Page 45 of Perfectly Imperfect Us
I lifted up on my toes and kissed him quickly, taking the offered plate. “You got it.”
He didn’t leave my side until I popped a cube of cheese in my mouth. The backstage crew yelled out for the models to start walking as the new music cued up. I slid the plate onto a nearby vanity top and ran with Ryder to get a shot of the models parading through the curtain. Eating could wait a few minutes.
The models all made their walks, flashes of light and murmurs from the crowd a good sign. This was Ginnie’s first show with all her own designs being strutted about. I could imagine the stress was almost unbearable. I hugged my camera to me, appreciating her offer for me to attend even more knowing what this day meant to her. I’d edit my videos until she came out sparkling like the woman she was in real life. Ryder had been a gem to introduce us. Ginnie was magnetic, a true supporter of women who was using her celebrity status to elevate everyone around her with no expectation of getting anything in return. She was rare, indeed, and I was lucky to know her.
“I hate to ask this of you, but I’m desperate!” Ginnie, a headset glued to her head like a lifeline, looked petrified as she ran up to me. I’d spent the last high-stress twenty-four hours with her and that was not an expression I’d seen before.
I grabbed her hands and spoke calmly. “What is it? Just tell me what to do and I’ll do it.”
“The third and final set is next and one of the models didn’t show. I was hoping she was just late, but it’s time to get dressed and she’s still not here. Will you do it?”
My eyes nearly bugged out of my head while my heart stopped beating. “Do it?”
Ginnie grabbed my hands where they clutched my camera. “Yes! I need you to wear the outfit. Please?”
I nodded, too stunned for words. Of course I’d help her. She didn’t waste a second, just pushed me over to the clothes rack where models were finding their assigned outfits. She snatched one off the rack and threw it at me.
“Thank you so much, I owe you big-time!” she shouted as she raced away.
I swiveled my head left and right, seeing everyone else in various states of undress, my arms full of clothes and camera. Ryder walked around the corner and did a double take when he saw me there, frozen.
“Hey, you okay?”
His calm voice did more to calm me than all the deep breathing in the world. I shoved the clothes into his chest.
“I can’t do this!” I wailed, panicked.
Ryder looked at the clothes and then back at my face, catching on quick to what I was talking about. He gripped my arms and pulled me in until our noses were almost touching.
“You got this, Ava. You just walk out there and pretend no one is watching. Just one step at a time, okay?”
I shook my head, my whisper sounding louder than it should. “You don’t understand. I don’t have face makeup on!”
Ryder didn’t even pause. “And you look amazing. This is no different than walking around Nickel Bay without makeup which you’ve already done like a boss. Hold your head up high and show everyone that beauty is more than skin deep. I believe in you.”
He squeezed me again and I sucked in a deep breath, the idea that I could actually do this. I pulled back and looked at the clothes in my hands.
“I gotta change.”
Ryder steered me to a quiet corner and turned his back, essentially blocking anyone’s view while I changed. Guess he didn’t want me changing out in the open like all the other models. I nearly snickered, but my heart was pounding too hard to allow for emotions other than fear and determination.
I finally pulled the dress on, having to fiddle with five thousand straps before I was reasonably confident I had it on correctly.
“Okay, I think I got it,” I told Ryder’s back.
He spun around and took me in, his eyes assessing that everything was in place. I felt incredibly grateful I had a seasoned professional model helping me. He tugged, tucked, and adjusted until it was perfect, fitting like the dress had been made for me.
“You make that dress look good, Mendez,” Ryder stated, his voice making me shiver. His eyes had heated and I would have indulged in an inappropriate kiss had Ginnie not clapped her hands at that moment to get everyone’s attention.
“This is it, folks. The last round. The last chance to show off these designs. I want you to know how incredibly grateful I am to you all right now. Today has been a dream come true and I couldn’t have done it without you. Now get out there and strut your stuff, my beautiful friends!”
The models all cheered and Ginnie looked ready to burst with pride. I handed my camera to Ryder and nearly felt dizzy with nerves. He ushered me over to the line of models.
“Where do you want me, Ginnie?” I called out to her.
She pointed to the end of the line, where I was. “Right there. You’re last.” She turned away and started adjusting the clothes on some of the other models
“The very end?” I asked Ryder, feeling even more uncomfortable with this whole thing.
