my eyes instantly and look at Tina, then back to him. I suddenly don’t want to get out. I feel the color drain my face as my heart starts beating so quickly I think it might explode. I’m not sure I can do this.
Screw my own fear of the media; the scene I see outside would terrify me even on a good day.
He leans in, just a little bit and smiles reassuringly. I put my hand in his, letting him pull me out of the car.
Chapter Eighteen
The red carpet is a blur of lights and reporters. Zack talks to Entertainment Tonight, TMZ, and several other shows I have never heard of. My hand clings to him so tightly, at some point I try to loosen up afraid of leaving a bruise. I relax once we pass the first large group of reporters. They must think I am one of his many random dates because no one even bothers to ask who I am. Thank goodness. Besides the occasional glance, we are so busy being ushered along the carpet we don’t even have a chance to really speak. I hope my smile shows excitement – versus the overwhelmingly terrified feeling I have inside. My eyes drift off to the crowd searching for Mia, Chase, or anyone else from Zack’s band, but the attempt is futile. I can barely see Tina behind us and I know the other limo is at least ten minutes behind.
“And who is your beautiful date tonight, Zack?”
The question snaps me back to the present. My eyes widen momentarily but I try to recover quickly when I look straight ahead. A camera is facing Zack - and me. The red light is on. The microphone in front of his mouth says ‘Inside Edition’ and is held by a beautiful redhead whose large smile is obviously the result of too many botox injections. I look to Zack trying to keep my smile genuine. He smiles down at me with one hand covering my grip on his arm.
“This is Nicole, Marie – she’s very special to me.” Zack flashes me the same smile that usually makes me feel warm all over, keeping his hand over mine.
Her eyes sparkle and her smile grows infinitesimally larger. She knows she has just caught a story to tell. I resist the urge to take a step back and hide behind Zack. Marie looks like a starving predator who just caught a whiff of a long needed meal.
“Please tell us, Zack. Has America’s favorite bachelor settled down?” Her voice drips in fake sweetness. I secretly begin to hate her.
Zack, always confident and perfectly able to work a crowd, simply smiles and laughs lightheartedly. “I don’t know about America’s favorite bachelor, Marie. But I am taken, for as long as she’ll have me.”
He flashes his megawatt smile that causes girls all over the world to drop their panties at his concerts and before I know it, he leans down and kisses my forehead, just barely brushing his lips across my skin. I can’t remove my eyes from him, and am certain the camera catches me blushing furiously. I can feel the heat on my chest and cheeks.
“Have a great night, Marie.” Zack nods to the camera with a smug grin and pulls me along.
“That wasn’t so bad, was it?” He whispers to me once we’ve taken a few steps.
“I’ll let you know when I can breathe again,” I drily reply. Fortunately, I look up and see the entryway of the amphitheater. I have survived my first red carpet walk.
“I need a drink.”
“Good. Maybe now you’ll release your death grip on my arm.”
I remove my hand and swat him, but I don’t mean it. America’s favorite bachelor is all mine, and he has no idea how incredibly sexy he is. That alone is totally hot.
Zack leads me inside just as Tina appears at my side out of nowhere. “You were great, Nicole!” She exclaims.
I mutter my thanks, still too nervous to speak much and follow the two of them to the bar. The only thing I’m thankful for right now is wine, and that I didn’t fall outside.
I finally take a breath once I take my first sip of wine. The smooth texture of Chardonnay instantly warms my throat and calms my nerves. The entryway overflows with musicians and their dates or spouses. Most of whom I couldn’t recognize if you paid me too, but I am able to catch a few I know like Mystical, Coldstone,