CHAPTER 32 ALEXIS
The stylists descend.
The dresses arrive. They’re all pre-approved by my father, of course, but I get the final say for which one I want to wear tonight.
It has to be red since I said I wanted red, and I slip into each one to take a look at how it fits as I realize I’ve gained a little weight since the last time I had to slip into a selection of dresses in my usual size.
All the donuts and bacon and the lack of my regular dance routine is starting to catch up with me.
I select a sparkly dress in the end that I feel like a princess in.
It’s a V-neck with a tight bodice laced up in the back with a corset.
It has a full, floor-length skirt, and it feels both festive and beautiful.
The shoes that match it are six inches high, and it’s a damn good thing I’ve practiced walking in heels because the fear of tripping and falling flat on my face is real.
As if I don’t have enough to worry about.
We order in a light dinner before I finish getting ready.
My make-up is done to perfection. My hair is curled into gorgeous waves, secured partway back and out of my face with a beautifully sparkly holiday clip. I select the necklace and matching earrings that best compliment the gown.
The stylists leave, and Danny helps me slip into the gown.
He takes a step back and stares at me.
“How the fuck did I get so lucky?” he asks.
I glance down a little demurely. “I feel like I’m the lucky one.”
He’s wearing the tux he wore at our wedding, and we’re ready to go.
“Gregory just texted me that the car is downstairs waiting for us. It’ll let us out on the red carpet for the event. He’s already there waiting.” He clears his throat. “And, uh, so are your dad and Brooks.”
I feel the color drain from my face. I mean, I knew they would be, so it’s not a surprise. But knowing it’s going to happen versus knowing they’re there waiting for me right now is a little terrifying.
“I’m not ready,” I cry. I know I shouldn’t cry.
My mascara might run. My make-up will be ruined.
I’m television ready. This is a live event, and I have to maintain professionalism while also looking decent enough to appear on 4K and HD screens across the country where people can pick apart every single pore of my skin.
It’s only now I realize how very much I’ve enjoyed my privacy over the last week or so.
“Hey, hey,” he soothes, pulling me into his arms. “You’re ready. We’ve got this. He can’t do anything to you in front of the cameras, right? It’ll be fine.”
It’ll be fine. His words echo in my head.
I love the sentiment, but I don’t know how he can guarantee that.
He can’t guarantee that.
I wish he could, but he can’t. This feeling that my dad is going to do something tonight surges over me.
People will be watching. This is one of the biggest events of the season, and I know all eyes will be on me.
Word was out I was missing, and even though I assured them I was fine in my Instagram post, people will see the ring on my finger.
They’ll see the tattoo on my hand, though I typically hold the microphone in my right hand, not my left.
They’ll analyze every detail just as they always do—the designer of the dress, the shoes, the hair clip, the jewelry.
Who did my hair, my make-up. It wasn’t my regular team, and stock for these designers and stylists will shoot up because I used them.
I’m done being the unknown girl walking down the street in the sunshine with her new husband. I’m done being the new secret Mrs. Brewer.
I’m back to being Alexis Bodega, America’s Pop Princess.
But I kind of fell in love with the life I had with Danny over the last nine days.
I don’t want to let any of this go. I’m not ready.
If there was some guarantee we’d escape this unscathed, I’d jump at it. But there isn’t, and life will return to how it’s always been in a few hours.
I wasn’t happy in my old life.
But in this one…I am.
I drag my feet over toward the door. He clutches my hand, and he sets his on the door handle to let us out of our condo.
I set my hand on his arm before he opens it, squeezing it tightly, and he freezes.
“Danny, promise me something,” I say desperately.
He turns around to look at me, his eyes so full of sincerity and love that it’s overwhelming. “Anything,” he breathes.
“Promise me that whatever happens tonight, we’re going to be okay.”
His eyes soften as they fall on me, and he tilts his head a little. “I promise.”
The authenticity of his words gives me the tiny measure of comfort I needed.
I nod. “Okay. Then let’s go.”
People stare as we exit the lobby. I hear my name. Oh my God, that’s Alexis Bodega! Who’s that man with her? Is that Danny Brewer?
He clutches my hand tightly in his. He isn’t used to this level of attention, and this is our first public appearance—which isn’t really all that public considering it’s not hundreds of flashbulbs going off in our faces all at once like it will be when we step out of the limo on the other side of all this.
We slip into the car waiting for us, and we jet off toward Los Angeles.
It’s over an hour with traffic before we arrive, and Danny texts Gregory that we’re here. He flashes me the screen when he receives a response.
Gregory: I’ve been in touch with your driver. He knows what to do.
We’re here. The driver pulls up to the curb at the start of the red carpet.
The door on Danny’s side opens, and he slides out before I do. He reaches his hand in to help me out of the car.
I slide over on the leather seats, the full skirt of my gown tripping me up a little, and I set one of my six-inch heels down onto the carpet that extends down into the street for my arrival.
Danny helps me out of the car, and flashbulbs blink at us, blinding us as we’re photographed publicly for the first time.
I set my other foot on the carpet, too, and I use Danny’s hand to help pull me up out of the car, the flashbulbs continuing to blind me as the paparazzi gathered here are relentless.
But there’s a short break between flashes, and that’s when my eyes find Brooks first. And standing beside him is my father.
TO BE CONCLUDED IN BOOK 5, GRAND SLAM