Part I
She’d just polished her last glass of the night. All she had to do was restock the beer and seltzers in the coolers and then she was finally done for the night. It was interruption after interruption after distraction however. Between having to change a keg and help the closing shift bartender, she was delayed finishing her restocking. Ryan found herself distracted once again by a message from her friends’ group chat. Her furrowed brows were followed by a light chuckle because what the hell?
Mary Hamilton changed your group name to Moore’s Whores
Anissa: Uhm? Mary??
Kelly: switching teams Mare?
Ryan: why whores?
Mary: because even though I do not bat for you guys’ team, I have eyes
Kelly: I mean she’s not wrong. Have you seen that woman?
Anissa: like one chance is all I’m truly asking for
Ryan: do your wives know you’re like this?
Kelly: yes
Anissa: duh
Mary: guys! Yes Sophie Moore is hot and everyone wants their chance.
Mary: but focus!!
Mary: I did a thing!
Ryan: oh no
Anissa: should we be worried orrrr?
Kelly: I’m definitely mildly concerned
Mary: I entered Ryan in that drawing!
Ryan: you did what now?
Anissa: oh shit
Kelly: Wait, the contest? On Twitter? "That a lucky fan would have the chance to have a night out with Sophie Moore"? That drawing?
Mary: They announced it today! Check Twitter! GUESS WHO WON
Kelly: shut up.
Anissa: ain’t no fucking way
Anissa: not you got Ryan a night out with MY second wife?!
Kelly: you mean MY wife
Ryan: Grace and Alex are going to chop y’all right in the neck
Ryan: and Mary I’m gonna kill you
Anissa: worth it
Kelly: what she said ^
Mary: Ry you spelled “thank you” wrong
Ryan closed out of her messages with an eye roll and flutter of nervous excitement. Surely, Mary was joking…Except she opened her Twitter and sure enough she had a shitload of notifications starting with the tag that she’d won the fandom giveaway.
She couldn’t even handle this right now. She had a shift to finish. After finally restocking the bar, clocking out and collecting her share of the tips, she stomped up to the loft swinging the door open and toeing out of her shoes.
“Mary please tell me you’re joking?” She all but slammed the door shut behind her.
“Why are you so mad? You get to meet Sophie freaking Moore. Whewww she is HOT.” Marquis answered cutting off Mary before she could speak. “Shit. I’ll go if you’re not going to.” Marquis had his Jordan-clad feet up on their coffee table with the game system controller in his hands.
“Uhm no. It’s nontransferable.” Mary waved him off.
“Get your whack ass Mids off my coffee table.” Ryan shoved his legs before sitting next to him on the couch.
“Sis, you wish you had style like me.” Her brother continued half paying attention and half kicking Luke’s ass in Mario Kart.
“What the hell am I even supposed to wear?” Ryan raked her hands through her hair.
“Let me take care of that.” Mary smiled.
Ryan was only mildly pacified by the fact that her bestie would be helping with her wardrobe.
“Thank fuck.” Marquis interjected again. “There’s a strict no flannels policy.” Through his mirth he missed the pillow being chucked at his head until it made contact. “Oof.” He glared at his sister before turning his attention back to the game with a muttered, "Mature."
“There will be no flannels.” Mary grimaced. “Sorry, Ry, he’s got a point. Your wardrobe is…”
“Lame.” Marquis supplied, earning a glare from both his sister and Mary this time. “Boring? Like you could get mad girls if you would up your fit game.” He leaned back, crossing his legs and adjusting his beaded leather jacket. Damn Mids back on the table.
“Oh like you?” Ryan countered, kicking his legs down.
“Yeah exactly.”
“Marquis, when’s the last time you actually got some?” Her brother opened his mouth to reply with some overly cocky remark, but Ryan cut him off. “From an actual woman. Or have you switched batting teams?” Ryan paused, eyeing his outfit. “Your jacket IS bedazzled.” Ryan deadpanned, earning a barely suppressed chuckle from both Mary and Luke.
