Page 83 of Play of Love
He got up and stretched out both hands to take mine and held me, his eyes never leaving mine as I gazed at him.
“You look like an angel,” he breathed. I noticed he’d called me that a lot over the time that he’d known me.
It meant a lot that the best thing he could find to compare me to was an angel, what could be better than that?
“Thank you.” He gave my hands a gentle squeeze then pulled me in for a hug.
I rested my head on his chest, wishing he was coming with me. I could have definitely used his strength tonight. He had to train, though, and as we’d both been terrible with our timekeeping recently there was no way he could cancel or anything like that. I understood. Hilda and Gabriella were going with me , so that wasn’t too bad. I just wished he could come too.
“Thank you for making this possible,” I said against his chest. I tried to breathe in that assuring scent of him that calmed me and made me think of him. It was a woodland musk that reminded me of the open forest.
He ran his hands across my back. “Anytime, Amy.”
“This means a lot to me, Josh.” I lifted my head so I could see him again.
“I know, now go win their hearts. I’ve already booked your celebration dinner.” He smiled.
“Josh, that’s like jinxing it.” I laughed.
“It’s not. Also we haven’t exactly been on a date yet.”
I thought a moment and it occurred to me that we hadn’t.
“A date, with Joshua Mancini. Wow, now I’m nervous.” I fanned myself as he laughed.
“Hey, I’m the lucky one here.” He leaned forward and kissed me lightly. Josh always placed me on this pedestal, as if I was this perfect being, but he didn’t need to.
“Me too,” I told him, whispering against his lips,
“You’re doing something crazy to me, Amy Rose.”
I knew what he meant; I felt like that too. “I know the feeling.”
* * *
The grand hall of the Pegasus Hotel was filled with all sorts of officials. I had forgotten what the fashion world could be like. Filled with extravagance, glamour, and beauty. Bursting with talent and creativity.
There were fifty applicants competing for one of the new designer positions. Fifty. At application stage I knew there were a few thousand who had applied. They’d whittled it right down to a mere fifty. Soon that would be five.
It was a rigorous process, anxiety-filled and nerve wracking. It could make me mad if I thought about it because there was some real competition here.
For the first hour each applicant had to display their design across the runway, pausing at each point of interest for the camera. Not everyone had chosen dresses or even evening wear, but there was a good number of people who had. I chose it because I felt it could display my talent the most and allowed me to be creative with something that would matter. Celebrities wore Dior evening wear all the time. I wanted to show that I could deliver the standard expectations, and meet all the requirements and qualities a celeb would go for in choosing a dress.
The next part of the showcase involved talking about the design and the inspiration behind it. For that I spoke with my heart.
The dress that got destroyed was designed to represent what I thought they would like. It was in keeping with what I’d seen before. This one did the same but it was different. It was inspired by how I felt about Josh.
This dress was priceless, and for that I spoke about hope and courage, of coming back strong from something that could break you down, and of taking chances to see where they could lead. That was what I’d seen in Josh, and that was what inspired me. My heart spoke and I hoped it was enough.
The evening was intense, but not as intense as the final stage of the night when I had to stand with the host of other talented designers and wait for my name to be called out if I was selected.
While I waited, I thought of my life and how hard it had been. I’d always had to fight. I had to accept that if I wanted something, I had to take that leap of faith and fight for it. I’d been through so much to get to this stage.
“Amy Rose.”
I’d heard my name but couldn’t remember why it was being called.
The presenter called my name again and my heart leapt into my throat as realization filled my soul.
