XIX

Summer Preston

It's safe to say the premiere was an incredible success. After the screening, countless people approached me, raving about the film and expressing how eager they were to see it again in theaters.

The attention felt rewarding, especially after all the time and effort my team and I poured into making sure every detail of the movie was perfect.

As the venue began to empty, only four of us remained—Solené, Adrianna, Nolan, and me. The caterers were packing up their equipment while a few staff members helped clean up.

"Summer, I can finish up here. Go handle whatever you need to," my assistant said, stepping toward me with a reassuring smile.

"Are you sure? I can stay—it's really no problem—"

"I've got it covered. Enjoy your night, Summer, and congrats on the movie." She pulled me into a quick hug.

I hugged her back and stepped away, smiling. "Thank you."

The four of us made our way outside, where Solené's arm draped around my waist as paparazzi cameras continued to flash around us.

"What's next on the agenda?" I asked, leaning into Solené's touch, earning a playful smirk from Adrianna.

"Did you forget about the after-party?" Nolan asked, raising a brow.

I pressed my lips together, stifling a laugh. "Honestly, I kind of did."

"Let's head back to the hotel, get changed, and then meet up for the party," I suggested, arching an eyebrow. Everyone agreed, and we split into two groups—Nolan and Adrianna taking one car while Solené and I climbed into hers.

Solené held the door open for me, and I stepped inside, offering her a small smile of thanks. She followed, settling in beside me and smoothing out her pants.

"I'm so proud of what you accomplished tonight," she said, glancing at me. "I'm glad I could be here to see it."

I met her gaze, warmth rising in my chest. "I'm glad you were here too."

Our eyes locked, and the world seemed to fade away. Slowly, we began to lean closer, her breath brushing against my face.

She cupped my neck gently, her touch grounding me. "Summer," she murmured, her tone laced with hesitation.

"Solené," I replied, mimicking her tone with a teasing smile.

"Are you sure you want to—"

I didn't let her finish. Closing the gap, I pressed my lips to hers. Her lips were impossibly soft, and I couldn't resist leaning in for more. The kiss deepened, her hands finding my waist as she guided me onto her lap. I gasped at the movement, granting her an opening to slip her tongue into my mouth.

Her grip on my waist tightened, and I felt her slowly guiding me against her, our breaths mingling as the kiss grew more intense. When I finally pulled back, I smiled, catching the matching expression on her face.

"Why'd you stop?" she asked, her hands sliding up and down my arms.

"I didn't want to get carried away," I admitted, feeling the blush rise to my cheeks.

She chuckled, her voice low and enticing. "I wouldn't have minded."

Before I could respond, the car rolled to a stop. We both stepped out, and I quickly smoothed out my dress and wiped the smudge of lip gloss from my lips.

We walked into the building and parted ways. "When you're done, text me," I said, stepping into the elevator.

"Yes, ma'am," she replied with a playful grin, heading in the opposite direction.

As the elevator doors closed, I leaned my head against the cool wall.

I just kissed Solené.

And I loved it.

A smile tugged at my lips. Instead of resisting, I let it take over.

The elevator chimed, announcing my floor. I stepped off and made my way to my room, unlocking the door with the key card. Kicking off my heels, I sank onto the bed for a moment before peeling off my dress.

Rummaging through my suitcase, I found my Skims x Dolce & Gabbana leopard-print tank top and light-wash, rhinestone-studded Zara jeans. After slipping them on, I grabbed my black Dolce & Gabbana patent leather slingback pumps.

Sitting in front of the mirror, I touched up my makeup and released my hair from its updo. It fell in soft waves down my shoulders, and I ran my hands through it until it looked just right.

Satisfied, I spritzed on more perfume, grabbed my purse and phone, and headed out.

As I stepped into the elevator, my phone buzzed. Solené had texted, saying she was waiting in the lobby. I hearted her message, switched off my phone, and let the elevator descend.

When the doors opened, I spotted her leaning casually against a pillar.

I approached her and tapped her shoulder, drawing her attention. She turned, dressed in low-rise, light-wash jeans, a Kansas City Chiefs jersey tucked under her bra on one side to show off her toned abs, and Timberland boots that made her slightly taller than usual. Her hair cascaded in soft, fluffy curls, one side tucked behind her ear to reveal diamond earrings.

"You look stunning," she said, breaking the silence.

"So do you," I replied, looping a finger through her belt loop and tugging her closer. "This outfit is very cute."

"You think so?" she asked, tilting her head.

"I know so," I said, letting my nails trail lightly over her exposed skin, sending goosebumps along her arms.

She leaned in, brushing her lips against mine in a soft kiss before pulling back. "Come on," she said, lacing her fingers with mine. "We have to celebrate you. Now that you can drink as much as you want..."

I laughed as she led me to the car, opening the door for me. "I really need a drink."

"I bet you do," she teased with a smile as she slid in beside me.

The drive to the after-party felt like a blur. The house was alive with people spilling inside and out. Hand in hand, we navigated through the crowd, receiving congratulations on the premiere.

I couldn't help but smile, grateful for the recognition of the effort behind it all.

In the kitchen, we found Nolan and Adrianna playing bartenders, pouring questionable amounts of liquor into mismatched cups.

"My favorite lovebirds!" Adrianna slurred, her grin wide.

"She's had a lot to drink," Nolan whispered, still mixing drinks.

