“FINE! I’m sorry.” I’m not surprised that it sounds like a half-ass apology. He probably has to give them out constantly. I should care, but I can’t. I’m too busy watching Chase, my Chase, stepping up to someone who could sink his career in a heartbeat. And he’s doing it for me. He’s defending me, not raging against me. It’s hot and terrifying all in one go. Before this moment, I didn’t believe anyone would give up a million dollar career for me. How could I be worth that?
I take Chase’s arm and squeeze it. “Come on. His small dick energy isn’t worth it.”
Chase pushes off him and checks on me. “How did your dress get wet? What happened?”
“Dickie here spilled my champagne on me. Tried to play it off as if it were an accident as he whisked be back here out of the public eye.” I straighten Chase’s tie and tuck it back into his jacket. “Let’s just go back to the table, okay? I’m sure he’s regretting his decision enough right now.”
“Are you sure?”
In a moment of panic and passion, I grab his face and pull it to mine. My fingers are in his hair and his hands press my lower back toward him. When I break the kiss, he stares at me, stunned in the best way, and no longer angry over that piece of shit, Lawson.
“Come on, beautiful. Let’s go before dinner gets cold. I want to introduce you to some people that don’t suck the life out of a party.”
* * *
During dinner, where I’m at a table full of Hollywood elites that don’t question why I’m here. We laugh and joke, enjoying a few drinks as we wait for what’s next, when a woman takes the seat next to me. I’m so star-struck, I almost tumble out of my chair. Rosie Johnston, one of Chase’s former co-stars, and one of my favorite actresses, sits right next to me. I could die.
“Rosie!!” Chase yells out, a little tipsy. “Oh, Ren, she’s great. I didn’t think you’d make it, Ro. Oh, this is my girlfriend, Renate Silva.”
“I love your name. It’s so beautiful!”
“Thank you, you’re beautiful. I love your movies.”
Rosie invites me out to Rodeo Drive to pick out a new dress after Chase tells her about the incident earlier. She’s even sweet enough to assure me that no one can even tell. She’s gorgeous—blonde hair, green eyes, and big lips—but, like Chase, she’s stayed grounded among all the chaos and bright lights. We end up talking about my job until the lights dim and a spotlight hits the stage..
We lose track of how many awards and speeches we sit through, because apparently you can’t have a charity event without inflating all these egos. Before dinner, I didn’t realize how much charity work Chase does. But during the awards, several people at our table make comments or mumble about how he should get these awards.
He’s got a big heart, and he cares so much, but a stupid trinket isn’t why he does it. I’m learning that the other people in his big action movies are a lot like him, too, as he tells stories during breaks about the work they do helping people. Especially kids.
But this event isn’t about kids or helping real people. It’s about stuffing pockets, being seen, and making people like Richard Lawson look good because, in reality, he’s a horrible person. It’s all a show for publicity.
Toward the end of the night, someone comes up behind Chase to let him know it’s almost time for him to present. When I turn to wave at him and tell him to break a leg, he’s got his hand held out to me and I’m staring at it like it’s a live fish.
“Chase?”
“Come on, let’s piss some people off.”
“Seriously?”
“Yes!” Holden says as his boyfriend, Blaine, cheers us on. They’ve been an absolute riot all night and I absolutely adore them already.
Chase leans in and whispers, “I promise I won’t get in any trouble for this.”
Even Rosie tells me to go, as she grins like the devil. Who am I to go against the wishes of the wonderful Rosie Johnston?!
“I can’t believe I’m about to do this, but alright, let’s go, baby.”
His toothy grin makes my heart flutter as I let him pull me up. We make our way around to the side of the stage. Some people are curious, others are passing judgment they have no right to pass. While we wait, Chase gives me a rundown of what’s going to happen, but I’m only half listening. I tune out when he says I can follow his lead and I don’t need to say anything.
Before we step onto the stage, I catch Mr. High and fucking Mighty as he scrambles around on the other side of the stage, trying to figure out how to stop us. It’s not a large stage area and there’s no back curtain for him to sneak behind. His options are to run across the stage like a fucking idiot, go out into the audience like a fucking idiot, or don’t stop us at all. I like our odds.
There’s laughter and clapping as the last person accepting his award finishes thanking people and talking about their charity work. That’s when Chase’s grip tightens and he’s doing breathing exercises that remind me of a birthing class. I need to remind myself later to work on that with him. I have a couple of techniques that have helped students more than just breathing like a pregnant woman.
“Hey, Sunshine?”
“Yeah, Puppy?”
“I’m so glad you’re here with me tonight.”
