I ended up falling to the bed with her. It’s probably wrong on so many levels, but I stayed. Only for half an hour, but I lay there, with Rosie in my arms, her breath easy and light as she slept on my chest. I felt her smooth skin under my fingers and I thought I could have died there, in complete and utter peace. There was no noise in my head, no voice telling me this was fleeting, that this was forbidden and a dirty secret no one is allowed to know about, that I didn’t deserve any of it.
There was just silence, and there was her. Everything began to feel soright,it scared the shit out of me. So, I had reluctantly disentangled my body from hers, leaving a note so she didn’t feel like I had run away, just simply abiding by herno-sleepoverrule. Because I realized, if I didn’t think she’d run for the hills when she awoke, I would have stayed, and I would have held her until the sun rose.
And though she said no to being my date to the gala, I had every intention of getting her home with me. The only girl I wanted on my arm tonight…and apparently every other night, was sitting at a back table, looking like a goddamn meal covered in black lace and silk.
“Great timing. I got you a drink, they’re about to do the awards and the promotion announcement. Did Chris give you any inkling of who he was going to select?” Noah says as I take my seat, reluctantly pulling my gaze from Rosie. I let my phone rest discreetly on my thigh with the app open, ready for the games to begin.
“Nah, but it’s Rosie. There is no way she doesn’t get it. Her resumé alone is a winner without adding on everything else.”
“Everything else?” Addison asks with genuine curiosity from her seat between Noah and Matt. I avert my eyes, watching Chris take the stage.
I raise a hand to tick off the items. “She’s strong, confident, good with people, determined, a glorified workhorse, andobviouslyshe’s beautiful.” I flick my hand as I mumble the end.
Noah’s head snaps in my direction, a confused but jovial expression across his face as Addison tilts her head at me. Neither of them has a chance to say anything in response because Chris garners everyone’s attention, a low applause welcoming him to the stage and we all settle into silence and listen.
Chris goes through the usual rigmarole. Grease the wheels of the cart that got you here and all that. Listing the big investors that made tonight possible, the charity selected being one for men’s mental health—I believe Noah assisted in the selection—and how to go about placing donations throughout the night. There are a few shout-outs to longtime authors who have been with the two merging publishing houses for decades, as well as a large thank-you to our firm for assisting with more than just the branding and contributing to the growth of their new company as one. There is applause and other thank-yous before Chris announces some in-company awards.
“As a company, we like to award excellence and to encourage those coming up through the ranks or perhaps only just beginning their path in publishing, to strive for greatness.” I have to hide the way my eyes roll to the back of my head as Chris drones on and on.
Noah and I had already discussed previously that this whole thing was ridiculous and pretentious. Seriously, who the hell has agalafor a rebrand and to announce an internal companypromotion?Old dudes with something to prove and nothing better to do,Noah had said. I turn to him now and whisper, “Hey, where the hell are our company awards? My trophy shelf is empty.” Noah chuckles under his breath, shaking his head and ignoring my question completely. I tune back into Chris.
“So, it is with an unsurprising, and by a unanimous vote by both the Andersen SchulzandMeyers companies, that this year’s award for employee of the year, the young editor to watch,andthe new editor in chief of our brand-new romance only imprint?—”
“Holy shit,” I whisper, sitting up straighter, searching for Rosie, locking onto her stunned and anxious look, hands squeezed between Halle and Jasper as they stare up at Chris, their attention unwavering. I focus on Chris again.
“Is our very own…” Cue pause for dramatics and my heart beating like a drum roll.“Rosie Garcia.” The crowd applauds as the cover on the overhead banner drops away, showing a photo of a smirking Rosie from her company headshots. Our table erupts in cheers, as do a few other select tables. I think I hear a light sob from Addison, but my eyes can’t do anything except search for Rosie. Among the standing ovation it’s hard to find her as she makes her way to the stage, but when she does, it’s her smile I notice first. The real one. Paired with a touch of wetness to her eyes. I want to reach for my phone, to play with her while she’s up there, but the sheer look of joy and pride in her face feels far too important to mess with in this moment. I’d rather watch her glow.
Everyone takes their seats once more, the applause lingering as Chris hands her a glass teardrop award. She heads over to the podium and rests it on top, staring at it for a beat as she readjusts the mic to her height and lights up the room.
