Page 64 of Euphoria

Alex just smiled and let her think whatever she needed to.

With Francine out of the way, Alex closed the distance between herself and Morgan, holding her at arm’s length.

“You don’t have to do this. You can back out right now. I get it. This wasn’t what you signed up for, and each step forward takes you deeper into it and I don’t want you to do anything you don’t feel—”

“Are you attracted to me?”

The question somewhat threw Alex. “What? Of course, I am, that’s not the—”

“If I didn’t go tonight, would you still want to be with me? Would I still have a job on this tour?”

Alex stepped back and gave them both space, but she answered with a clear, “Yes, of course.”

“And when the press come for me, you’ll protect me? You’ll make sure that Francine doesn’t throw me under the bus in the big break-up?”

“I promise that won’t happen.”

Morgan picked up her purse, something very expensive and not what she was used to carrying her things in, not that she had anything much to carry in it. It was all part of the look, the woman at the boutique had said, along with the designer heels she wore that meant she was at least two inches taller than Alex now.

“Okay then. Let’s go.”

Chapter Thirty-Four

She didn’t know what to expect when Mike pulled the limo up outside of the cathedral doors, but the bright flashbulbs that went off sporadically, along with a lot of cheering and shouting from those patiently waiting forSashato arrive, took Morgan by surprise.

“I had no idea that you were the Beyoncé of the piano world,” Morgan said, staring out through the blacked-out windows with wide eyes taking it all in.

Alex scoffed. “Hardly. But you’d be surprised at just how popular classical music is and how interested people are when it comes to the love life of a celebrity.”

“So, how do we do this?”

Taking her hand, Alex squeezed it. “All you have to do is smile. Are you happy to hold my hand, touch me?

“Yes. You know I am.”

Alex smirked. “That’s in private, this is very different. Everything will be amplified here.”

“I’ll think of it as a practice run, for when we do this for real.”

“Okay then. And if it gets too much, just walk past and into the venue.” Morgan nodded nervously. “It will be fine,” Alex reassured before she pressed the button to speak to Mike. “We’re ready.”

The crowd cheered when Mike opened his door and climbed out. Their long-awaited moment was finally here. Sasha had arrived.

“Here we go,” Alex said, ready to step out the moment the door opened.

The noise was louder the instant that happened, and Alex was gone and out before Morgan could take another breath. Looking through the opening, she smiled when she saw Alex staring back at her, waiting with her hand out, jacket slung over her shoulder and held by one finger of her other hand. She looked casual, as though this were just any other day. Which for her, it was.

Morgan took her hand and stepped out to the sound of more cheering and excitable noise from the crowd. Alex nodded, and smiled, holding her hand just tightly enough that it soothed the nerves that were building.

Morgan barely had a moment to take it all in. The flash of photographers and theclick, clicksound of their cameras became all-absorbing. Almost blinding. Morgan needed to look down, away from it for a second, to compose herself before Alex had them walking and moving on. That was the moment she noticed it. The red carpet beneath her feet.

She was walking a red carpet, on the arm of a celebrity, while feeling like a million dollars, pretty sure she was going to wake up any moment and find out that it was all just a dream.

“Alright?” she heard Alex say when they stopped to allow fans to take photos. Morgan turned slightly to find blue eyes smiling at her, with just a hint of concern.

“Yes, I’m fine. You do your thing.”

“Okay, let’s walk then,” Alex said. Her palm landing deftly against the small of Morgan’s back felt comforting and warm as they moved, one step at a time.

---