Page 67 of One Pucking Chance

“Okay, fine. Then you tell us which ones to hate.”

“Deal. Okay, let me put some clothes on.” She sighs.

A few minutes later, we’ve made it downstairs. Everyone hoots and hollers for Anna, and her cheeks flush.

“You all better keep this same energy whether I’m nominated or not,” she shouts across the big open space and is met with more cheers.

“You haven’t missed anything. They’ve only announced ones that no one cares about, like lighting and costumes and shit,” Logan informs us.

“No nominations for any of those?” Anna asks.

“No, despite the on-the-nose seventies attire, your movie failed to acquire a costume nomination,” Miles says.

Anna shrugs. “That’s fine. Our costume department was kind of rude.”

“They really were.” Miranda chuckles. “The head of costume looked like she hit her prime in the seventies and should be retired. She kept yelling at the cast for getting lint all over the costumes.”

Anna continues the story. “When the whole time the lint was coming from this fuzzy sweater she insisted on wearing on set every day.”

“Because she was cold and hated Michigan, but it’s like, come on, spring for a different sweater, lady.” Miranda shakes her head.

“Was her name Anita something?” Iris asks.

“It sure was,” Miranda replies.

Iris grins. “Yeah, she RSVPed to the premiere with a very adamant no. Said she wanted nothing to do with it if it was in Michigan.”

Miranda scrunches her nose. “Good. She was not missed.”

The nominations continue, and everyone follows Anna’s lead on whether we’re to cheer or boo the nominees. It’s hilarious, really. We don’t know shit about the happenings on the TV, well, save for Miles. The rest of us couldn’t tell you if someone was talented or not. But we have loyalty to spare. Once you’re in with us, we’re ride or die and in your corner, rooting for you always.

I’m not sure why the academy announces Oscar nominations so early in the morning, but it makes for hilarious commentary from this crew, who are mostly drunk and exhausted after a long day in the Hawaiian sun.

We finally reach theActress in a Leading Rolecategory, and the room goes silent as the man and woman read this year’s nominations.

To say we go insane when Annalise Sterling is announced is an understatement. Everyone in this room jumps and cheers and circles Anna in a rowdy group hug.

My girl is nominated for an Oscar, something she has dreamed about her whole life. I’m not remotely surprised. She deserves it.

She deserves the world.

CHAPTER

THIRTY-ONE

ANNALISE

As the hot water rolls down my body, I can only pray that this hotel has amazing coffee. My exhaustion is soul deep. I am currently running on adrenaline and love. The Cranes had five road games this week, and I attended every one. Jaden urged me to stay home and relax in preparation for today, but I love being there for him. It fuels me.

I won’t always be able to attend all of Jaden’s games. Life will happen, and I’ll be kept away with other projects or maybe children. I’m aware that this snapshot of time in our lives is fleeting, and I want to soak in every second of it. Right now, I’m a hundred percent committed to spending every day with my fiancé. Exhaustion be damned.

Besides, this sleepy haze will pass. It always does because life with Jaden is exhilarating. It’s just hitting extra hard this morning because we got very little sleep last night. We flew into LA on a private jet after the Cranes win in Toronto last night. When my head was finally able to hit the pillow, sleep was on strike as my brain thought about today.

Do I want to hold that golden statue in my hand? Sure. What actor would say otherwise? However, is it as important as I used to think it was? Not at all. Winning an Oscar was always the barometer on which I measured my worth. Both of my parents won one, and I saw their golden statues displayed in our mansion my whole life. I was desperate for their approval and love. In my twisted mind, I thought winning one would finally earn me the validation I had always sought. But I know now that it won’t. Nothing could’ve made my relationship with my parents the way I wanted it to be because they weren’t capable of loving me.

I’ve been hit with a plethora of truth over the past several months, which hasn’t been easy, but it has helped me find true happiness. Regardless of what happens tonight, I’m flying back home contented, and that’s pretty incredible.

The shower door opens, and a very naked Jaden steps in behind me. “Hey, babe. Breakfast is here, and the coffee smells incredible.”

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