“Uh,hey?” She chuckles lightly through a little sniffle before clearing her throat. Her unshakable confidence stark fromwhere she holds her chin up high and her shoulders back. Warmth spreads in my chest, the smile on my face almost painful.
I’m so fucking proud of you, Rosebud.
“I don’t think I’m meant to do a speech, it’s not like this is the Oscarsor anything.” The crowd hums a low chuckle as everyone quietens down. “Thank you, Chris and team, for having faith in me.” She looks in their direction for only a second before she scans across the entire room. “For giving me the rightchallengesthat enabled me to grow and prove to everyone that I earned this position.” She turns her attention to Chris, and if pride wasn’t already screaming from my chest, it would be now.
“This new imprint feels like it was my baby before it even came to fruition, and I’m so excited to lead a team of talented editors, designers, and publicists who will allow both the big and small voices in the romance industry to shine like never before. It’s now my time to show the publishing world exactly who Rosie Garcia is.” The smile that spreads across her face at the end of her speech is magnificent. Full of determination and poise. So much pride in herself.
The crowd applauds and a few cheer as she takes the award and heads back for her table. She weaves through the tables, ensuring she passes Chris, her shoulders never dropping as she reaches out to shake his hand before weaving her way past my table. She smothers her bright smile when we lock eyes, I presume to keep up our rouse, but it’s impossible to hide the excitement that is exploding out of her. She dramatically waves her trophy at Addison and heads for her seat.
I’d be lying if I said I knew what else happened for the rest of the presentation. There were other speeches and announcements, but I was permanently distracted by the itch on my skin, the energy coursing through my veins like fucking crack. I wanted to get my hands on Rosie, and I was physicallyunable to do anything to relax. Every now and then I’d drag my finger across the screen of my phone, except I had to play it cool, so I wasn’t always able to watch her reactions.
When I could glimpse her over my shoulder, I’d see her own shoulders tense, or she’d fall forward subtly, a hand coming up to cover her mouth as her eyes narrowed in concentration. For a moment, when I had increased the intensity to almost the peak and let it sit there for a few breaths, she leaned back in her chair, her head falling slowly back, and her lips had parted. Though her eyes had scrunched closed for a moment, the second I released my finger from the trigger, she slumped forward, downed her wine, and continued on with her conversations like nothing had happened. Not ever letting her eyes find mine.
Not. Once.
“Are you hanging around for a few drinks or finding a bed to play in?” Noah teases, and I hate the sour feeling in my stomach at his words. I know he is poking fun, but I’m starting to hate that everyone assumes I’m just going to play with women. This never used to bother me, it has never been an issue, but perhaps it’d be nice to have one woman to take home, the same woman each time. And someone whose company I actually enjoy, someone…who makes mefeel.
Noah leans back in his chair, his eyes reluctantly looking to me as he pulls them from Addison’s retreating form, from where she heads in Rosie’s direction.
I look around the room quickly, realizing the formalities are over. “Oh, uh…” I hadn’t actually queued anything up with Rosie, but I know she is coming home with me. I just have to work out how late she wants to stay and how to get her to come with me while our friends are still here. “I think I’ll hang for a bit. Should we go congratulate the woman of the hour?” I hedge, tilting my head in Rosie’s direction.
I know it’s not a declaration that I’m sleeping with her. It’s not abnormal for me to show an interest in Rosie’s award; wearefriends, as far as anyone else is aware. Ethan and Lucas would do the same thing. Sowhyam I sweating?
Thankfully Noah isn’t a mind reader, so he just bobs his head in acknowledgment. We grab our drinks and head for their table. Most people are standing around the tables now, moving about and mingling as Rosie glows from where she chats animatedly with Halle, Jasper, and Addison.
“Did you see his face?” Halle giggles, and I think she just pulled a lollipop out of her purse?
“I did!” Rosie screeches, grabbing onto Jasper’s arm as she basically bounces on her feet. I subtly pull my phone from my pocket. “That was almost better than actuallygettingthe promotion. His little whines, you could see the simmering anger. God, what I’d give to have Chris witness him tip over the edge.” She sighs, almost wistful, and then I drag a finger across my screen.
