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“Theywould be so proud of you too.” He says referencing my parents.
We are sitting in our seats in the audience, waiting anxiously for my category. Damian is seated next to me with his hand on my knee to keep it from incessantly bouncing. I do technically have a new bodyguard, but as Damian predicted, he barely gets to do his job because Damian is no more than a few feet away from me at all times. There are even times that Damian acts more like my bodyguard than my man and I have to remind him that he’s on the red carpet to take pictureswithme and not to keep people back.
I watch Veronica and an actor from another hit show make their way onto the stage to present the award for best actress in a television drama. She looks gorgeous in a strapless floor-length silver gown that looks like tiny diamonds with the way the light hits it. I beam with excitement knowing it will look perfect with the very large diamond ring Derek plans to give her tonight.
“Remember to breathe,” I hear in my ear and then he presses a sweet kiss on my cheek.
“He seems more excited than I am.” I rub my stomach as I feel a kick from inside and Damian’s hand rests on top of mine.
“He knows his mother is a star.”
I turn back just in time to hear Veronica finish listing the names of the nominees. “And the Emmy goes to…” She opens up the envelope and squeals instantly. “Oh my god! Damian, bring our girl up here!” She jumps up and down and presses the envelope to her chest. “Shay Eastwood-Hunt!”
The theme song ofLA Dreamsstarts blaring through the entire auditorium as the room erupts in applause and cameras surround me as Damian helps me to my feet. I hug Cooper and Derek and a few members of the crew on the way up to the stage, my arm linked with Damian’s as he guides me.
“You okay?” he whispers in my ear and I nod as we make it to the stairs. He kisses me for no more than a second, but it’s enough for the room to get even louder with their screams and a few stray cat calls. “I’ll be here,” he says.
I love you,I mouth at him as I make my way up the stairs and Veronica rushes toward me to pull me into a hug.
“You fucking did it!” she squeals in my ear. “Love you so much.”
“Love you more,” I whisper back as I make my way to the podium.
I let out a breath. “I don’t know how many people can say their best friend handed them their Emmy. On a show they were on with you, no less.” I look at her and she’s staring at me like a proud mom still bouncing with excitement. The tears have already started to form as I think about the speech I sort of practicedjust in case.“Wow, thank you so much. I’ve been playing Ashley Anderson for over a decade and to close the chapter on this part of my life…to say goodbye to her on this kind of high is unbelievable.” I hold the Emmy up and look at the gold statuethat’s heavier than I anticipated. “Six years ago, I started this show and then immediately went into the worst period of my life, so in a lot of ways being Ashley Anderson saved me. It showed me that I was resilient and that I was tough enough to get through the worst. It showed me that,” I dart my gaze to where Damian is standing and give him a wink, “where there is life, there is hope.” I laugh through my tears. “There are so many people I want to thank before they kick me off the stage.” I go through my laundry list of people and when I get to the end I turn towards Damian. “And of course, to my husband, thank you for everything, for always being my light in the dark. I love you. And finally,” I look up and hold the Emmy over my head, “Mom, Dad, this is for you.” I blow a kiss upward and then towards the cameras as everyone applauds and music indicates a commercial.
“You always know how to deliver a monologue,” Veronica chuckles when we get backstage and we’ve removed our microphones. She pulls me into a hug and when she pulls back the tears are moving down her face again. “That was really good.”
“Thanks, V.” She nods behind me and I turn to see Damian standing there with the sexiest smile on his face and then I’m in his arms the best I can be with my stomach between us.
“Fuck, I’m proud of you. You are amazing and I am so honored to be your husband.” His eyes are a bit glazed and I wonder if he got a little emotional during my speech especially when I referenced his tattoo. “That isnotthe speech you practiced for me.”
“Sorry.” I giggle. His lips crash against mine and we stay like that for a few seconds before a throat clearing interrupts us.
“How did you get back here before I did?” my bodyguard, Luke, says to Damian.
My husband shrugs. “They know me.”
“Okay, well it would have been nice if you let me in on the secrets. I am her head security, Hunt.”
Damian gives him a look of derision before turning his gaze back to me with a look that says,can you believe this guy?
I press a hand over my lips to stop the giggle from expelling from me and shake my head.Be nice,I tell him with my eyes.
He wraps an arm around me and presses a kiss to my temple as he walks me towards the refreshments table. “Yeah, sure. Keep telling yourself that.”
The End.
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PREVIEW OFWHAT WAS MEANT TO BE
“She’s getting fucking married?” The words come out harsher than I intended, leaving my mouth through gritted teeth. I have one hand gripping the phone tightly and in the other, the engagement party invitation that I want to rip to shreds. Seeing the namesWhitney Monroe and Parker Andersonprinted ingold script makes me fucking enraged. I clench my fist, damaging the crisp white paper in the process before I toss it towards my desk. I can’t bear the sight of the words another second.
“Together with their families.”
Whitney’s family.Myfamily. The thought of watching her get married sends a wave of sadness through me. Followed by a wave of anger. Then regret.