her. But my eyes only rest on the couples for a fraction of a second before I feel Zack’s eyes on me.
“Wow.” He takes a few steps toward me with his arms outstretched. I close the space and hold his hands, allowing him to gaze all over me. His eyes drift down my dress to the floor and back up again until they met my eyes. “You look – just – wow. Beautiful, Nic.”
I return the smile. It’s not what he says to me that suddenly has me feeling warm all over, but how he says them. He conveys every emotion he has for me with the look of pure admiration and love in his eyes; his voice thickened with desire. I check him out the same way he did to me, moving my eyes ever so slowly down the length of his body. A blush heats my cheeks as I take him in and when I speak, I know I’m breathless with lust for him.
“You clean up rather nice yourself. I don’t think I’ve seen you not wearing jeans and ball cap.”
He pulls me closer and kisses me and I immediately forget what I was just thinking. “Are you nervous?”
I nod slightly. “I’ll be okay, I promise. But yeah, slightly terrified.”
“I can’t wait for everyone to see the woman I love.”
I can only stare at him. I’m excited and nervous at the same time. I can’t wait to see an awards show like this, live. I also just want it to end as soon as possible because I know as soon as cameras start flashing, I’m going to be a complete ball of nerves.
I turn and hug Chloe, happy to finally see her again and introduce her to Mia.
Zack claps his hands together loudly. “All right. Let’s go everyone, the limos are outside waiting.” He places his hand on my lower back and ushers me out to the waiting limousines
The twenty minute car ride seems to take forever. Aaron and Tina, who were waiting for us in the car, are both very pleasant. Tina is dressed in a black suit and has an earpiece. She gives a matching one to Zack to wear so she can direct him where to go, and which TV reporters to meet with, while we walk along the carpet. She’s cordial, but all business.
I’m not as nervous about the media since this is a huge event. I’m still hoping I can fly by unnoticed, although even in my head the thought sounds doubtful; not when I’m going to be on Zack’s arm.
Zack keeps one hand on my knee, trying to calm me with just his presence. He looks confident. I know from watching him perform on stage that he was made to be a star. He always carries himself with an air of confidence and self-assuredness that I can only dream of having. And with him, it doesn’t come across as arrogant. It simply fits him. He doesn’t look nervous at all.
“Just another day at the office for you, huh?” I wink and nudge him slightly with my shoulder. He turns to me with a look of pure love. It melts my heart instantly.
“Something like that.”
“Are you nervous at all for tonight?” I ask.
Zack shrugs his shoulders. “Not really. I don’t mind presenting, and I’m sure I won’t win the awards, so I get to just sit back and enjoy the ride tonight.” I love his modesty. He is the best out there, everyone loves him, and he isn’t being self-deprecating when he doesn’t think he’d win, he just honestly believes the other musicians are better. It’s cute and endearing.
“You’ll win.” I promise. “Did you at least prepare a speech just in case?”
“How do you know I’ll win?”
“Because you’re the best.” I kiss him quickly.
I feel the car slow to a stop and when I look out Zack’s window, I see a thousand flashing lights. The lights are blinding and the noise of the crowd is deafening even from inside the car. It sounds as if a firework show’s finale is being launched at street level right outside our car, and I gulp with fear, imagining how loud it’s going to be once the door opens.
Zack sees my body tense up and nuzzles his nose with my ear while whispering to me. “Don’t worry about a thing. I’ve got you.”
Before I can reply, security opens our door and Zack steps outside. Once exited, he leans back in and offers me his hand. I widen