“What are you laughing at nerd?” Marquis knew Mary’s style was on point, but Luke… “Do you own regular clothes? Not just these suits.” He gestured to Luke’s perfectly tailored navy blue suit he currently adorned as they played video games.
Luke cut his eyes to his opponent with a smirk as he maneuvered his Mario character across the finish line ahead of Marquis’s Luigi character. He wordlessly adjusted his suit jacket with a confident, smug smirk.
“Oh hell no. Rematch.” Marquis set up the next game and mindlessly returned his feet to the coffee table.
“Get your fucking shoes off the table!” Ryan and Mary yelled simultaneously. Marquis’s deer in headlights look lasted for about two point five seconds as he lowered his feet to the floor again with a dramatic huff.
He hit the start button on his controller as Luke shook his head. “I get plenty just to clarify. And it’s none of your business which team I bat for. Could be a switch hitta. Ya heard?”
“Your ass has been here on our couch every night for the last two weeks. You ain’t getting anything.” Ryan snarled back.
“How do you know I’m not getting any from your roommate? Or the Dork Knight over here?” He gestured with his thumb to Luke while Mary fake gagged and Ryan rolled her eyes.
“Why are you like this?” Luke shook his head, pinching the bridge of his nose.
______________________
“It’ll be good for publicity.” Riley tried to soothe Sophie’s current state of stress with a tilt of her mimosa.
“Right. It’s just one night” Sophie failed to soothe her own anxiety with another piece of bacon.
“You’re right but what if it’s someone weird? Some stalker?” Jordan questioned around a huge bite of pancakes.
Deja poured herself another mimosa from the carafe. “It might not be that bad. And I’ll be there and so will Riley to buffer.”
“Why aren’t you doing this then?” Sophie complained.
“My publicist knows that I’m not friendly enough.” Deja laughed. “And he does just do shit to annoy the fuck out of me on purpose.”
“What if they smell bad though or are super ugly?” Riley spoke up from her seat at the table.
“Shallow much?” Jordan’s tone was clipped. She knew her sister would make whichever fan feel important and special no matter who they were or what they looked like.
“I’m just saying. What’s in the fine print of this little social experiment that Renee signed you up for? Do you have to take pictures and spend the whole night with them?” Riley pressed on.
“What if…” Jordan questioned, taking a break from her food to sip her mimosa. “…it’s a she and she’s hot as hell?”
“We’ll be finding out soon enough.” Deja replied quickly. “In…” she checked her watch. “T-minus nine hours.”
“Not a countdown.” Sophie practically pouted and slumped in her chair.
“It would be super romantic if it was a she and y’all actually got along and ended up falling in lo-” Riley, ever the hopeless romantic was cut off by laughter.
Sophie, Deja, and Jordan’s hysterical laughter continued to the point of tears. “Girl, you watch too many rom coms.” Jordan swiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and stole a piece of bacon from her sister’s barely touched plate.
“It’s the GLAAD Awards and it’ll only be a few hours.” Deja spoke up again. “If the person is awful, then it’ll be over quickly and if the person is actually cool, then the night won’t suck completely.”
“Reassuring Dej.” Sophie rolled her eyes and drained her mimosa.
______________________
Ryan looked up and met Mary’s eyes in the mirror. She and Marquis had argued for the last two hours until they decided on this dress. Her brother had been adamant that she wear the red Gucci gown he’d proudly picked out for the fitting. “It’s giving celebrity, sis!”
“I’m not a celebrity. I don’t want to be a celebrity.” A response which stunned her brother into silence for once. He thought everyone wanted to be rich and famous.
Mary had picked out a sleek gold gown that showed off her best assets, but Ryan was convinced that it was too much. She wanted to blend into the background. Go unnoticed. After all, who the hell would care about some nobody bartender when Sophie Moore was present.
