Page 126 of Wingwoman
I shot her a wobbled smile. “I should be asking you that.”
She shrugged. “It’s a bigger night for you.”
I lifted her hand, dropping a kiss to her knuckles. “For us. There’s still time to back out, you know?”
Her shell-shocked expression was the only answer I needed for me to realize my question came out all wrong. “Back out? Do you want me to back out?”
That question twisted a screwdriver into my damn chest. I ground my teeth and shook my head. “No. I just mean that after tonight, it’s going to get even crazier.”
“Oh.” The scowl loosened off her face, slowly morphing into a confident smile “Then, no, I don’t want to back out. Bring it on.”
Through the tinted windows, I examined the red carpet leading up to the front door of the event hall.
I hated this part. It felt like a perp walk. But everyone, Matt included, said that every great event needed the red carpet walk… especially one being hosted by a Grammy winner.
Needless to say, for the most important night of every year, I’m in a shitty mood as I throw open the door to my limo and exit with a fake smile and an overexaggerated wave.
As the flashbulbs went off around me, I couldn’t help but wonder how many favors Matt had to call in to get this crowd of paparazzi here.
Charity galas in Texas aren’t usually their jam. And our list of celebrity attendees were b-level at best.
I paused beside the door, offering a hand to Hope as she climbed out of the limo.
Then, in long, deliberate strides, we made our way to the top of the red carpet and posed in front of a sign there.
“Josh! Over here!”
“Who’s the mystery girl?”
“Is this your new girlfriend?”
Miranda, my publicist, started the game of telephone for us so that we didn’t have to shout to be heard, telling them Hope’s name.
That was her job.
Ourjob was to look madly in love with each other.
Not exactly hard to do on my part.
I cupped Hope’s jaw tenderly and dragged her gaze to mine.
Excitement and nerves danced in her glistening brown eyes.
It’s okay. I’ve got you,I tried to convey to her without any words.
I leaned in, but instead of pressing my mouth to hers, I swerved and kissed her cheek, just next to her ear, taking the moment to whisper, “You’re doing great.”
For reasons I couldn’t explain, her body tensed in my arms.
“How long do we have to stand here?” she whispered back to me.
Technically, they wanted me there for photo ops as long as I could stand it. But I knew her best friends were waiting for her inside and this was a lot to take.
Turning one last smile at the cameras, I shouted to everyone, “Thank you so much! What an honor to my mother!”
And with that, I pressed my palm to the small of Hope’s back and guided her inside the event hall where Maggie, Carrow, and Maxie were already waiting for her, squealing.
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