Virtuous(96)

“Well, good luck to you tonight, Flynn. We’ll be pulling for you.”

“Thanks, Debra. Nice to see you.”

Reporters covering the red carpet stop us four more times, each of them asking similar questions. The last one tries to get Flynn to spill the details about us, but he deflects with his usual brand of charm and humor. As we walk away from him, I can tell Flynn is annoyed.

“Sorry about that,” he says.

“It’s fine. You handled it perfectly.”

“They think they have some sort of right to the details of my private life just because my job is public.”

“Oh my God,” I whisper. “There’s Johnny Depp!”

His low rumble of laughter wipes the tension from his face. “Do I need to be jealous?”

“Not at all, but that’s Johnny Depp.” I sure do wish I could share this night with my sisters, who would never believe the people I’m seeing in person. It’s the who’s who of Hollywood, all in one place. And I’m right in the middle of it wearing Gucci Couture and dripping in diamonds on the arm of Flynn Godfrey, who loves me. Someone please pinch me so I’ll know this is really happening.

Flynn waves Johnny over, and they do the man-hug routine. “This is my girlfriend, Natalie. She’s a big fan.”

To my profound surprise, Johnny Depp hugs me, too. I’m going to faint. Seriously. I’m not sure which is more exciting—meeting Johnny Depp or hearing Flynn introduce me as his girlfriend.

“That’s long enough,” Flynn growls when Johnny shows no sign of ending the hug.

“He’s a buzz killer, eh, love?” Johnny asks.

“Um, in this one particular case, yes, he is.”

The two men laugh and shake hands before Johnny kisses my cheek. “You’re a lucky man, Godfrey. Good luck tonight.”

“Thanks, Johnny. See you inside.”

“That was the second-coolest thing that’s ever happened to me,” I tell Flynn when we continue on our way into the hotel.

“Dare I ask what took first place?”

“Meeting you, of course.”

“That’s a very good answer, sweetheart.”

“You called me your girlfriend just now.”

“Did I?”

“You know you did.”

“I must really love you to be telling people you’re my girlfriend.” He puts his arm around me and kisses my temple.

I feel like I’m floating through a dream as we walk into a massive ballroom filled to overflowing with Hollywood’s glitterati. Everywhere I look, I see someone I recognize, and in many cases, people I’ve admired most of my life. It’s surreal in every sense of the word.

Flynn is greeted warmly by everyone, and it’s obvious he’s well liked by his peers, most of whom wish him well tonight. He introduces me to everyone as Natalie, just Natalie. When Meryl Streep compliments my dress, I’m so tongue-tied I can barely squeak out a thank-you.

We’re seated up front with the other nominees. As producers on the nominated film Camouflage, Marlowe Sloane and Hayden Roth are at our table. I haven’t forgotten the way Hayden talked to me the day we met, but he seems slightly less scary in a tuxedo with his mane of dark brown hair combed into submission. He’s every bit as handsome as Flynn, but I don’t feel a shred of attraction to him. First impressions are lasting, and he’s going to have to work really hard to convince me he’s worth my time.

Marlowe hugs me like we’re old friends and raves over my dress. She’s in white, which is offset by the light tan from yesterday. Her long red hair has been gathered into an elaborate updo, and she’s glowing from excitement.

“This is going to be a big night for Quantum, boys,” she says. “I can feel it in my bones.”

Flynn scowls at her. “Shut up, Mo. You’re going to jinx us.”

She rolls her eyes at him. “It’s too late to change the outcome now, so calm yourself.”

Flynn glares at her as he knocks on the tabletop.

I love that he’s superstitious and doesn’t take anything for granted. That underlying humbleness is one of his most attractive qualities.

The show begins with great fanfare as Tina Fey and Amy Poehler take the stage to welcome everyone. I wonder if Leah has seen us on TV yet, and my belly flutters at the thought of how many millions of people are watching at home. The ladies are hysterical as they roast the nominees.