Episode 22: Red Carpet
red carpet: a long, narrow red carpet laid on the ground for distinguished visitors or guests to walk on when arriving at high-profile events.
Tallulah’s stomach churned. She wasn’t sure if it was a pregnancy symptom or the side effects of waiting in a queue of limos for a red-carpet entrance. Security and Academy personnel swarmed the street. Ecstatic fans stood behind barricades.
The screams of fans vibrated through her bones, echoing in her head. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, feeling saliva pool in her mouth. She swallowed hard.
The last thing Tallulah needed was to vomit on the red carpet. The world had already seen enough of her bodily fluids. This one didn’t need to be added to the list.
She smoothed her hands over her couture gown’s luxurious royal blue crushed velvet, her heart rattling in her ribcage.
A large, pale hand rested on hers, and she immediately looked up at its owner.
“It’s not too late to go back home,” Nick said.
Her nausea exited stage right for a moment, and annoyance sashayed in.
“This is your big night, and we’re going to see it through to the end.” She pulled her hand from underneath his and reached for her royal blue, gold-framed rectangular clutch purse. Unclasping it, she grabbed a peppermint candy from the bottom of the bag, quickly unwrapping it. But her fingers fumbled with the slippery plastic, and the candy burst out of the wrapping, falling onto the floor.
Tallulah grumbled a curse, crumpled the wrapping, and dropped it back into the clutch before reaching for another piece. As her shaking hands began to open the next peppermint, Nick plucked it from her fingers and unwrapped the striped candy with ease.
He then offered it to Tallulah, placing it against her lips, which were colored a dark espresso brown. She arched an eyebrow at him as she opened her mouth.
Then he slipped the candy inside. She began crunching on it, grinding it against her back molars until a minefield of minty shards lay on her tongue.
Tallulah sucked on them, closing her eyes as her nausea eased a little.
The limo inched forward.
“Better?” he asked.
She slowly nodded, swallowing the candy’s remnants. “Much.”
A moment later, she added, “I think it’s just my nerves. Nick, if you get this—when you get this,” she corrected herself, “it’ll get you the recognition you deserve as a serious actor.”
Nick looked out the deep-tinted window. “I know”
Tallulah grasped his bearded chin, steering his gaze back to her. “Then why do you look like you don’t want to be here?”
“Desiree,” he began, shaking his head, “this might be your first awards ceremony, and for me, it’s my eighth, but it’s my first one with you. So, you want things to go right, and so do I. But I think we want very different things.”
Tallulah frowned, confusion puckering her forehead.
“What more could you want? We both want you to win the Oscar for Best Actor,” she said, then paused, studying the uncertainty on his face, “right?”
Nick gently plucked her hand from his chin, placing it onto her lap. “I keep saying you have too much faith in me. I was only nominated because the studio’s campaign was downright aggressive. That doesn’t mean I’m going to win. There are worthier nominees on the ballot.”
“You’re worthy, too,” she said, her tone firm. “You worked just as hard as they did.”
“I just...” he began, blanketing her hand with his, “I just don’t want you to be disappointed if it doesn’t work out the way you want it to.”
“And if you don’t think you’re going to win, then what are you hoping will go right tonight?” she asked.
“I want you to be happy.” A faint smile lined Nick’s mouth. “I want you to feel safe. I want you to know that I’m here to protect you tonight. I want things to go right. The moment you feel unsafe, then I’ve failed. I can’t have that. I don’t want that. I don’t want you to perform in front of these people. Not after everything. You’ve done enough.”
Her face softened.
“Nick...” she trailed off.
Words queued up on her tongue, but she swallowed them and leaned forward, kissing him tenderly on the corner of his lip.
She pulled back slightly. “I feel safe. I feel like I’m exactly where I need to be, right here with you.”
The limo moved up again.
“I’m nervous,” Tallulah admitted, exhaling deeply. “Yes, nervous because of what happened this weekend. But I’m also nervous because I want to be your best support. I don’t want to fail you.”
“You won’t,” he assured her.
“And you won’t fail me either. Let’s just enjoy tonight,” Tallulah tilted in closer, whispering into his ear. “When we get home, we’ll kiss our son goodnight, tuck him into bed, find a nice spot for good old Oscar, and then you can tuck me into bed, too.”
A devious glint flickered in his eyes at that proposition. “Don’t tempt me.”
“I’m trying to,” she teased, rubbing the tip of her finger up and down the seam of his dress shirt buttons.
“I think I’d like that very much,” he said, his voice throaty.
Tallulah settled back into her spot. “I hope so. There’s something I want you to see under this dress. I need you to help me take it off.”
Nick grinned. “You know I like a job.”
She matched his grin with one of her own. “Good. So, you can clock in for that shift when we get home.”