"Hi, Adri," Solené and I said in unison.

Adrianna's bleary eyes lit up at my outfit and then flicked down to Solené's boots. "Skims x Dolce & Gabbana and Timberlands?! Two things I want so badly!" She looked on the verge of tears.

"Hey," Solené said, stifling a laugh. "I'll buy you both for Christmas. How's that?"

"Really?" Adrianna's face lit up, and she threw her arms around Solené. "Thank you, Lennie!"

"Of course," Solené replied, patting her back gently.

While they laughed, I turned to Nolan. "What are you even mixing?"

"Uh... Hennessy, Don Julio, Pink Whitney, Malibu, New Amsterdam..."

"Are you trying to poison people?" I snatched the cup from his hand and poured it into the sink.

"I didn't think about that..."

"Clearly," I said, smacking the back of his head. "No more mixing."

Nolan held his hands up in mock surrender. Shaking my head, I poured myself a shot of Hennessy and downed it, feeling the burn. Two more followed, one after the other.

As I set the glass down, arms wrapped around my waist. I turned to find Solené, her smile warm. "Straight to the hard stuff, huh?"

"You know me so well," I teased, leaning into her.

"Where's Adrianna?"

"I gave her water and dropped her off with Nolan," she said, gesturing to where they were sitting on the couch, Adrianna laughing uncontrollably while Nolan looked mildly exasperated.

"She's going to regret everything tomorrow," I chuckled.

"And so will you if you keep drinking like that," Solené teased, nodding at the bottle.

"I'm not a lightweight," I shot back.

"Oh, I know. You drink like a fish."

"Excuse me?" I gasped, smacking her arm playfully. "I barely drink anymore! Just wine—on important occasions."

"Like...?"

"Family dinners. Business events," I shrugged.

"Sure," she said, unconvinced.

Rolling my eyes, I scanned the room. A group was setting up for beer pong. I grinned and grabbed her hand.

"Let's play."

We made our way toward the beer pong table, where the energy was electric. Cups were set up in neat pyramids, and a small crowd had gathered, hyping up the players.

"Are we taking them on?" Solené asked, her lips quirking into a competitive grin.

"Obviously," I replied, squeezing her hand. "You any good?"

She tilted her head, feigning thought. "Let's just say you'll want me on your team."

We challenged the reigning pair, a guy in a hoodie and a girl in a sequined top, who were clearly feeling themselves after a string of wins.

"Y'all ready to lose?" the guy teased as we stepped up to the table.

"Funny, I was just about to ask you that," I shot back, grabbing a ping pong ball and spinning it in my hand.

The first few rounds were tense, with both sides hitting their targets. Solené nailed a perfect arc into the back cup, drawing cheers from the crowd.

"She's carrying the team!" someone shouted.

"Not true," I replied, sinking a shot of my own. "We're a package deal."

By the time we reached the last few cups, it was neck and neck. The crowd was buzzing, placing mock bets on who would win. Solené leaned in, her voice low and teasing.

"Think you can handle the final shot?"

I smirked. "Watch me."

Focusing, I took the ball, lined up the shot, and flicked my wrist. The ball sailed through the air and landed in the last cup with a satisfying splash.

The crowd erupted, and Solené grabbed me, pulling me into a celebratory hug. "Told you you'd want me on your team," she murmured against my ear.

"You were decent," I teased, laughing as I leaned into her warmth.

The losers groaned good-naturedly, and we stepped away from the table.

"Okay, what's next?" I asked, buzzing from the win and the alcohol.

"Food," Solené said decisively. "You've been drinking, and I don't need you passing out on me."

"Wow, looking out for me already? That's wife material," I teased, poking her side.

"Don't get used to it," she joked, dragging me toward the kitchen.

Inside, the counter was covered with half-empty pizza boxes, chips, and bowls of questionable dips. Solené grabbed a slice and handed it to me before getting one for herself.

We leaned against the counter, sharing bites and watching the party swirl around us.

"You know," she said, brushing a crumb off my lip, "you're kind of amazing."

I raised an eyebrow. "Kind of?"

"Okay, fine," she said, rolling her eyes. "You're amazing."

"That's more like it," I said, grinning as I stole a piece of her crust.

We stayed like that for a while, wrapped in our own little bubble despite the chaos around us. At some point, someone turned the music up, and people started dancing in the living room.

"Want to dance?" Solené asked, her eyes sparkling.

"Depends," I said, pretending to think. "Are you any good?"

She smirked, taking my hand and leading me to the makeshift dance floor. "Guess you'll have to find out."

As we moved to the beat, the room seemed to fade away. Solené's hands found my waist, and we swayed together, her body pressed against mine. I could feel her breath on my neck, her lips brushing against my ear as she whispered, "You're really stealing the show tonight."

"Only because I have the best partner," I replied, turning to face her.

Her eyes locked onto mine, and for a moment, it felt like we were the only two people in the world. Then, without hesitation, she kissed me. It was soft and slow, the kind of kiss that made time stand still.

When we pulled away, her cheeks were flushed, and she smiled. "I think this might be my favorite premiere after-party yet."

"Mine too," I said, lacing my fingers through hers.

We danced a little longer before retreating back to the quieter part of the house, finding a couch where we could sit and talk. The party raged on around us, but nothing else seemed to matter.

For the rest of the night, it was just us—laughing and soaking in the glow of a night.