Page 72 of The Pursuit of Happiness

The makeup artist gives me a quick smile and I don’t fail to notice the blush staining her cheeks. She hurries out of the dressing room, leaving Sly and I alone and I offer her a quick thank you before she’s gone. I tilt my chin up at him, “You don’t think the makeup is too much?”

He walks closer to me, stopping only when he leans against the vanity. He leans in close enough to give me a quick peck on the lips and then he shrugs, “I prefer you without all of it, but I can’t lie and say you don’t look beautiful.”

I laugh, “You would still tell me I look beautiful if I had dirt rubbed all over my face.”

He grins, “Yes I would, and it would not be a lie.”

I snort a laugh as I push myself out of my chair. My feet already hurt from these God forsaken heels and I want more than anything to take them off and walk across the stage barefoot, but I know Selene would have a conniption. Hereaches out and rests his palm against the side of my face, “Are you okay? You’re tense and I know you get like that when you’re anxious. Or when you’re hungry.”

I rest my palms against his chest flat as I frown, “I’m kinda freaking out that he’s gonna bring up the tape,” I admit.

He gives me a sympathetic look as he places one hand on the small of my back, pulling my body closer to his, “Selene already spoke to the crew. He won’t.”

I sigh, “I’m still worried.”

He shakes his head, “You have no reason to be. Besides, if that motherfucker says one word about you, I have no problem tearing him to shreds on national television.” There’s a certain edge to his voice that has the valley between my thighs getting aroused.

I kiss his jaw, “There will be none of that. I don’t need to worry about you going to jail again.”

He rolls his eyes, “It would’ve been worth it.”

“Um, no it would not.” I can not possibly be the rational thinker in this relationship. If I’m the rational one, we’re so fucked. “Can I ask you something?” I ask, my tone suddenly growing serious.

He dips his chin, “Of course.”

I keep my voice low and not intentionally. I’m so nervous to ask because I don’t know how he’ll react. “Would it be okay if we skip the after party?” I ask, but I start rambling when I see the confused look on his face, “I mean, if you want me to go, I’ll go. Or if you want to go, I can wait at home for you. I just don’t feel like going out after all this, I feel really emotionally exhausted and it didn’t even start yet, and-”

He places a hand over my mouth to silence me, “Baby, stop.” He has an amused expression on his face, “If you don’t want to go, we won’t go.”

I exhale and he removes his hand to let me speak, “Are yousure? I would feel bad asking if you were looking forward to it.”

Sly shakes his head, “I was only looking forward to it because you would’ve been there. Now that you won’t be there, I don’t give a shit about the party. I’d rather be wherever you are and if that’s home, that’s where I’ll be.”

I melt at his words and feel the tension leaving my body. I wrap my arms around his waist and hug him, resting my head against his chest. He kisses the top of my head and holds me to him. I take a long, deep breath and inhale his scent, “God, you smell so fucking good.”

He laughs and the dressing room door opens again. We both look up to watch as Selene strides into the room with purpose. When her eyes take in my body wrapped around Sly’s she rolls her eyes, “I hope I didn’t walk in on you two about to fuck in a dressing room. Especially not when you have to be on in ten minutes.”

“No dressing room sex,” Sly promises her, saluting her with two fingers.

She puffs out her lip, “I would hope not. I have enough of that with Brody.”

“You have dressing room sex with Brody?” Sly asks, feigning shock. I swat his chest, but can’t help the laugh that spills out of me.

Selene scolds, “Shut up, fool! Brody and Harvey are the ones having nasty dressing room sex. I keep it classy.”

Sly grins, “I’ll take your word for it.”

She gestures between the two of us, changing the subject, “So what was going on here before I walked in?”

I keep my mouth shut, but Sly answers for me, “Our girl is a little anxious. She thinks John is gonna bring up the tape.”

Selene looks threatening, “I already warned the team that if he does, I’m going to ruin him.”

I try to let her words reassure me, but there’s a nagging feelingin my stomach like something is going to happen. Something we have no control over. I don’t want to talk about John and our potential imminent doom at his live TV hands. “And these heels hurt, Selene. Can’t I just walk barefoot?”

Selene gives me the most disgusted and repulsed look, “Are you a fucking animal? You want to walk barefooted onto that stage? Did I not teach you better than this?”

I groan, “I knew you’d say that.”

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