Page 39 of Hot Mess

“Excuse me, if I may?” the driver asked.

I gave him a nod.

“I assist with this all the time. Getting in is awkward, you have to plan your exit. You’ll need to arrange your skirts, so your feet are not covered and ready to step out of the car.”

Kayla looked nervously up at me. “Do we have time for me to practice?”

I glanced at the driver; eyebrows raised.

He nodded. “Of course. It’s not a bad idea.”

He proceeded to talk Kayla through picking up her skirt and tucking it just so. I had to restrain myself when he got close to her and adjusted her skirts around her legs. I didn’t want anyone touching her. I felt possessive, even though I didn’t have that right.

“Let's give it a try,” he said as he closed the door.

He opened it and waited.

All I could do was stare at Kayla surrounded by swathes of purple silk. She stunned my thought processes.

“A little help, I can’t see the ground,” Kayla announced.

“Of course.” I cleared my throat and stepped up, extending out my hand.

Kayla wiggled out of the car and stood.

“You’re going to want to slide your feet to the very edge of the floor before stepping out. And try to scoot your backside to the edge of the seat before the door opens,” the driver coached.

“Okay,” she said, “let’s try it again.”

“When you stand up, don’t fuss with your skirt. Adjust it once and be done.”

Both Kayla and the driver were good sports as we practiced getting out of the car several more times.

“It’s time to go, or we will risk getting caught in traffic.”

“Do you think you’ll be okay?”

“I’ll be fine. I’m winging it, right?” Kayla gave me a nervous smile.

I slid into the seat next to her. Her voluminous skirt took up as much as a third passenger.

“I feel like I have mastered getting in and out of the car. Isaac had me practicing walking and standing. Other than hovering in the background, what else do you expect me to do?”

I was going to sound like a dick, but… “Don’t talk to anyone. Smile.”

“But what if they ask me questions?”

“For the most part, they won’t. Do you know the name of the designer of your dress?”

“Yes, Isaac made sure I knew I was wearing a Valentino.”

“Good. Mostly, if they ask you questions it will be who you are wearing. If anyone asks your name, and I’m not with you, you can give them your first name only. Try to avoid making eye contact with the paps, if you aren’t looking at them, they won’t bother you much.”

“Paps?”

“Paparazzi, the gossip columnists. The entertainment reporters. Try to ignore them.”

“Isn’t that rude?”

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