DELETED SCENE
(This is a partial scene that started life in Thinly Veiled, then became part of a short story that, ultimately, was cannibalized for that novel, so it may or may not ever see the pages of a book or short story.)
“The Premiere”
The Fatkini Chronicles
“Drew! Look down front!”
“Over your shoulder, Zelda! Over your shoulder!”
Standing on the red carpet, Zelda’s hand was a manacle around Drew’s as a gaggle of photographers shouted for their attention and dozens of flashbulbs fired off like a continuous barrage of fireworks.
“Drew! Zelda! Come on, look left! Let’s have smiles!”
“Drew! Drew! Down front! Drew! Zelda!”
He ignored the shouts. Turning toward her, he pressed his lips to her ear, and said, “Relax, Brick. You’re sex on two long sticks tonight and all these chodes are choking on their tongues.”
“Zelda! Over here!”
She laughed and her smile brightened.
That’s all it took to lift some of the weight sitting on his back.
He’d told Zelda he’d forgotten about the premier but that was a half-truth. In reality, he’d put the date out of his head because the first third of “Like Love to Hatred” hit hard, and Drew wasn’t excited about fighting off flashbacks while sitting in a dark theater for two hours.
There just weren’t enough tricks in his magic mind bag to maintain an even keel through this. Reed and Stacia had sent him the trailer months ago and kept him updated on the industry buzz about the movie. The footage of the kid they’d cast [when the main character] was a scrawny little fucker had wrecked him for three days. That was before he and Zelda hooked up in the fall. Back then, he’d only had Livi and that was worse than having no one. She lacked empathy on a good day.
“Drew! On the left! Drew!”
He grinned for the photographers, aping the easy-going guy they all expected. Zel wouldn’t be fooled for much longer, he knew. The only reason he’d made it this far was the anxiety meds. Thank fucking God for those. Them and having her by his side. Focusing on her nerves kept his in check. For now.
“Zelda! Zelda! Look up here! Let’s have a smile!”
Drew pressed a kiss to her hand and stuffed down the urge to bite. The woman was delicious in so many ways. She cocked her head to give him a look that made promises, and he very much wanted to find a dark corner to secret her off to. He really wanted to be lost in her body right now.
“Smile, guys! Smile for us on the right!”
Drew slipped his hand around Zel’s back to rest his fingers on the curve of her hip and gently angled her toward the right. She leaned into him and the brush of her body against his was a balm.
He’d also coped by focusing on her beauty. She’d outdone herself with the slinky dress and bare legs that went on forever. Add Gwendolyn’s makeup and that mass of shiny chestnut locks cascading down her back, and Zel was a goddess on the red carpet. She was tall and curvaceous and utterly breathtaking. Pretty soon they’d have to move because the film’s stars wouldn’t appreciate being outshined by his fiancée.
“Zelda! Down front! Smile for us!”
“Drew! Drew! In the back!”
Their handler gestured for them to clear the red carpet, and Drew was relieved. He’d had enough of being on display and figured Zel probably couldn’t take much more either. He raised his hand to thank the paparazzi and steered her toward the theater’s open doors.
Zelda smiled and waved at the photographers too. “Thank you!”
Grinning at her, Drew leaned close again. “You’re a class act, babe.”
She shrugged. “I figure it’s smart to stay on their good side so they don’t show my bad one.”
He snorted and peered over her shoulder to check out her ass. “As if you have a bad side.”
“Ha! You know very well I have more than one.”
“Hey, Drew! Glad you made it.” Reed detached from the small group he was chatting up and caught up with Drew and Zelda as they entered the theater. “I wasn’t sure if we’d see you.”
Drew exchanged handshakes and a hug with his media agent. “Yeah, kinda last minute. Hope that wasn’t a problem.” He quickly turned and introduced Zel. “Reed Tanner, this is my fiancée, Zelda Gordon. Zel, this is Stacia’s other half.”
“Lovely to meet you, Reed,” she said as they shook hands.
Reed touched his chest. “Really nice to meet you, Zelda. Drew doesn’t shut up about you. I’m glad to see you’re feeling well.”
She looked down and tucked a lock of her hair behind her right ear. “Thanks, me too.”
They exchanged small talk, then Zelda excused herself to use the ladies room before the line got too long. Stacia joined her.
Reed squeezed Drew’s shoulder and his tone and expression turned serious. “You ready for this?”
Drew opened his mouth to answer, “Yes,” and replied, “No,” instead. He ran his hand through his hair. “I’m not sure I’ll even get through the first act.”
Reed nodded. “Get out if you need to. No one’s gonna fault you.”
Drew grimaced. “I know. I just don’t want to leave Zel to take the ride alone. She knows enough about my past to feel this like a gut punch. And, she’s still fragile.”
“So why’d you come?”
Drew shrugged. “I can’t run from my past forever.”
Reed nodded. “Well, you threw yourself into the crucible, but if it gets to be too much, you say something, okay? I can pull you out; it won’t be a problem.”
“Yeah, I will.” Drew gripped his agent’s arm. “Thanks, man, for everything.”
“Hold off on that until we see the box office receipts.”
Zelda emerged from the ladies room, more of that balm Drew’s psyche needed at just the right time. Gazes followed her as she strode across the theater lobby toward him.