Page 68 of Thanks for Coming Along
He scanned the area and found a secluded corner with an unmarked door. He strode to the door and pulled it open. The small room's walls were lined from floor to ceiling with shelves and hooks to organize various cleaning items. A large sink was tucked in the corner of the room. Eden cast a curious glance at the closet, its interior dimly lit. Her eyes scanned his face, and she quirked an eyebrow at him. There must have been something in Ronan's expression because she stepped decisively into the room ahead of him without any questions.
His steps echoed in the tight space as he followed her into the closet. With a push, the door thudded closed, and the subtle click of the lock followed as he flipped the latch. Eden, leaning casually against the closet wall, regarded him with an arched eyebrow, her eyes filled with a challenge that further fired his determination.
The closet seemed to close in on them, their bodies inches apart. A primal urge surged within him, compelling him to lean in closer. He gently placed his hands on the wall and framed her face between them. Their eyes locked, and Eden swallowed hard, giving away her nervousness. She subtly shifted her head against the wall's cool surface.
"Every moment away from you is torture," he rasped, his voice gruff. "I want the world to see us together. I don't want to hide while some bastard lays his hands on you."
"Are you jealous, Ronan?" she whispered, a sly smirk tugging at the corners of her lips, still perfectly painted in a deep shade of burgundy. Her dark ocean-blue eyes fluttered with feigned innocence, challenging him.
Damn right, he was, but he wasn’t about to give her the satisfaction of seeing just how deep it ran—the way his stomach twisted at the idea of someone else touching her like he did. The thought of her soft gasps, her breathy moans meant for anyone else made his skin crawl.
"Do you need a reminder of whose fingers were inside you in the limo on the way here?" he murmured, his voice low and rough as he leaned in, his breath brushing against her lips. His words hung heavy in the space between them, a challenge waiting for her to rise to it. Her eyes darted to his mouth, and without hesitation, she gripped the nape of his neck, pulling him closer as she pressed her lips firmly against his, claiming him in return.
He lost himself in the sensation of her satin dress beneath his fingertips, the intoxicating scent of her perfume, and her breathy moans as she clung to him. Her arms reached up to grab his neck, her hands dragging him closer to her. His hands roamed over the soft fabric, feeling the heat of her skin beneath the dress, and he pulled her closer, deepening the kiss. Her breath hitched as his fingers traced the curve of her spine, and she responded with an intensity that matched his own.
Her lips parted slightly, allowing him to explore her mouth more thoroughly. She tasted like champagne and something sweetly addictive, and each kiss left him wanting more. Her fingers tangled in his hair, pulling him even closer as she arched her body against his. Every touch, every taste, set his body ablaze with desire. Nothing had ever felt so good, so right.
"You were made for me, baby," he whispered against her lips, his eyes closed. In his mind, this could be loosely translated as "I love you."His hands trembled as he tightened them around her waist.
Suddenly, a loud knock resonated through the room, and the doorknob began to jiggle. Ronan swiftly separated their bodies, and her wide-eyed gaze looked up at him. A few seconds dragged on, and just as abruptly as it had begun, the movement stopped.
"Get out while you still can," Ronan said to her. She nodded her head and headed towards the door. She unlocked and opened the door. A swarm of voices blasted into the room, and cameras flashed in the periphery. She cast a quick glance; her features were shadowed by the partially open door. The door clicked behind her.
"Close call," Ronan mumbled to himself as he strode toward the exit. He made his way to the door and stepped out into the chaos. His mind was still reeling from the kiss, and a half-smile involuntarily tugged at the corners of his lips.
Unconsciously, his fingers found their way to his lips, tracing the spot where Eden's mouth had met his. When he pulled back his fingers, he saw a faint, lingering trace of red lipstick on his fingertips. Walking briskly, he continued to rub his lips.
Shit, he should have checked Eden's makeup before she left the closet. He walked further into the lobby, his eyes scanning the crowd in search of Eden's familiar form, but she was nowhere to be seen. A production assistant swept him away, and the thought of lingering lipstick smear was forgotten.
42
Ronan
The ceremony wrapped up the same way it started—full of the usual self-congratulation. It felt like one big performance, where everyone acted like they cared, but it was all surface-level. The fake smiles, rehearsed speeches, and the way people sized each other up left him feeling more than a little disillusioned.
Ronan watched it all unfold—the sparkly gowns, tuxedos, and everyone scrambling for attention and validation. It was everything he hated about the industry: the phoniness, the constant need for approval, and how shallow it all was. The speeches were full of empty thanks, smiles that didn’t quite reach the eyes, and applause that seemed more like a formality than real appreciation.
He purposely avoided looking in Eden's direction throughout the show, knowing he wouldn't be able to keep his emotions in check if he did. Just thinking about her made his heart race, and the memory of her lips only made it harder to keep his distance. Trying to stay composed, he focused his attention on the stage, doing his best to hide what he was feeling.
After three excruciating hours, the show was finally over. Ronan wasted no time heading for the exit. As he powered his phone back on, an onslaught of text messages flooded the screen, causing his stomach to plummet with anxiety. There were a bunch of unread messages from Sadie. Did something happen to Mom? His heart raced as he began scrolling through the notifications.
His trembling finger navigated to Sadie's messages. She had sent him a TMZ article link and a barrage of text messages.
SADIE: HOLY COW, I AM DISGUSTED BUT ALSO IMPRESSED?
SADIE: A BROOM CLOSET? A NEW LOW.
SADIE: Gross. Closets will be tainted from now on. I will never sweep again without revulsion.
SADIE: THIS WILL 1000% BE A MEME, I will bet 100 dollars on it.
10/15 9:13 PM PT
EDEN PERCY AND RONAN MURPHY'S SECRET BROOM CLOSET ROMP
Eden Percy and journalist Ronan Murphy have been filming a documentary about Eden’s life for months ... the flirting, we're told, is strictly professional. The internet broke when a clip of Eden and Ronan getting handsy at karaoke went viral. The pair had denied dating rumors, but now they seem to have sealed their relationship with a secret kiss tonight at the American Movie Awards. Eden was seen leaving a broom closet (yes, you read that correctly) in a stunning red gown, with smeared lipstick and a pleased smile. Ronan exited the closet shortly after her, looking even more disheveled, wearing Eden's red lipstick like the cat that caught the canary. Spoiler: the canary is Eden Percy's lips and heart. The pair continue to deny a relationship, but the proof is in the lipstick. Eden should definitely invest in a smudge-proof tube next time. If only brooms could talk... we would have a lot of questions!
Ronan winced at the article,his eyes scanning the damning photos. The picture of Eden caught his attention first—her lipstick, once perfectly applied, was smeared slightly below her bottom lip. It wouldn’t have been that bad if not for her eyes, hazy with a lingering excitement, and the messy strands of hair framing her face. Those details were the final nails in the coffin.