They compromised on a simple, all black, mid length dress with a slit up to her mid thigh paired with Mary’s four-inch gold Jimmy Choos. It was a tastefully sexy combination. Mary’s messy updo paired with a subtle smokey eye was a mix of casual and elegance.
“You might actually be tall enough to ride the ride. You feel me?” Marquis smirked and winked at his little sister with his fist offered to bump. Which Ryan promptly ignored.
“Seriously?” Mary turned toward him in annoyance at the same time Ryan rolled her eyes and questioned him. “Why are you like this?”
“I’ve been asking the s-same…” Luke came in and stuttered and stammered. “I got the- I brought the- I uh have the thing you wanted.” He held up the black and gold Saint Laurent purse that Mary had instructed him to pick up from her penthouse apartment that really only served as her personal walk-in closet.
Marquis and Mary burst into laughter as Ryan smiled at her friend with a look of adoration. Luke wasn’t one to compliment often, but when he did, it was felt.
Mary took the bag from him and handed it to Ryan to hold up against her dress. “Perfect.”
“Yeah sis, you actually look like you could bag Sophie Moore.” Marquis’s attempted compliment didn’t land. “Ow.” Mary swatted his arm.
“You look amazing, Ry.”
“Agreed.” Luke chimed in quietly.
……
A fancy black car came to pick Ryan up and drop her off at Sophie’s hotel where they would meet and drive to the event together. They arrived at Gotham’s fanciest hotel quicker than she expected. As soon as the driver opened the door, she found herself face to face with Renee Montoya. Personal assistant and publicist to THEE Sophie Moore. Renee seemed to have a permanent frown and zero tolerance for lack of respect for her schedule.
She waited quietly with Renee who was engaged in something seemingly serious on her phone. Ryan’s nervous fidgeting may or may not have escalated since meeting the publicist. She was an easygoing person who could normally make conversation with a brick wall, but nothing about Renee Montoya screamed small talk enthusiast.
All of the air in her lungs and train of thought in her mind completely disintegrated when Sophie finally came strutting into the lobby from the elevator. She was graceful and confident and utterly beautiful flanked on either side by two other beautiful women.
Ryan’s subconscious was blatantly aware that she wasn’t deserving of being here. Her brother bought her the dress from a “connection” he had with a designer and Mary had spent hours on her hair and makeup until it was perfect, but she wasn’t on the level of Sophie Moore. The fidgeting increased.
Sophie approached them smiling and laughing, dimples on full display with Deja Miles, friend and fellow actress. Also beautiful and talented but nothing compared to Sophie. They seemed to be quietly shuffled along by Riley Jacobs, another actress and friend that Sophie had recently starred with in a movie.
Ryan stood quietly by Renee as she muttered through their schedule. Apparently they were already late for the GLAAD Awards Event and she was not happy about it. She made her distaste known with her facial expression and Sophie and Deja exchanged a look. “Oop, you’re in trouble already Soph.”
“It was your fault that we’re late, Dej.” Riley interjected.
Sophie shrugged and shoved her friend playfully. She stuttered to a stop when she realized there was a new face next to the normal, agitated face of her publicist. “Hey…”
Deja and Riley followed her line of sight and raised questioning eyebrows. “If you’re not interested…I’d let her stalk me.” Deja whispered to her friend who shoved her away.
“Hi.” Ryan smiled politely, awkwardly.
“You must be…”
“Your date for the evening.” Renee interrupted. “At least she was on time.” She glanced at the woman next to her with something resembling a smile. Sophie rarely, if ever, saw Renee smile unless she was talking about her wife. Something about it made her cringe. She turned back toward the woman but not before catching her friends checking out her date and giving her the thumbs up with matching cheeky grins and nods of approval.
“I’m Sophie.” She held out her hand, a small smile on her lips, ignoring her friends and their mouthed words and gestures that her date was most definitely not ugly. Renee ushered Ryan away before she could shake Sophie’s hand.
