“Sure.” He offers his arm, and I loop mine through.
But when he starts down the same path Jen took, I tug him back. “We’re going the other way.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well,thatway is for the stars—the ones walking the line of photographers and interviewers. We peasants take the path behind the chaos.” I point toward the corridor where publicists and staff funnel guests.
Miles frowns. “Seriously?”
“Yeah. That’s how it works.”
He shakes his head. “No one puts my goddess on the back path.”
I giggle. “Love theDirty Dancingreference, Miles, but we’re not allowed.”
“Says who?”
I nod toward a man in a suit with a headset and a clipboard. “Him.”
“Eh, he’s harmless.” Miles straightens and strides toward the main carpet.
As expected, Clipboard Guy blocks our way. “Name?”
“Miles Keller,” he says confidently, “star of the NHL Crane Hockey Team. And this is Miranda Sinclair—the woman behind Annalise Sterling.”
The man flips through his pages. “I’m sorry, sir, but I don’t?—”
“Keep looking,” Miles interrupts, already steering us forward.
“Miles,” I hiss, mortified.
“Walk and smile, my goddess. Just walk and smile.”
“He’s calling us back,” I whisper, glancing over my shoulder. Clipboard Guy is speaking into his headset.
“What’s he gonna do—tackle us? Let him. I can take him.”
I groan. “This is so embarrassing.”
“For him? Definitely.”
“If we get dragged out by security and I miss my best friend’s name being called, I swear?—”
“Sunshine baby, I already told you—I can take him. I’ve handled guys twice his size on the ice.”
“That’s not the point. I don’t want to end up on gossip sites brawling at the Oscars.”
Miles ignores me, guiding us straight to a reporter with a microphone and a cameraman.
“Hello,” he says smoothly. “I’m Miles Keller from last year’s Stanley Cup champion team, The Cranes, and this is Miranda Sinclair. We’re here tonight with nominee Annalise Sterling.”
At Anna’s name, the reporter perks up, her smile brightening. “Hello! You both look incredible tonight. Who are you wearing?”
Miles nods toward me, and I summon my professional smile, then rattle off the designers. Thankfully, as the one who coordinates Anna’s red carpet attire, I’m able to give appropriate credit to the designers. The shimmery golden dress clinging to my every curve didn’t make Anna’s final cut. Lucky for me, because it’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever had on my body.
“And what are your thoughts on Ms. Sterling’s nomination?” the reporter asks.
“That one’s easy,” I say, genuine pride threading my voice. “I love that it’s an empowering true story. She plays a brilliant woman in the 1970s who becomes the first female CEO of a major company, fighting against the deeply rooted sexism of the era. Anna’s performance captures the courage it takes to break barriers and be taken seriously in a male-dominated industry. She deserves all the recognition she’s getting.”
