“Nominations for Best Actress are…” Caitlin squeezed Gemma’s hand as they waited for the woman to continue. “Caitlin Stone for her role inForbidden Love.”
Thankfully, Gemma had already cleared both breakfast trays from the bed, so when she heard Caitlin’s name, she flung herself on top of her. Gemma straddled her fiancée and kissed her as if the gold statue was already hers.
“I knew you’d get it! I’m so happy for you, babe. You deserve it,” Gemma said genuinely.
Gemma hopped to her feet, grabbed both champagne flutes, and eased herself back into Caitlin’s lap.
“To our Oscar nominations, and to the movie that brought us back together. I love you more than anything, my future wife.” Gemma made the toast as she raised her glass.
With a quick clink, they sipped their drinks, then decided not to leave bed for the rest of the day. Gemma had her own celebratory plans that required no clothes and a lot of kissing.
HAYLEY BREWED COFFEE FOR ALLthree of them that March morning as they sat around Caitlin’s old kitchen table in LA.
Caitlin had surprised Gemma by flying Hayley in for the weekend of the Oscars. Caitlin was Gemma’s official date, buther best friend would always be her plus one.
“Celebrate good times, come on!” Maddie burst through the front door, singing and dancing. She’d be joining them tonight at the Academy Awards as Caitlin’s plus one.
“It is way too early for you.” Hayley groaned.
“Aw, come on, Hay. What better time to sing ‘Celebration’ by Kool and the Gang than on the day our best friends are bound to win Oscars?!”
“Must we sing at all? And it’sHayleyto you,” she retorted.
Gemma and Caitlin couldn’t help but laugh—watching Maddie and Hayley bicker was like observing a tennis match.
Maddie moved behind Hayley, draping herself over her shoulders, and squeezed her into a hug.
Hayley winced but didn’t push Maddie away.
“Oh, but you know we’re best friends now. It’s inevitable with these two love birds getting married.” Maddie smiled, and Hayley’s usual scorn at being touched didn’t seem to appear.
After releasing Hayley, Maddie walked around the kitchen island to pour her own cup of coffee. As she lifted her mug, the steam curled between them, and Maddie’s eyes met Hayley’s across the counter.
Gemma watched, unable to look away as their gazes lingered far longer than what she would consider casual. She swore something was shifting between them.
Gemma glanced at Caitlin, who wore a matching expression that seemed to say,Did you see that?
The doorbell rang, and Hayley jumped, breaking out of her stare down with Maddie, and ran to the front door.
Hair and makeup teams poured in and started bustling around them, preparing all four for a night at the Oscars.
A few hours later, Gemma and Caitlin stepped into complementary Gucci looks. Gemma wore a black suit from the seventies runway with an oversized jacket fastened by twogolden buttons and her bare chest exposed—just the way her fiancée liked it. Caitlin’s matching vintage Gucci dress hugged her curves in all the right places. When Gemma saw her, the same butterflies returned from when she had been fifteen. Only now, they held the electric certainty that Caitlin was already hers.
She found she couldn’t resist running her hands along the curve of her future wife’s hip. “Whew, you look…” She wrapped her arms tighter around her waist. “You’re gorgeous.”
Caitlin’s fingers slipped around the back of Gemma’s neck, and she pressed a careful kiss to her lips, mindful of their freshly applied lipstick. Fortunately, their makeup artists had matched shades, so the two wouldn’t have to worry about blending them together when they inevitably kissed throughout the night.
“You look incredible, Gemma,” Caitlin breathed into her ear.
Sandy and Eve arrived, bright and efficient, prepared to escort everyone to the awards show. The two agents moved through the house like practiced partners, and Gemma wondered if the women had kept in touch since engineering Caitlin’s proposal.
“The couple of the century,” Sandy said, appreciating Gemma and Caitlin together before Eve chimed in, “You both look beautiful.”
“And look at the two of you.” Gemma raised her eyebrows.
Before she could probe further, she saw her best friend enter the foyer out of the corner of her eye. “Damn,” she said to the room. “Hayley, what a smoke show.”
Caitlin squeezed Gemma’s hand slightly and nodded, directing her attention across the room. Gemma followed her gaze to see Hayley already watching Maddie, who stood waiting in a red Hugo Boss suit, and felt a warm, private amusement at the way Hayley’s attention had shifted.
