I pulled away and went to the door. “Don’t open this door without hearing from Larsen on the other side that it’s safe to do so and without confirming for yourself who it is,” I said with a finger pointing to the peephole. “I’ll be back before it’s time to take you down.”
She nodded and, for a moment, looked uncertain again before the wall that was confident Dani came back over her. “Go. I’ll see you in a little while.”
I hesitated a moment more before giving her a nod and leaving. I shook hands with the oxen of a man standing outside, introducing myself. He was one of Garner’s Ranger buddies. “No one but Alice and the hair and makeup folks who have been pre-approved go in.”
He nodded, and I strode away, feeling like I’d just left part of my soul back in the hotel room.
Dani
STAY
“Not really sure how to feel about it.
Something in the way you move,
Makes me feel like I can't live without you.”
Performed by Rihanna w/ Mikky Ekko
Written by Sudduth / Parker / Ekko
As the hotel door swung shut,I let out a breath of air I’d been holding.
I’d blame my momentary lack of brain cells on the amount of energy I’d given to the ride in the service elevator. It had taken its toll on me. So many things had happened since I’d last stepped in one that I’d almost forgotten the panic that filled me every time. As I’d looked about the closed space with just Nash and me in it, I’d realized something. Nash had taught me exactly what to do if someone stepped as close as Fenway had. If I’d known how to control my body and my enemy's body a year ago, Fenway wouldn’t have been able to put his disgusting lips on mine. He wouldn’t have been able to corner me or touch me. I knew for a fact I could have controlled the situation with one fat, lazy man.
I had Nash to thank for it. When he’d pulled me to him as the elevator had moved, rubbing soothing circles on my back, I’d let him. Not only because it felt good, but because I was overwhelmed with a sense of gratitude for what he’d given me—a confidence in my own strength that I hadn’t had in a year.
Then, I’d turned around and made him feel like I didn’t want anyone to know about us. That I wanted to keep us a secret until the right moment. I was being ridiculous; he was right. What had I expected to do? Send out a press announcement to our family and friends with a neon sign stating, “Dani and Nash are together”? Did we owe anyone an explanation? Mac would want one. Mac would want his chance to tell me all the reasons I shouldn’t be with any SEAL, let alone the one who was best known for charming the pants off of the ladies and who’d been burdened with the guilt of surviving.
The bottom line was, I loved Nash. It was an unusual occurrence for me. I hadn’t given my heart to anyone ever before, and I was pretty sure he hadn’t either. He still hadn’t said he loved me, and I hadn’t repeated it after the flowers and the uttered words yesterday, but I wasn’t sure I needed him to say the words for me to know. He’d shown me how he felt, and that was more important than words. I knew that for the hundred-percent truth it was. In D.C., words were spread around like honey on a biscuit, running over the sides they were so smooth, but they’d just been words. Words which were disproven by the actions and votes.
Nash wrapping me in his arms, kissing me until I couldn’t breathe…that was all the proof I needed, wasn’t it?
A knock on the door jolted me out of my thoughts and my stance in the entryway. I placed the bag I’d carried onto the plane on the bed and went to the door. I could see Alice with a dress bag draped in her arms and the fuzzy forms of two other people.
After being cleared to open the door, I gave myself over to the team Alice had brought with her. With all the events I’d been to in D.C., I was used to being styled, but I’d always done my own makeup. It was a different experience to allow someone to create an image of me that would be presented. When they were done, they left me with Alice to get dressed.
“I knew you were nervous about me selecting a gown for you, so I hope you like it,” she said.
The dress was midnight blue, which was a color known for dependability, intelligence, and calm. In addition, it was layered with sequins that glistened in the natural light streaming in the hotel window. The combination of color and shimmer was a brilliant confidence that spoke to me. It had a boat neck that would completely cover me in the front, but it dropped low in the back. The overall length was shorter than I’d expected for an award ceremony.
“You don’t like it,” Alice said with a note of panic in her voice.
“It’s beautiful. I was just expecting something longer. More formal.”
Her blue hair shimmered as she nodded her head. “If this was the Grammy’s, I’d agree with you, but the AMAs are much trendier. Brady’s tux has sharper, more modern cuts with a midnight vest that has silver striping to match the shimmer coming off your sequins. You don’t want to look like you’re trying to fit in at the Oscars.”
I realized how much thought Alice had given to the clothes. It was as much thought as I put into my apparel every time I’d attended an event in D.C. But instead of a stuffy ballroom full of politicians, I was going to be mixing with the cream of the musical world. Definitely a different vibe.
“I can see why Brady said to trust you. You absolutely know what you’re doing,” I told her, and relief washed over her face.
She hung the dress back up on the door and then pulled out a smaller bag. “We have to keep the jewelry simple with the sequins and the boat neck, but these platinum chains should be okay. Once it’s all on you, we can decide to skip them in favor of a platinum choker if it’s too much.”
“What did this all cost?” I asked.
“The jewelry is on loan, and the dress was donated by the designer.”
“Really?” I said, surprised.
