“We know you love to top!” Ritchie Goode, that fucker, calls from the second row.
The crowd eats this shit up, and I have to wait a few moments before I’m able to wrap this up. “Going forward, my energy and focus will be on Neon Nights Media, so I’m not disappearing forever. You’ll just see me more on the other side of the camera.”
I take one last look at Bex. The few tears streaming down her face and the biggest smile on her face make my heart clench. God dammit, I love this woman.
“Thank you all for this honor and the opportunity to be part of this industry!”
I step back from the mic and turn toward the steps. Somewhere nearby, the production assistant is announcing there’s another commercial break. Rina is following behind me, calling my name, but I ignore her. There’s only one woman I want in front of me right now, and she’s sitting in the third row.
Drew stands as I approach and reaches out to shake my hand. “That was incredible, Corey! I didn’t know you were—”
I cut him off, bypassing his outstretched hand and reaching for Bex as she stands. In one second, she’s in my arms, and I bury my face in herneck. She wraps her arms around me and, if she wasn’t wearing a dress, I am tempted to lift her up and put her legs around me.
“I’m so proud of you,” she whispers, and that statement almost unravels me.
It feels like a weight has been lifted in my chest, finally announcing that I’m done with acting. I’ve felt it in my bones the last year or so, but finally speaking the words tonight, in front of everyone… I feel like I can breathe again.
I sigh against her skin. “You helped me get here,” I whisper. “Bex, I—”
“Hope she doesn’t mind you can’t even get your dick hard without assistance.” The sharp sting of Rina’s words cause me to pull back from Bex. I close my eyes and try to breathe through the crashing wave of anger that’s destroyed this quiet moment with Bex.
“Rina—”
Bex pulls away from me and slides to my side, so she can properly see Rina. I turn, wrapping my arm around Bex’s waist, holding her tightly to me. The people in the rows around us have gone quiet, watching this disastrous exchange.
Rage highlights Rina’s frozen features, a familiar sight from her narcotic-fueled blackouts of the past. She glares at Bex, staring her up and down, before she says, “Jesus Christ, Corey. Are you going through a fatty phase? You really are losing it.”
I tighten my grip on Bex’s waist and hope she feels reassurance through my touch. Bex is beautiful, sexy, and curvy in a way Rina could never hope to be. Rina can be nasty when she feels jealous or insecure, and that’s all this is. I want to tell Bex that Rina’s intentionally being malicious, that her words are lies and only meant to hurt, but I don’t have to say shit.
Bex gives Rina a pointed look and says, “I feel bad for you.”
Rina steps back, scoffing, as if the words themselves slapped her.
But Bex continues. “I’m sure at one time you might have been happy. With Corey, sure, but I mean with yourself. But I think you haven’t been happy with yourself in a very long time. It shows, babe.”
“What the fu—”
“I say this as sincerely as possible,” Bex says slowly. “But I think you need some help. Therapy. And maybe lay off the Botox?”
Rina’s glare is fixed on Bex, and as she opens her mouth to spew more venom, Bex gives her final word.
She tugs on the lapel of my suit and runs her hand down my chest. I look down at her, hoping she can see how proud I am–how much I fucking love her–in my eyes.
“Now, if you’ll excuse me,” Bex says smoothly. “I’d like to steal my boyfriend away to celebrate his award.”
“Mmmm, and how should we celebrate?”
“I think there’s a coatroom calling our name,” Bex says with a wicked grin.
“Ugh, fuck you both!” Rina shouts, shoving the award at my chest and stalking off.
A different production assistant is quickly approaching us, telling us to take our seats, but I wave him off. “No need,” I say, taking Bex’s hand in mine and pulling her toward the aisle. “We’re leaving.”
“But not before we grab our coats!” Bex says gleefully.
“That’s fucking right,” I growl as we race up the aisle and toward the lobby.
Chapter 28