“Yeah yeah, Moore, she knows who you are. Everyone does.” Renee interrupted again opening the car door for them. “Let’s go.”
“We’ll see you over there, Sophie.” Deja smirked and waved before being helped into her own car, followed by Riley who nodded enthusiastically and gave her another thumbs up and a wink.
Sophie shook her head slightly and bit her bottom lip to keep from laughing. If she knew her friends, which she did, they were going to be unbearably annoying for the foreseeable future. Her date was indeed hot and now the irrational thought of this being an actual date or simply a wonderful gift from the universe.
She took a breath and maneuvered into the car next to her date who looked like she did this often. Like she was a part of this world already. But from what Renee had muttered when she received the name of the winner, the woman was a fan.
“So…” Sophie started, watching the woman fidget nervously with her rings. “I didn’t catch your name, since I was RUDELY interrupted.” She raised her volume so Renee could hear her clearly from the front seat.
The woman sat poised in her sleek black evening gown with cutouts in the sides, allowing Sophie a glimpse of more of her skin and abs. She fidgeted with the rings on her fingers while she looked over. “Ryan.”
“It’s nice to meet you Ryan. Are you a fan? I can sign something for you…” she let her voice trail off. She swore she heard Renee snort from the front seat. Even the attempted cough to cover the sound wasn’t convincing. What the fuck Sophie? Did you just offer your autograph? Thank fuck Deja and Riley weren’t here because she’d never live this down. Her cheeks burned with embarrassment.
“I’m a fan, yes. I think you’re incredibly talented. But that’s not necessary.” She spoke softly, Sophie had to lean a little closer to hear. “What made you uh… want to do this?”
Sophie blushed at the compliment. Yes, she knew she was good at her job, but the way Ryan had said it wasn’t the gushing of a super fan that she usually experienced. It was soft and honest. She was, however, a little taken back by the question and the subject change. “I- honestly it wasn’t my idea. It was Renee’s.” She tilted her head toward the front seat where her publicist sat.
“I see.” She offered a small smile.
“I mean it’s worked out okay so far…” Sophie, for fuck’s sake, please shut up. One pretty girl smiles at you and you’re a useless lesbian puddle. “I thought a fan might be a little more uhm… enthusiastic about being here.” The word vomit was apparently not done.
Ryan looked up at her then with wide eyes. “I’m sorry…” she started, feeling like she’d offended the woman kind enough to allow her to tag along to this event. “I…uh this wasn’t exactly my idea either.”
The revelation was both shocking and made complete sense. She couldn’t help the question that came tumbling out. “You didn’t want to meet me?” The disappointment in her voice was mortifying. Geez she sounded like such a main character right now. She may even have to threaten Renee so she didn’t mention any of this to her friends.
“It’s not that… I just- my best friend, Mary, she entered my name.” Ryan shrugged with another small smile. “I didn’t find out until the winner was chosen and apparently it was me…”
“Meddling friends. Can definitely relate.” She smiled as she thought about Deja and Riley and even her sister, Jordan. Any of them would do that kind of thing.
“Well, I’m glad you’re here for what it’s worth. I will do my best to make tonight memorable.” She smiled, showing off her dimples.
The shy smile she received in return paired with a soft, “you already have” sent a wave of flutters to her belly. Get a grip Moore. It’s just a one time thing.
A comfortable silence fell between them for the rest of the short ride. It allowed both women to be lost in their thoughts.
When they arrived at the event, Sophie stepped out of the car taking Renee’s offered hand. Instead of allowing Renee to usher her along like usual, she turned and offered her hand to Ryan to help her out of the car. Ryan took it and stumbled slightly as her heels got caught in the asphalt.
Without so much as a blink, Sophie steadied her and pulled her to stand with both hands, locking their eyes for a moment. The relief and appreciation in Ryan’s dark eyes prompted Sophie’s signature dimpled smile again as they stepped onto the pavement together.
