Slowly, he cranes his neck, looking down at me, blindsided.. He stiffens tostone in my embrace as my fingers curl around his hip, nails digging. “Yeah,” he drawls, hinting a tight smile. “Right.”
His hand drops from my back.
The interviewer perks to attention, a dog with a bone. “Wow. That’s incredible news.” He snaps his fingers at one of the cameramen, gesturing him closer. “Can I ask how you reconnected? Has this been a long-distance relationship?”
I sigh, sounding dreamy. “Yes, it was. It’s been difficult being so far away. I live in Chicago, and circumstances haven’t allowed me to move yet. We’re still working out the details, but I’m hopeful things will start falling into place soon.”
Nestor grins, intrigued. “The world had no idea.”
Lex stands rigidly beside me, and I feel his tension, his disorientation. But he’s an actor, so he does what he does best—he performs.
“We wanted to keep it on the down-low,” Lex says, his wary smile turning star-studded. He raises his hand again and gives the back of my neck a squeeze with more force than the cameras can see. “Stevie didn’t want to detract from the show. She wanted to keep the focus on the work, not our personal lives.”
I stumble when he lets go of my neck and slings his arm around my shoulders, tugging me into a crushing embrace.
Laughing lightly, I continue. “It’s been a challenge, but the love and support we’ve given each other have made it all worthwhile. I’m just thrilled to be here with him tonight, sharing this moment with everyone.”
Nestor, clearly delighted with the turn of events, nods enthusiastically. “Did you say love?”
“Oh yes. We were high school sweethearts. We have a lot of history.” I peer over at Veronica as she gapes, open-mouthed, just outside the frame, her eyes blazing with hellfire.
Lex releases a croak that only I can hear before clearing it with a cough. “Yep. The love of my life right here. She’s stunning, right?”
“Beautiful,” Nestor agrees. “I think I speak for everyone when I say you two make a perfect couple. Stevie, is it true you’re a belly dancer?”
Oh God.
My face flames. “No, no, I’m actually a pianist. Lex took some…liberties there.” A floaty laugh. “Such a rascal.”
Lex beams, all white teeth and dimples. His eyes rake over me, undressing me for the cameras. “You’d make a sexy belly dancer.”
“Mmm.” Another nervous laugh slips as I pinch his side. “For your eyes only, babe.”
“Fascinating.” Nestor gifts me a goofy grin. “It sounds like you two have been through a lot together. How does this chapter in your relationship impact your future plans?”
I glance up at Lex, my eyes twinkling with the lights of a heavenly orchestra. “It’s a new beginning for both of us. We’re committed to making it work, no matter the challenges. Lex’s career is thriving, and I’m excited to be a part of it, both romantically and professionally.”
“One hundred percent,” Lex adds. “We’re all in.”
“I love it. Anything else you want to say?” Nestor inquires.
Lex snatches up my hand and tugs me away. “No, we’re good here. Thanks.” When we’re out of the camera frame, his gaze meets mine, the blue icing over, sharpening to cut glass. “I think we’ve covered everything.”
Chapter 24
Lex
I drag Stevie over to the bathrooms, peeking inside to make sure it’s clear, then hauling her in with me and locking the door behind us. I take a moment to inhale three calming breaths before spinning around to face her. “What. The. Fuck.”
The calming exercise failed.
She glares at me and folds her arms. “What the fuck,me? What the fuck,you.”
“No. These are your fucks. All the fucks belong to you.” I scrub both hands through my hair. “What was that? Do you realize what you just did?”
“I did what you brought me here for.”
“That is wildly untrue.”
