Page 19

The Premier night for Love in the Lights was full of crazy energy.

It had taken a half an hour to get the limousine to the front of the movie theater and Selene was strangely calm as she sat back against the seat. It might have something to do with the diamond ring on her finger.

She hadn't taken her eyes off of it since William had put it on her finger in their suite.

As they approached the drop off point in front of the red carpet, he took her hand and kissed the back of her hand. "It fits, right?"

She looked at him a little confused. "What's wrong? "

He looked down at the ring on her hand and offered her a soft smile. "Are you sure the ring-"

She pulled her hand out of his, clasping her right hand over her left against her chest. "You are not taking my ring back."

Then she turned her head and looked at him with a side-long glance. "You're not, right?"

William looked back at her and the millions of dollars in jewelry she was wearing around her neck and in her ears.

"Will. Look at me."

"I am-"

She shifted on the seat beside him and reached out her hands.

When he felt her hands on his, he looked down at their joined hands. "I didn't think it would make a difference to me, you know? The differences between us when it comes to-"

"Money?"

He nodded.

"This?" She touched her fingertips to her necklace and then her earrings. "These? They were borrowed. They're pretty, but when I wear them, I'm panicked. Even right now, no matter how good I know I look in this gown and with these jewels, the item that I'm wearing that means the most to me? Is this ring."

She lifted it and a passing streetlight created a halo around the diamond in the ring.

"This is so special to me, because it's from you. "

"I wonder if I'll ever deserve you."

She turned to him, her eyes full of love. "Just love me, Will. That's all I'll ever need. As long as I have you, everything else is extra. What we have together? That's the real treasure of my life."

"I love you, Sel. So damn much it makes my heart hurt thinking about it."

"And I love you, Will. In your arms, I feel like I can do anything."

"You could be anything you want, Sel. Anything."

"Good. I just want to be yours. That's all I need."

He smiled at her and she felt love filling the space between them. "You've got me forever, Sel."

She put her hand back in his and they sat in companionable silence until they arrived at the theater.

The tuxedo-clad attendant who opened her door gave her a knowing look as she stepped out.

"Badger! You're here!"

"Of course I would be. I wanted to see the movie and they offered me a job opening doors."

Selene fought off the urge to roll her eyes as she took his hand and saw his smile widen.

"Seriously, you're coming inside, right?"

He shrugged as he closed the door while William made his way around the car to her side.

"Don't worry," Badger gave her a smile. "I have a ticket. I just wanted to be outside and get a chance to see you in your dress. You look incredible."

Impulsively, she reached out and hugged him. More flashes went off in the crowd and Evander stepped back, grinning from ear to ear. "This could get interesting."

William leaned in on her other side and made a 'shooing' motion with his hand. "Back off, Brit. She's mine."

Selene lifted her left hand to show their friend. "He put a ring on it."

She got a kiss on her cheek from Evander and took William's offered arm so they could walk down the red carpet.

She took his arm and saw his smile widen. "Ready to smile for the cameras?"

He shrugged. "The cameras are for you, honey. I'm just here for you."

As they moved down the carpet, Selene waved at fans and photogs alike. She thanked the crowd for showing up and hoped that they would enjoy the show when they could get inside.

Theaters across the country were sold out in advance after early reviews came out and while they'd both seen the film before, she was still struggling with anxiety.

"Selene!! Selene!" "Hey, girl!"

Selene turned to look up the red carpet and saw two of her favorite ladies in the whole world. "Cali! Mary!"

Selene pulled free of William's arm and moved forward to hug them. Cali stepped back to let Mary greet her first.

Looking into William's sister's upturned face, she beamed with joy.

"Mary! How was your day?"

"Super!" She was almost jumping up and down, but Selene could see that she was vibrating with excitement. "Cali and I went to Huntington Gardens for Afternoon Tea! It was awesome!"

Selene hugged William's sister, soaking in her joy. "I'm so glad you came to see the movie!"

Mary's jaw dropped. "Like I would miss it!"

Selene smiled at Mary's contagious excitement. "It means the world to us that you came."

Mary wiggled a little in excitement. And that's when she seemed to realize what was on Selene's hand. "OMG. He asked you?"

Before Selene or William could confirm, Mary jumped and hugged Selene. "You're going to be my sister!"

Selene's head tipped back, and laughter rolled out of her throat. "I can't wait!"

Mary moved on to William, hugging her brother to within an inch of his life in congratulations for the proposal and Selene took her best friend's hand and drew her off to the side .

"Do you know how thrilled I am to have you here?"

Cali looked at her and her eyes were shining with tears. "Do you know how awesome you are? How privileged I am to have you as a friend?"

"I think it's a mutual admiration society, Cali. You've lifted me up and got me in fighting form for every uphill battle I've gone through. I couldn't have hoped for a better friend."

Selene wrapped her arms around her friend and Cali cried about how hard it was to squeeze her with a hug and not ruin her couture Maya Lin gown.

"As soon as the press tour is done," Selene whispered into her friend's ear, "you and I are starting wedding planning."

Cali's eyes widened at that. "Yes!"

"First things, first though." Selene hugged her to her side. "Will you be my maid of honor?"

Cali burst into happy tears and before Selene could open her clutch purse, William was there with a handkerchief.

Cali tried to wave the offer off, saying, "You should keep that for Selene!"

William reached into his other coat pocket and pulled out a second handkerchief. "I've got everyone covered."

As Cali tried to reach out her hand toward Mary, William's sister slipped her hand into the inside breast pocket of his tuxedo jacket and pulled out a third square. "This is where he had one for me when we lost our mom. He's pretty much prepared for everything."

The lights dimmed in the entry, and everyone moved inside for the screening.

William and Selene hung back from the crowd as they filed inside the massive theater. He lifted her hands to his mouth and placed a kiss on her ring finger before he met her stunning gaze. "I have a confession to make."

Both her brows raised, but she didn't look scared or worried. They knew how much they loved each other. What he saw in her eyes was anticipation and a bit of humor.

"Okay?"

"There's one thing I wasn't prepared for."

"Yeah?"

He gently tugged on her hands, stepping in closer to her until they were toe to toe in the half-lit foyer of the theater.

"Meeting you. It turns out that my whole life changed because of you."

William placed a gentle kiss on her lips and guided her inside to watch her brilliant debut as an actress. He knew he'd always be amazed by her for the rest of his life guarding the singer.