It takes me a moment to realize Sandy is talking to me. I nod. “Yeah,” I say. “I got it.”
“I know,” she says. “You’re my old pro now.” She winks at me.
I know the camera will cut away to us constantly. People are watching to see our reactions—to the awards, to each other. I’ve seen the videos they have on YouTube of us—compiled footage from press tour and the movie—trying to make some kind of romantic narrative set to a medley of Coldplay songs. Some of them are kind of sweet. Like my own personal home video or something.
It is, of course, tradition that the people who win Best Kiss kiss onstage. We’ve already rehearsed a Best Kiss bit. Rainer is going to grab me and lift me up, and in the moment before our lips touch he’s going to carry me offstage. Keep them wanting more, our fun motto.
My cell phone rings, and I take my hand out of Rainer’s. Alexis’s name flashes on the screen.
“Hey,” I say. “We’re just a few blocks away. Are you there?”
I’m met with a rattling cough. “Darling,” she croaks back.
“Jesus. You sound like death. Are you okay?”
Her voice is thick and weak through the phone. “I have the plague. I’m not going to make it tonight.”
I feel my nerves tighten up. Alexis had promised to walk the carpet next to me. She was supposed to sit with the three of us.
“I’m sorry,” she continues. “But you’ve got your boyfriend.” More coughing. The phone goes silent, and I wait to hear her voice.
“Alexis?”
“Sorry. Yes. I wish I could be there. I actually like these things. But it’s just not possible. Green phlegm is not ideal for my reputation.”
I shake my head. “Of course. Rest up. We’ll miss you.”
“I’ll talk to you tomorrow,” she says, then hangs up in a flurry of nasal noises.
“Everything okay?” Rainer is looking from my face to the phone.
“Alexis is sick. She’s not going to come,” I say, slipping my hand back into his.
Tawny puts her palm over the voice pad of her cell. “Jordan,” she mouths to us.
“They weren’t going to walk together, anyway,” Rainer says to her. Then, to me: “Were they?”
I shrug. “I have no idea. Jordan isn’t really in the habit of telling me that stuff.”
Rainer clears his throat. “It didn’t come up at lunch?” He looks at me when he says it, and I feel my hand turn to lead in his.
I exhale slowly. “You mean after rehearsal?” I quickly remember that I told Rainer Jordan dropped me off. He didn’t seem to care. It’s not like anything happened.
But Rainer isn’t accusing me of anything now. He suspected something was going on with us at the end of filming, but once Jordan told him the truth about his father, he let it all go. And to Rainer’s credit, he hasn’t brought up my relationship with Jordan since. Sometimes I don’t understand how he can be so big about the whole thing.
He rolls his neck. “I thought maybe he opened up. He’s been pretty tight-lipped about her.”
“Trust me,” I say. “He’s not telling me anything he’s not telling you.”
Our limo begins to slow, and the familiar sensation of nerves, excitement, and panic blooms in my stomach. It’s amazing to meet fans, to feel their love and passion forLocked. It’s just scary to see so many of them at once. Rainer lets go of my hand. “You ready?” he asks.
“Yep,” I say, trying on my best and brightest smile.
“Can you guys please make an effort to not look so fucking miserable?” Tawny asks from the other end of the limo.
We both look at her. Tawny is a pest, but she’s usually more annoyingly chirpy than lecturing. And she doesn’t swear. I’m taken aback.
“You look like you’ve been shot up with multiple infectious diseases,” she finishes.
