Page 34 of Blindsided By the Spotlight
I’M MET WITH A CHORUS of oohs and aahs as I emerge from the folding screen in my brand new Oscar de la Renta gown. I flush as my team pounces on top of me. Raleigh goes so far as to put her phone away. She reaches for my hands and tears run to her eyes.
“Good God, team, it’s not like I’m getting married,” I say with a nervous laugh.
“Maybe not,” Tori, my hairdresser, says as she shoves yet another bobbi pin into my scalp. “But this is quite literally the best thing we’ve ever put you in.”
I glance at the mirror and have to agree with them. The fiery red gown reaches the floor, flecks of gold climb up the skirt, the slit cuts nearly to my hip, and the top gives my curves all the attention they deserve.
I smile in the mirror, thinking about the difference in my outfits tonight. On the carpet and during the ceremony, I’llbe in my trademark fiery red, looking like I’m fixin’ to cause a ruckus. For my performance, I’ll change into a soft cream and gold number with fabric that flows like water. I want the change to be abrupt, to catch everyone’s attention. Tonight, I plan on causing a conversation. Not for the drama and not about whatever awards I win. Instead, I want tonight’s social media posts to be about my performance and the message I hope the song encapsulates.
“Thinking about a certain someone?” Raleigh harps as she takes a few close-up photos of the dress.
“Maybe -”
“Turn around,” Raleigh interrupts, putting a hand up to stop me from looking directly at the camera. I do as I’m told.
After a few more pictures, she turns the screen around to me. A post is already ready to be shared. The dress does look stunning, even in the black and white filter. None of the pictures show my face, but there is one from behind that has the whole dress in frame, and it’s infatuating. It takes me all of two seconds to approve the post.
Two seconds later, I get a notification.
Wyatt:STUNNING *heart eye emoji
Wyatt:You can’t just drop those pictures when I have a practice in a few minutes. How am I supposed to focus now? I’m already on thin ice. *icicle face emoji
A giddy laugh escapes my lips as I think of a response.
Mae:I’m sure you can figure it out! *Laughing cry face emoji
Wyatt:In all seriousness, you do look beautiful. You’re already at the top of my best dressed list.
Mae:Thank you! *heart emoji
Wyatt:We should both go! Text me if you get a chance at all.
Wyatt:AND DON’T YOU DARE FORGET TO EAT.
Mae:*saluting emoji
I laugh as I tuck my phone into my clutch. Raleigh grabs my arm and steers me down the stairs to the car where Dalton is hard at work sharing the night’s plan with his team. Thankfully, no one leaked where I’ve been getting ready today, so there is no fuss getting me to the car. Raleigh is also dressed to the nines in a slinky black number. I don’t miss the way Dalton eyes her as she passes him.
They’ve never been overly lovey-dovey while on duty, but her dress would be enough to make even the boldest man do a double take. I smile as he pinches her hip and they exchange a kiss in passing. I do my best to hide my smirk as they climb into the car behind me.
Like most rides to award ceremonies, I’m a nervous wreck. Try as I may, I cannot keep my perfectly manicured nails from my mouth. Raleigh, in hyper-PR mode, grabs onto my hand and squeezes.
“Just try to enjoy it,” she says in a murmur. A sense of relief washes over me. With her here next to me, it’s just a normal evening drive. When I get there, I’ll walk the carpet and find my seat. She'll be right beside me, and my band will be right behind me. Taking a breath, I try to let the nerves turn to excitement as we weave through traffic closer to the arena.
When the time comes, Raleigh nods to Dalton, and he excuses himself to open the door for me. I’m instantly exposed to the onslaught of camera flashes. Plastering a smile on my face, I let all my anxiety fade away for the sake of the performance. Pausing briefly outside, I give Raleigh time to gather the train of my dress and lay it perfectly.
Taking the carpet slowly, so as not to trip over my skirts, I pause every so often for photos. Head held high, I pop my hipout and smirk at the cameras in front of me. The photographers are all yelling at me so loudly that any recognition of my name is lost, so I keep walking. As more stars arrive behind me, some of the attention eases. I’m able to make it to the end of the photography line. Hope they got what they needed, ‘cause I’m out of here. Raleigh wraps an arm around my shoulders as we approach the media circle.
“I’m not too worried about anyone here, except maybe Genelle,” Raleigh says as we approach the first eager reporter.
I nod in understanding. Genelle had made trouble for us before, covering my career from its inception. She's great at her job but a pain for the rest of us. I’d even seen that she’d gotten into press conferences in LA and given Wyatt a tough time. A girl boss if I ever saw one.
Fortunately for me, the first person I speak to is a representative of a new social media platform. Her questions are short and sweet, asking me about my outfit and if tonight will be fun. Clearly not a country music fan, she lets me go when she has her content.
I’m most definitely not complaining.
I’m coached through the next few rounds of questions. I get the occasional question about Wyatt but most are about what I’m wearing and my performance tonight.