Renee broke their gaze and pulled Sophie by the arm toward the red carpet and the barrage of photographers lined up along the roped off area.
Ryan was well prepared to just trail along behind as Renee led Sophie to the red carpet area where the photographers had already started yelling for poses and her attention, clicking and snapping. She was not at all prepared for the moment Sophie turned around and locked her eyes on Ryan’s again and wordlessly offered her elbow with a reassuring smile. They both missed the eyebrow raise from Renee.
Ryan’s features pinched in confusion, and she tentatively maneuvered her arm through Sophie’s. She bit her lip as the nervousness ramped up to an all time high as they approached the red carpet and the eager paparazzi.
Ryan untangled her arm from Sophie’s as Renee yanked her in front of the cameras and the GLAAD backdrop. Ryan stood beside Renee just watching. She admired Sophie’s confidence and grace as she accepted the pose requests of the photographers fighting for their perfect shot.
Sophie glanced over at Ryan and held out her hand and subtly tilted her head in invitation. Renee’s eyes widened and held up her arm to block Ryan who sure enough hadn’t moved regardless. But Sophie pursed her lips and strutted over, moving Renee’s hand and taking Ryan’s in her own, guiding her gently back to the spot in front of the cameras. She casually draped her arm around the shorter woman’s waist, hand finding a home on the small of her lower back, but not before sweeping her curls off her shoulder and whispering a few words of encouragement in her ear. “You look beautiful, just relax.”
Cameras flashed and the questions came out in rapid fire succession. Sophie simply smiled her camera ready smile and kept her hand on Ryan’s lower back.
“Look over here, Sophie!”
“Sophie is this your new girlfriend?”
“Give us a kiss Sophie!”
“Sophie! What’s your girlfriend’s name?”
“Look here!”
“Can we get a kiss, Sophie?”
Ryan was sure that her expression was more a grimace than a smile and that her eyes were wider than a deer in headlights. She had no idea how or why celebrities subjected themselves to this. It was overwhelming and terrifying and felt as though it would never end. She couldn’t hear anything but a mashup of voices and camera clicks. Thankfully, Renee stepped forward and ushered them along the rest of the carpet as they heard sighs and huffs of disappointment at the lack of gossip shared.
“Moore, what were you thinking?” Renee practically scolded like a disappointed mother.
“This was your idea, Renee. I’m just playing my part.” Sophie shrugged nonchalantly, satisfied to have gotten under her publicist’s skin for the umpteenth time.
Ryan remained silent. She had mentally sided with Renee. She would much rather have just watched Sophie as the barrage of photographs were taken.
“The press is going to have a field day with those photos. I hope you’re ready for the onslaught of notifications and interview requests with their speculations.”
“That’s what I have you for Nay.” She winked and turned toward Ryan who looked like she’d rather be anywhere else at that moment and Sophie mentally forehead flicked herself for not taking the other woman’s feelings into consideration before throwing her to the wolves, so to speak.
“Hey…” she gently squeezed Ryan’s hand and waited for her to make eye contact. “I’m sorry about that…”
“It’s fine.” Ryan smiled politely but it didn’t reach her dark brown eyes. She’d yet to see a real smile from the woman and she was oddly disappointed in herself for not trying harder to put it there.
“I shouldn’t have… I should have made sure that was something you wanted to participate in. I was- I wanted you to have the full experience. I apologize.” She tried to make sure her sincerity was clear. It seemed that it was.
“Apology accepted. But…that was enough limelight to last me a lifetime.” She tried to lighten the mood with a little humor. She could tell Sophie was sorry and honestly just wanted her dimples back on display.
She was rewarded with a small apologetic smile. She’d settle for that, for now. They were guided to their table by Renee as Sophie was getting pulled in a million different directions by friends and colleagues and admirers in the entertainment industry for photos and glasses of champagne and just to chat. Ryan watched her practically float with an elegance around the room.
