They were Eden’s favorite, too, a way to connect with her fans.
Paris quickly drafted a post and showed it to Eden for her approval. Eden had access to all her accounts on her phone but rarely posted to them herself or even opened the apps. Paris was responsible for at least 90 percent of Eden’s social media presence.
Ten minutes later, Eden, Paris, and Taylor were on their way out the door. Taylor wore a stylish black suit, her short brown hair slicked back in the front with gel. She looked more like she belonged on a fashion runway than Eden’s protection for the evening.
“That’s a great look on you,” Eden told her.
Taylor grinned, shoving her hands into the front pockets of her pants. “Thank you.”
Eden picked up her bag and a wrap to keep herself warm during the ride. It was the first week of February, and although the weather in Los Angeles was relatively mild, it was still too cold to stand outside comfortably in a sleeveless dress. She, Taylor, and Paris rode down in the elevator and went out through the back, where her car was waiting.
After a thirty-minute drive followed by an even longer wait in the drop-off line for the red carpet, they finally arrived. Taylor exited the vehicle first. Paris took Eden’s shawl and clutch and touched up her lipstick yet again. As Eden stood from the car, Paris helped her smooth the creases from the front of her dress.
The routine was second nature for them by now. Paris had worked as her assistant for five years, and Taylor had headed her security team for almost as long. They had attended countless awards shows together in that time.
Eden stepped onto the red carpet, entering a sea of camera flashes and shouts of “Over here, Eden!” and “Turn to the right!” and “Look to your left!” She was as obedient as possible, smiling endlessly as she turned from side to side so they could photograph her from every angle, including the back. They always wanted a pose that showed the back of the dress.
Her stomach churned with preshow anxiety, which was amplified by how badly she needed a win tonight. But she refused to let it show, not with dozens of lenses aimed her way, their blinding flashes exposing her every flaw.
Every few minutes, she’d move forward so the next group of photographers could get their shots. A cold breeze gusted against her, and she shivered. Thank goodness the fabric of her dress was thick enough to hide her nipples, because she was freezing. Glancing to her left, she spotted Max Briner about five spots behind her on the carpet. Should she have invited him to perform with her instead of Anna?
“Eden, over here!”
Her cheeks hurt from smiling.
“What can we expect from your performance tonight?” someone shouted.
“Something expected and somethingunexpected,” she replied, the response she’d rehearsed with Stella earlier.
She turned to the right and saw Sasha Sol a few spots down from her, wearing a dress as red as the carpet beneath her feet. Her skin was a warm brown, and she wore her hair in box braids that tumbled over her shoulders. She looked stunning, and if Eden had to guess, Sasha would be taking home several awards tonight. Eden had always been impressed with Sasha’s music, and her latest album was her best yet.
Sasha stepped forward to speak to a reporter, revealing Anna a little bit farther down the carpet. She had on a knee-length hot-pink dress with a blue-and-yellow-striped sash, as brightly colored as her personality. Anna turned to the side, showing off the back of the dress. Thesash was knotted in an elaborate bow that almost looked like the wings of a butterfly.
As Eden watched, Anna spun to face her. Her smile was radiant, and even from a distance, Eden could see the way her makeup shimmered from the strobe effect of the cameras.Wow.Although her outfit wasn’t Eden’s taste, she had to admit that Anna cleaned up nicely. This was the first time Eden had seen her out of her usual athletic wear, and the transformation was impressive. Anna was a knockout.
“Eden! Eden, over here!”
Dammit.She’d gotten so distracted by Anna that she’d lost focus. She turned to face the press, keeping her smile in place.
“Can you give us a hint about who’ll be joining you during your performance tonight?”
“Well ...” Eden darted another quick glance at Anna—pink wasdefinitelyher color—before looking over her shoulder in Max’s direction. “I can confirm that person is on the red carpet with me tonight.”
“Is it Max Briner?” someone shouted. The din of questions, combined with the camera flashes, was wearing on her nerves. She was ready to go inside.
She gave the reporter a coy look. “You’ll have to wait and see.”
CHAPTER FOUR
“Anna, are you hoping to win your first Grammy tonight?”
Anna placed a hand on her waist, cocking her hip for the cameras. “Winning a Grammy would be a dream come true, but I’m not exaggerating when I say it’s an honor just to be here.”
That was the truth. As badly as she wanted a Grammy, Anna intended to enjoy every moment of this night, regardless of whether she won. Performing on the Grammy stage was a big freaking deal, never mind performing alongside her idol. This would be one of the biggest moments of her career so far, and while she was pretty sure she appeared calm and confident on the outside, internally she was completely freaking out.
As Anna turned to the side, she noticed Eden a little farther down the red carpet. She had on a sapphire-blue velvet gown that made Anna’s brain combust on sight. Eden took a step forward, giving her a glimpse of the slit that revealed her left thigh. Holyshit.
“Anna, tell us about your dress.”
