Distracted by Alexandra Warren

reporters.
    “Bryson, are you excited for the movie?”
    “Bryson, is the season meeting your expectations?”
    “Bryson, who’d you bring tonight?”
    I looked over to Kennedy who was off mixing and mingling with some of the other attendees. I was proud as I watched her exchange business cards with a couple of the publicists for other celebrities, but I knew there was no way I was letting her get away already.
    She was mine.
    I mean… she was my stylist.
    Exclusively.
    But since she was an up-and-comer and I knew it wasn’t realistic for me to expect to keep her in the position forever, I decided to shine a light on her. “I brought my stylist. Killed two birds with one stone,” I said with a rehearsed laugh. I knew Kennedy couldn’t hear me with all the hoopla surrounding us, but somehow she still turned my way at that exact moment.
    “So are you two dating?”
    I gave her a onceover, causing her to blush and hating the part truth of my answer. “She’s… engaged . But she’s been dying to see this movie ever since I mentioned the premiere to her, so her fiancé gave her a pass for the night.”
    “Aww! What a nice guy! Enjoy the movie, Bryson!”
    I gave the reporter a nod before waving Kennedy over to join me. She smiled, offering goodbyes to her newfound friends, then headed my way.
    As soon as she crossed the carpet, the cameras began to flash the same way they had for me, but it caught Kennedy completely off-guard, causing her to stumble a little before holding her hand up to block the flashing lights. Instinctively I grabbed her by the hand, dragging her to safety.
    I didn’t let her go before I had the chance to ask, “Are you okay?”
    She pulled her hand out of my hold as she answered. “Yeah. Yeah, I’m fine.”
    She straightened out her dress that fit like a charm, serving up just enough sexy without being slutty. “Wow. That carpet is nuts!”
    I shrugged. “They only go nuts when it’s someone worth going nuts over. I told you that dress was a game-changer.” She looked down like she was second-guessing the choice. “I mean that in a good way, Kennedy. You look… mouthwatering fine. You look risk-it-all fine. You look rip that dress off and go in fine. You look...”
    She cut me off. “I get it, Bryson. But thank you. For rescuing me.”
    I closed my fists, putting them to my waist like a superhero. “Captain Save-A-Ho at your service.”
    “Excuse me!” Her tone was giving attitude, but there was a hint of a smile to her face as if she actually took the joke.
    “I’m playin’, Kenn. You’re not a ho. You’re Mrs. Montgomery ,” I said teasingly.
    She wasted no time correcting me, “ Future Mrs. Montgomery. I’m still Ms. Wilson for now.”
    I grabbed her hands again, feeling desperate with need to touch her in some way as I told her, “Well Ms. Wilson is looking scrumptious tonight. And I’m glad she decided to join me.”

Kennedy
    I’m not built for this.
    I suppose it was partially my fault for assuming that we’d be going straight to the movie premiere and coming right back to the hotel when it was over. But no amount of practice walking around the house to mold this particular pair of heels had prepared me for being in them the whole night. My feet were on fire as I took short, calculated steps behind Bryson to the car that was supposed to be taking us to yet another after party. 
    I mean, what devil even came up with the concept of an after after party?
    I’ll tell you; someone with too much time on their hands.
    I must’ve been wearing the pain on my face as the second we got in the car, Bryson felt the need to ask, “Kennedy, you good?”
    I kicked off my shoes, straining to reach my feet in my too-tight dress with the limited space of the backseat as I said, “I’m fine.”
    “Here. Let me see.” I peeked up and he nodded towards my feet to confirm what he was talking about.
    There was no way I could let him rub my feet. But then again, what kind of