Her friends and brother were right, of course. She was flawless. And she was also kind and charming like the characters she so often plays that captured their attention in the first place.
She sat with Renee at a table toward the center of the room. “You know, you’re allowed to enjoy this.” Renee spoke, interrupting her staring. “Regardless of if you chose to have your name in the drawing or not, you won and you’re here. Might as well make the most of it.” She laid her hand on Ryan’s arm and squeezed reassuringly. Ryan smiled back and nodded before taking a sip of champagne.
“Renee, you’re making moves on my date?” Sophie seemed to appear out of nowhere, startling both women. Ryan nearly choked on her champagne while Renee took her hand back and rolled her eyes. Sophie missed the eye roll, her hand found its way to Ryan’s back as she rubbed soothing circles until the woman’s coughing fit ceased. “Sorry.”
“It’s fine.” She finally managed, a hoarse whisper.
“Fine?” Sophie said incredulously. “Choking you on our first date was not on the agenda.” She tried for joking but realized her implication. “I-I didn’t mean… I don’t Uhm…”
“Smooth, Moore.” Renee snorted into her water as Sophie tried desperately to hide her embarrassment. “Ryan, blink twice if you need an emergency escape plan.”
Sophie sent honey-eyed daggers in the direction of her publicist. Ryan chuckled and sipped her champagne without further incident. Though it was more to cover up the blush on her own neck and cheeks.
Sophie disappeared for a while to mic up and present an award to one of the artists. Ryan stayed at the table with Renee. “I don’t usually attend the events.” She spoke while there was a brief intermission in the presentation of awards after Sophie’s speech congratulating Kehlani. “I only came to ensure this…” she gestured to Ryan. “…went well.”
It seemed the woman was just filling the silence. Maybe she was wrong and she does do small talk, just not until she’s relaxed enough. “I’ve actually never enjoyed an event before. You’re great company.” Renee admitted.
...
Sophie stopped by the table that Riley and Deja were at on her way back to her own seat. “You two look awfully cozy over there.” Deja pulled her in to whisper.
“She’s nice.”
“Nice?” Riley. “That’s it? Just nice? Hello?! Earth to Sophie. You’re forgetting hot.”
“We’ve already sent some candids to Jordan.” Deja added. “Check your phone.”
Her phone that was in her purse at the table next to Ryan. Ryan who she really wanted to get back to. She was addicting. Just her presence, her soft smiles and …why is Renee so close to her? She’s never taken to anyone so quickly. It was both reassuring and annoying.
“Sophie!” Riley shook her arm. “Hello!”
“Hm?”
“Invite her to the after party!” Riley’s excitement was tangible.
Sophie frowned. “I…can’t. That’s not-“
She was deep in thought considering the pros and cons of inviting Ryan when Riley and Deja exchanged a mischievous look. There really weren’t any cons in all fairness…She stood to make her way back to her date.
“Sophie! It’s so nice to see you again.” Kate Kane brooded into her personal space. They did this dance at every event and party. Kate tried and Sophie shot her down.
Deja rolled her eyes before finding something to distract them from the train wreck conversation that was about to happen (again) and nudged Riley’s shoulder.
“Ryan! Over here!” Riley caught on quickly and Ryan’s attention as she seemed to be heading for the restrooms. She innocently shrugged at the slightly wide eyed, panicked expression on Sophie’s face.
“So…there’s an after party.” Deja completely ignored Sophie’s silent pleas as she linked her arm with Ryan’s on the way to the bathroom. “You should come.”
“I- that’s not part of the giveaway thing though.” Ryan questioned with a look of concern directed at Sophie who looked like she would rather be anywhere other than talking to Kate Kane.
“This isn’t about the competition you won.” Riley shrugged, gaining Ryan’s attention again. “It’ll be fun. You’re here for a good time, not a long time.”
“Exactly. Let us show you a good time.” Deja wagged her eyebrows and did a little shimmy with her shoulders.
