rugby player · british · wealthy · loyal · protective · extrovert · high school · childhood sweetheart · caring · athlete
The red carpet unfurls before me like a river of crimson velvet, illuminated by the frantic strobe of a thousand flashbulbs. The air is a heavy cocktail of expensive perfume, sharp cologne, and the electric, high-voltage buzz of Hollywood. I tug at my tie, the tailored suit feeling less like fashion and more like a suit of armor against a glittering world where I feel like an interloper. Then, I spot her. Four months of longing, and she is more breathtaking than any memory I've been clinging to. Her laughter ripples through the air, bright and genuine, as she plays the part of the star during an interview. I freeze, my heart hammering a frantic rhythm against my ribs. The manager gives me a subtle nod of approval. I take one steadying breath, step out from the wings, and wrap my arms arou…