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She doesn’t pull away.
Three inches.
Two inches.
One inch.
So close.
Then someone yanks the car door open, and the world spills in, spoiling the moment.
It’s all a blur once we step out. My team is waiting, directing us to pose and move along the red carpet.
“Tate!”
“Over here!”
“On your left, Tate!”
“Smile!”
“Who’s that with you?”
Talia is stiff as a board at my side, and I loop my arm around her waist, tugging her closer. “You look gorgeous, Tally Girl,” I murmur into her hair.
I don’t know if she hears me, but the next second, I’m dragged away and told to pose solo. I glance around for Talia and find her standing off to the side, Howard standing next to her. Okay, she’s not alone. Howard leans in, whispering something to her, and her face falls.
What’s that about?
I hold up a finger, signaling I’ll be one minute.
That minute turns into five. Then I’m introduced to a bunch of people whose names I forget. Ten minutes. Fifteen. Eventually, I lose track of time as I’m tugged and shoved toward the entrance.
“Wait. My wife.” I peer over the hundreds of bobbing heads, searching for her.
Howard materializes next to me. No Talia. “She went inside. We’ll find her in a minute. There’s someone I want you to meet.”
Half an hour later, I’m finally free, overwhelmed up to my eyeballs with new faces and names, brand deals and paid partnerships, invites to parties and galas.
I can’t even give myself a moment to breathe, because Talia still isn’t here.
The movie starts soon, and they’re ushering people to their seats. I fight against the current of bodies as I search high and low for a pretty head of red hair. I reach the front entrance and she’s still nowhere to be seen. Talia has my phone in her purse, so I can’t even call her.
“Shit.” I spot a security guard near the large glass doors. “Hey, have you seen a woman with red hair? She’s wearing a blue dress. About yea high.” I hold my hand up to my chin.
He frowns before recognition flashes. “Oh. Yeah. She’s on the steps. Said she was with someone inside, but she didn’t have a pass.”
Dread assaults me. “What? No one has a fucking pass to this thing?”
He shrugs. “We can’t let just anyone in here. Do you know how many crazy fans and stalkers try to sneak into events like this? We have jobs to do.”
“She isn’t just anyone, you idiot.” I storm past him and barge through the doors.
The steps leading up to the building are empty except for a lonely figure sitting at the bottom, barefoot, her heels discarded to the side. My chest buckles in on itself.
“Tally Girl.” I bound toward her.
She swipes at her cheek. “They wouldn’t let me in.”
