in his.
“Here we go.”
“Oh and remember,” he adds.
I look into his blue eyes and suddenly lose my breath all over again.
“We are madly in love.” He winks and flashes one last smile before pulling the door handle.
The second we climb out of that limo, cameras are flashing, causing me to see white spots all over. I probably look like a deer caught in the headlights.
“Aidan!”
“Aidan, over here!”
“Aidan, who is with you? New girlfriend?”
My eyes blink at an uncontrollable rate. How does he do this all the time? I feel his hand tighten around mine as he pulls me further onto the red carpet. Once we are out of the initial chaos, Aidan turns his head to look at me, clearly seeing how flustered I am. He pulls me closer so I am in his nook, right in the side of his chest. I feel his hand slide down to my waist and it rests perfectly at the crux of my waist and my butt.
This isn’t helping my flustered state. It’s only amplifying these butterflies in my stomach.
While still smiling at the cameras, Aidan lowers his chin so his lips lightly brush the side of my face. It’s so loud around us that I barely make out what he says in my ear, “Relax. I got you. Don’t worry, Hales.”
I didn’t realize until this moment how much he relaxes me. No one else in the world does that. That thought makes me smile. Cameras flash more and more. This is an act. I need to act like we are dating and falling in love.
Just keep smiling, I remind myself. Even when Aidan has to step away for interviews, I keep a smile plastered on my face. The press call out to me:
“Hey sweetheart! You got a name?”
“Are you and Aidan a couple?”
“Hey Aidan’s date, over here!”
Anytime I feel the slightest bit overwhelmed, Aidan’s eyes seem to find mine. It’s like he has a sixth sense whenever I feel uncomfortable or out of my element– to be honest, is the majority of the time I am on this red carpet. I’m starting to feel disoriented with all the yelling and the flashing of the cameras. I have to remember to breathe. I probably look like a puppy dog following Aidan around. He is busy signing autographs on movie posters or People magazine or really any body parts fans want him to sign his name. He takes a few selfies with crazed-out fangirls who practically faint in his presence.
One of the last interviews Aidan has to do is for E! News. Thank God this is almost over. I can’t wait to hide in the dark theater and recover. My introverted self is craving much-needed alone time after this whole event. I am twiddling with my fingers in front of my gorgeous lavender gown when a question cuts through all the noise: “So, Aidan, who is this mysterious girl you brought with you to the premiere?”
Aidan turns toward me and gestures for me to come over. No. No. No. No. No. No. I shake my head slightly to ward off his request. My body has gone into some sort of paralysis as a defense mechanism. It’s like I am malfunctioning. Too much socialization and spotlight for me. Why in the world did I agree to do this? I am not a part of this world. I am an imposter in a lavender dress.
He holds a finger up to the interviewer and walks–no, more like saunters– over and whispers to me, “This is my last interview. I think it’s time that the world met my girlfriend.” He grabs my hand and before I have a chance to protest, leads me over to where the reporter is patiently waiting. Other reporters from various networks are huddled behind the E! News reporter, anxiously awaiting Aidan’s response.
Aidan flashes his superstar smile and says, “Well I guess the cat’s out of the bag now, isn’t it John? This is my gorgeous girlfriend, Haley Swann.”
At that moment, I know my life will never be the same. My name will be printed on all the tabloids, posted on Instagram, X…everywhere. There is no hiding now. It is one of those moments where there is so much chaos and noise all at once, that everything becomes a blur. It is like all the voices are muffled and they start to sound like the grown-ups on Charlie Brown. Microphones are being shoved into my face and cameras are clicking at a wild rate. I do my best to force a smile and make it seem natural. Even though nothing about this whole scenario–hell, about my life right now–is natural. Aidan must sense that I am getting lost again because he waves to the crowd and wraps his free hand around my waist once more to lead me toward the theater entrance.
“One more picture, Aidan, please! With Ms. Swann?”
Aidan leans down and asks: “Trust me?”
For some inexplicable reason, I nod. How is it that deep down, I know that Aidan will always protect me? Even before I was pretending to be his girlfriend, my gut told me that I could trust Aidan with anything.
He slowly bends over more and touches his lips to my cheek. So innocent. So sweet. And yet the crowd whoops and hollers, acting like we are in the middle of a steamy makeout session.
It is the reaction from my body that I’m not expecting. The shivers that travel across my entire body are nearly too much to bear. And yet, I find myself wishing that his lips would stay in that very spot for a second longer. Snap out of it, Haley! Aidan is only doing this for the cameras so the world will be convinced that we are a legit couple.
Once we escape into the theater, Aidan pauses. “You look absolutely stunning, Hales. And you did so good out there. You’re a real natural.” He places his forehead to mine, causing a genuine smile to escape my lips.