Page 97 of The Boss I Can't Stand
And with that, I finally did block him.
35
FINN
Going solo to the Oscars wasn’t exactly how I’d imagined this night. When I’d learned thatEvery Dayhad been nominated for eleven awards, including Best Costumes, the first thing I’d envisioned was staring into Sierra’s dazzling eyes as the name of our movie was read out as the winner of award after award to an audience of millions.
I’d thought about kissing her jubilant face and about hugging her close to breathe in her strawberries and peach blossoms scent while the applause thundered around us.
That’s what I’d imagined this night would be.
But of course, that would have required Sierra to actually be attending the Oscars as my date, which would have required her to forgive me, which would have required me to apologize to her, which would have required her to actuallytalkto me. And blocking my number had been a big indication that talking to me wasn’t something she was willing to consider.
But tonight—tonight, I was determined to change that.
“Keep going,” Jillian muttered to me from the corner of her mouth as she shoved me along the line of photographers and interviewers stationed on the red carpet. “When you stop walking, that’s when the media sharks descend.”
I smirked at her over my shoulder.
“Well, well, well…if it isn’t everyone’s favorite Behind-the-Scenes Beefcake,” a horribly familiar voice called.
Jillian arched her eyebrow to a sharp point, giving me a look that said, “See, you should have listened to me.”
I plastered a smile on my face as I turned back to face Milli and her cameraman, knowing I was really staring down a horde of her gossip-hungry followers. I cleared my throat, the corners of my mouth twitching. “Milli,” I said politely.
She shoved a plastic microphone into my face. “It’s a big night for you, Finn Lockhart. Up for eleven awards.”
“It’s a big night for the entire team,” I said. “And we’re really looking forward to celebrating with all the winners tonight.”
“I’m sure you are,” she said, looking me up and down. “But let’s get to the question everyone wants to know. Is there a new special someone in your life that you’ll be celebrating with?”
Jillian prodded me from behind, and I shot the camera a wink before giving the prepared PR answer that had been drilled into me on the car ride over. “A gentleman never tells.” And with that, I headed off before Milli could hit me with another question.
“This was why I suggested a PR date,” Jillian muttered.
“I didn’t want a PR date,” I reminded her, keeping a fixed smile on my face as cameras clicked and photographers screamed the names of stars. There was only one person I wanted on my arm—here oranywhere else—and that wasn’t going to change no matter who Jillian managed to scrounge up.
My eyes scanned the crowd ahead, searching for Sierra. It had been weeks since I’d offered her the position on Ro’s new movie, weeks since she’d blocked me. I just wanted the chance to speak to her. To tell her how sorry I was. How wrong I was.
“They might have helped you avoid some of these questions,” Jillian said.
“And tomorrow, I’d have to fend off articles about a new girlfriend.” God, that was the last thing I needed.
“Then maybe you should have considered Grace’s offer.”
I managed a real grin at that. Grace, adorably, had offered to attend the Oscars as my date, but I hadn’t wanted to drag her into any media stunts, so I’d told her it would mean the world to her dad if she went with him. So Connor had Grace, Liam had Mia, and Mom had X. That left me… “Have you seen?—”
“Sierra?” Jillian said. “No. Not yet.”
“Do you know if she’s coming?”
Jillian looked at me flatly. “She’s nominated. Why wouldn’t she be here?”
I tugged at my collar, nodding. Of course. There’s no way Sierra would miss this night, regardless of how she felt about me. People waited their entire careers for this moment. She would be here. Right?
“Maybe she’s already inside,” I muttered, mostly to myself.
“Or she’s turning up fashionably late to avoid all this nonsense,” Jillian said. “Which would probably be for the best. The last thing we need are awkward reunion photos of you two on the carpet. That’s not the narrative we want headlining tomorrow.”