They waited while Ryan used the bathroom and listed all the reasons why it was a good idea to join them.
“Uhm… okay. If you’re sure Sophie won’t mind?”
Riley linked her arm through Ryan’s other arm and guided her toward the cars pulling up to take them to the after party, leaving Sophie watching them abandon her while Kate told her for the umpteenth time about her stupid motorcycle and its various upgrades or whatever the fuck.
…..
If Ryan thought the GLAAD event itself was fancy, then this party was over the top fancy as fuck. Much to Deja’s and Riley’s delight, they’d left Sophie at the venue and started their partying without their usual third wheel. Ryan was a little amused, but also surprised to feel like she betrayed her “date”. Sophie had been nothing but nice and sweet. She’d done her best to include Ryan in conversations and steer them away from certain people she knew would ask too many questions.
Ryan was a little overwhelmed with all of the reporters and photographers asking her questions about her and Sophie’s non-relationship. Despite Sophie’s friends going above and beyond to include her and fielding questions from reporters, she still very much felt like she was intruding. This wasn’t her life, wasn’t her scene, although she was having an amazing time as the guest of a celebrity. But she wasn’t even with Sophie anymore. She needed some air.
“I’m going to try and find somewhere to get some air.”
Deja and Riley’s looks of confusion were justified. The after party was at an outdoor location and they couldn’t fathom wanting to leave any time soon. These parties generally stretched into the early morning hours.
Riley recovered first. Confusion exchanging for understanding. “It’s a lot at first. I know.”
“Renee is over by the champagne bar. She’ll probably know the best answer to that question.” Deja offered.
“Thanks.” She said with an appreciative smile before making her way toward Renee. They’d seen Sophie for a split second when she first arrived. And she mostly just scowled at Deja and Riley and gave Ryan an apologetic smile before she was whisked away to take some photo or talk to some person. That was about an hour ago.
She finally found Renee whose eyes were flicking between her phone and Sophie across the room. She seemed confused when Ryan approached her. Ryan assumed it was because she was at an A-list party with A-list celebrities and she was here to talk to Sophie’s publicist/ manager.
“You’re over your fifteen minutes of fame so soon?” She checked her watch. “It’s only 1 AM. The night is still young.” Her eyes darted between Ryan and Sophie across the room. It was like she was waiting for something terrible to happen at all times so she had the best way to spin the story when they dropped in the tabloids.
“I uh…” Ryan twisted the ring on her middle finger. “Is there anywhere I can get some air?” She almost mumbled the last few words and fully expected the same look that Sophie’s friends had given her when she asked. But Renee softened. Like really softened for the first time since this whole thing started.
“Yeah.” She put her phone away in the inside pocket of her jacket. “Come on.” She took another glance at Sophie who was mingling with some big names that Ryan knew from movies and television to music and Broadway. She looked so confident and so in her element, it made Ryan smile, almost proudly? As if she had anything to do with Sophie Moore’s ability to captivate audiences.
She followed Renee along the side of the bar and passed the tents where the staff were taking a break and found themselves on a large gated patio. She would guess that it was used for other celebrations like weddings. “There should be no one back here so you should definitely be able to breathe some air.” Her tone was a gentle teasing and Ryan smiled and thanked her as she stood against the railing. She considered messaging her friends an update but if she sent anything now, they’d be blowing up her phone. She’d turned off the notifications and set it to DND so she wouldn’t be feeling the constant buzzing of her friends' incessant messaging throughout the night. She could only imagine the catching up she’ll have to do in the group chat.
She could finally breathe. Thankful for Renee and this huge open patio, she inhaled for five seconds, held it for six and then exhaled for eight.
A soft “hey” interrupted her bliss. She turned slowly and couldn’t help but smile at the woman who looked so concerned it made her want to comfort her with a hug. She brushed the thought aside.
“Hey.” She turned around fully as Sophie lingered a few feet away.