“You know how to give a man something to look forward to.” His fingers caressed the flesh revealed from her gown’s dangerously high leg slit.
“Everyone can use a little motivation, Nicholas.” Her eyelids fluttered shut momentarily as a visible shudder ran through her at his touch. “And that offer still stands, whether you win or lose.”
She extended her hand. “Deal.”
He took her hand, brought it to his lips, and kissed the back of it. “Deal.”
The limo eased to a stop before the red carpet’s mouth.
Showtime.
An attendant opened the door, and Nick stepped out first. The confidence Tallulah had mere moments ago crumbled. Left alone in the car for those few seconds, the muffled screams were now deafening to her. Nick’s hand reached in, and she accepted it, stepping out with his help.
Academy personnel, paparazzi, flashing lights, screaming fans, actors and their partners, and assistants filled the surroundings.
Fans cried Nick’s name from the fan pits.
The paparazzi did, too, from their pens.
Tallulah’s name was sprinkled in the chants, but she wasn’t sure where to look.
Her heart crawled up her throat, beating a nerve-wrecking rhythm. But she steeled her expression as Nick took her hand and guided her down the red carpet. They stopped occasionally in front of the paparazzi, posing as a united couple, with his arm around her waist.
The blinding lights assaulted her eyesight, burning colorful dots and black spots into her vision. Each time they walked away, Nick held on to her waist, guiding her to the next place, where more demands awaited them.
Donatella Artison spotted them, beckoning them over. Her cameraman situated his lens on them all, edging closer.
With a poised smile, the reporter addressed the camera, “I’m here with none other than the utterly talented Nick Bryant and the drop-dead gorgeous Tally Edmond.”
She then put a mic into their faces.
“Thank you, Donatella.” Nick nodded, his camera-perfect grin on full display. “It’s always a pleasure.”
“Yes, thank you. We’re happy to be here,” Tallulah said.
Acute interest flickered in Donatella’s eyes.
Tallulah knew the reporter didn’t want to ask the usual questions: Who are you wearing tonight? How are you feeling right now? What would winning an Oscar tonight mean to you?
Neither did the other reporters they had spoken with tonight.
But Juan sent over a no-go list to all media outlets yesterday.
The scandal would not be discussed under any circumstances. Though no-go lists weren’t legally binding, Juan was a force in the industry, frightening enough to ensure compliance.
“Nick, this is an enormous night for you, being nominated for Best Actor,” Donatella said. “This being your fourth nomination, what does this moment of recognition feel like for you?”
“To be honest, that’s an answer I’m still trying to figure out for myself,” Nick said, “but I’m grateful to everyone who made Wicked People into what it was, and I appreciate the Academy for seeing something in my performance. Every nomination I’ve reached has been an immense honor, but this time is particularly special for me.”
“Could you share with us why?” Donatella asked, steering the mic toward Nick again.
“Because my wife will be at my side tonight.”
Tallulah listened intently as Nick answered Donatella’s questions with ease. However, a splash of vibrant pink caught her eye, just on the other side of Nick and the microphone he spoke into.
Naomi.
The actress wore a feathered couture gown in soft and vibrant shades of pink. Her fiery red hair was styled in a sculpted bun, showing off her long, elegant neck adorned with a chandelier necklace of pink diamonds.
She glanced over at them.
Her and Tallulah’s eyes met, and for that moment, time stilled.
A quiet battle for dominance commenced.
A victory for Tallulah won as Naomi broke eye contact and continued along the red carpet, her country singer beau and a mini army of assistants following. They meticulously fixed her hair and feathers, presenting and positioning her gown each time she paused for the paparazzi.
Tallulah shifted her attention back to the interview at hand.
“Tally, you look so proud of Nick. What has it been like for you as his partner during such a monumental moment like this?”
She blinked in surprise as she found a mic in her face and a camera lens aimed at her.
Her brain scrambled to gather up a proper response, her lips faltering.
“Um, it’s been a learning experience for me,” she began, focusing solely on Nick, “but I’m better because of it. Nick’s evolution as an actor has been a sight, so I can’t help but be proud because I’ve seen it from the beginning. I’m grateful to be here at his side, supporting him however I can.”
“We love how you two support each other during a time like this,” Donatella said, then quickly widened her eyes and corrected herself with a nervous laugh. “I mean, on a night like this. Do you have any celebration plans tonight, regardless of the outcome?”
Nick cast Tallulah a wink. “Yes, and I look forward to them.”
She bit back a smile.
When the interview ended, Nick ushered her along the red carpet. As they neared the entrance of the Dolby Theatre, The Extra Late Live Show’s Jarrett Spencer approached with his camera crew.
Tallulah swallowed back an oh-shit.
