Behind the curtains, I sit on the little bench, stripped down to my bra and panties, until she comes back with other options. Her hand jumps through the fabric.
This seems promising.
Over my head, it slides down with ease. When it finally makes its way over my hips, I start to turn my body in different directions to get a better look in the mirror. One side angle at a time, moving my hair in different directions to get a better vision.
I even do my princess wave once the black scarf is thrown over my neck, ready to open the curtain for them this time.
Opening the curtains with my eyes closed, I wait for her grunts and sighs.
Dead silence.
I open one of my eyes slowly to see her sly smile looking right at me. “I love my job,” she says, clasping her hands again before walking away and signaling for Holden to follow.
Holden mouths the word “beautiful” as he stands up, making my cheeks flush. A lump catches in my throat.
Behind the curtain, I take one last look at myself in the black silk chiffon with the matching peep-toe heels, the fabric clinging to my body, shaping my every curve.
It feels effortless.
Not too much, and very much me.
I am left on the chair, waiting.
I send the new photos from earlier today that have just come in to Lens and Vine. As I press send, I guzzle a second glass of champagne. The glass is completely finished by the time Holden strides over in his new suit.
“So, are you excited to be going to a premiere?” He asks.
His shoulders are broadly pulled back as he does a half spin to show off the tailored suit that fits him perfectly.
“Define excited.”
“Oh, come on, isn’t this a perk?”
“Yes. Very much so. It’s the other stuff that seems exhausting. I’m more of a behind-the-scenes kind of girl.”
I stand up, looking at myself again in the mirror. Wondering how well I would photograph in a sea of people.
“Should I practice my smiles?” I say, displaying the most unflattering look.
Holden leans in, whispering behind my ear, “No, you have a great smile.” His hand reaches over to the small of my back, painting circles with his fingertips, sending a full-body shiver through me.
This feels too good. This feels too soon. This feels—
“I don’t think you need to try on any more of them. This is the winner,” he says as we watch each other in the mirror, unable to move.
“I only tried on one.”
“That’s what happens when you find a winner.”
He grabs my hip and pulls me into him. Our bodies are perfectly aligned with each other. He caresses my wiry strands of hair in his hands as if he has done this time and time before.
I give in.
I turn my body to face him, tilting my head toward his mouth, leaning in all the way, waiting patiently for him to close the gap.
Chapter twenty-nine
The LoveSick Premiere
