Chapter 33: Shifting Gears

The following morning arrived with the soft light of early dawn, casting a warm glow through the curtains of their bedroom. Kimberly stretched, feeling the lingering warmth of Aaron’s body next to hers, and for a moment, she considered staying in bed, letting the world wait. But as much as she enjoyed their quiet moments, reality called—today was a big day.

Her phone buzzed from the nightstand, and the message from Marcus lighting up the screen. She could already feel the weight of the upcoming tasks settling on her shoulders. But before she could grab it, Aaron stirred beside her, his arm still draped lazily across her waist.

“Don’t go yet,” he murmured, his voice thick with sleep. His hand slid gently along her side, pulling her a little closer.

Kimberly couldn’t suppress a smile as she glanced down at him. “You’re such a softie in the mornings.”

“I’m allowed to be when I’m with you,” Aaron grinned, his eyes barely open, but the playful spark still very much alive in them.

She leaned down, pressing a quick kiss to his lips. “I’ve got a busy day ahead, babe,” she said, sitting up and reaching for her phone.

Aaron groaned lightly but sat up as well, running a hand through his short hair. “I know, I know. But can’t we just have five more minutes?”

Kimberly chuckled, feeling a rush of affection for him. Despite their hectic lives, moments like these—simple and easy—reminded her why they worked so well together.

“I promise we’ll have more time soon,” she said, already moving toward the edge of the bed. “You just have to survive today first.”

Aaron flopped back on the bed dramatically. “I’ll try, but no promises. I’m already exhausted just thinking about it.”

Kimberly’s smile softened. She knew the pressure Aaron was under right now. His role in the upcoming Green Lantern movie was taking up a significant portion of his time. Along with interviews, photoshoots, and endless media requests, he was juggling a packed schedule, which made their time together even more precious.

As she grabbed her phone and read through Marcus’ message, a sense of urgency washed over her. It wasn’t just about Aaron’s schedule—it was hers, too. They had a press conference to attend later in the afternoon, an exclusive interview with Netflix about his role in Rebel Ridge, and more press engagements lined up for the rest of the week.

After a few moments, Kimberly typed back to Marcus, confirming the meeting time for later that day. As she set her phone back down, she looked over at Aaron, who was still stretched out across the bed, his expression playful but slightly tired.

“What’s the plan for today?” Aaron asked, his voice muffled by the pillow.

“We need to get to the press conference, then you’ve got your photoshoot for Rebel Ridge. After that, I’ve got a meeting with Chloé and Marcus. I think we’re going to need to coordinate a dinner with Netflix too.” Kimberly took a deep breath, the list of things to do already starting to overwhelm her.

Aaron rubbed his temples as if the weight of his responsibilities had hit him all at once. “And you’re telling me this now? We can’t even get a few hours of peace?”

Kimberly’s eyes softened. She walked over to the bed and sat next to him. “I know it’s a lot,” she said quietly. “But we’re in this together, right? I’ll make sure it all works. We’ve got this.”

Aaron smiled, though his eyes reflected a weariness she knew all too well. “You’re right. I’ve got the best person on my team. I just need to stay focused today.”

“I’ll help keep you focused,” Kimberly replied, her voice a bit playful. “But I think it’s time for you to wake up fully. We’ve got a lot to tackle.”

With a reluctant groan, Aaron finally sat up, his broad shoulders rippling as he stretched. “Alright, let’s get to it. No rest for the wicked, huh?”

“Nope,” Kimberly said with a teasing smirk. “Not unless you want to delay the entire press event and have me handle all your interviews alone.”

That was enough to get Aaron on his feet, his determination kicking in. He dressed quickly while Kimberly moved around the apartment, packing up her bag and grabbing her notes for the press conference. As they finished getting ready, the buzz of the day’s duties loomed large, but there was something steady about being able to rely on each other. Even in the busiest of times, Kimberly knew they made a great team.

“You sure you’re okay?” Aaron asked, coming up behind her as she stood in front of the bathroom mirror.

Kimberly met his gaze in the reflection, her smile steady. “I’m good. I’ve got everything under control. Besides, I’ve got you by my side.”

He nodded, his gaze warm with affection. “That’s all I need to hear.”

---

The next morning, Aaron walked into the room, freshly showered, his smooth, warm brown skin catching the morning light. His broad shoulders and sculpted chest gleamed in the sunlight, and a pair of gray sweatpants hung low on his hips.

Kimberly glanced up, her breath hitching for a moment. Her focus wavered as her eyes lingered, a heat spreading through her cheeks. "Morning," she said, clearing her throat and forcing herself to look back at her screen.

"Good morning, beautiful," Aaron replied, his voice deep and still thick with sleep. He leaned against the counter, folding his arms and watching her with a small, knowing smile.

"You’re going to distract me like that," she said, gesturing vaguely toward his bare chest.

Aaron smirked, his dimples on full display. "I’m just standing here. If that’s distracting, that’s on you."

Kimberly rolled her eyes, but the corner of her mouth tugged upward. "Netflix reached out this morning," she said, steering the conversation back to business. "They want to schedule a last-minute interview and photoshoot for Rebel Ridge. I guess they realized they should’ve promoted it better before."

Aaron pushed off the counter and moved closer, resting his hands on either side of her on the island. His proximity made her pulse quicken. "And what did my amazing assistant-slash-girlfriend say?"

Kimberly’s lips curved into a smile. "I told them I’d check with your schedule before confirming anything."

Aaron leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. "What would I do without you?"

"Miss interviews and forget half your lines," she teased, biting back a laugh.

"Fair," he replied with a chuckle, pulling out a chair to sit beside her.

---

Later in the afternoon, they met with Marcus Hayes, Aaron’s manager, and his sharp-witted assistant, Chloé, at a chic café in West Hollywood. Chloé sat across from them, her tablet in hand, while Marcus sipped an espresso, his tailored blazer perfectly pressed.

"We’ve locked in the charity gala for tonight," Marcus said, looking at Aaron. "And Netflix wants the interview done tomorrow morning. I’m thinking we pair the two events in the media cycle to maximize exposure."

Aaron nodded, glancing at Kimberly. "What do you think?"

Kimberly hesitated, her mind weighing the options. "It’s doable, but tight. You’ll need to rest after tonight to be sharp for the interview. And we should prep for any curveball questions about Green Lantern."

Chloé tapped her screen. "Kimberly’s right. I’ll send over a media briefing for review. And speaking of tonight, Kimberly, you’re officially on the guest list as Aaron’s plus-one."

Kimberly blinked in surprise. "Oh. I wasn’t expecting that."

"You should’ve," Aaron said smoothly, placing a hand on her back. "You belong there with me."

Her cheeks warmed at his confidence in her. "Thank you," she said softly.

---

The charity gala that evening was a glamorous affair, held at a sprawling estate overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Celebrities, executives, and philanthropists mingled under strings of twinkling lights, the air filled with the soft hum of conversation and the clink of champagne glasses.

Aaron was a natural in the crowd, moving from one conversation to the next with charm and ease. Kimberly stayed close by, her confidence growing as she engaged with the guests. She caught the attention of a Warner Bros executive, who was intrigued by her insight into Aaron’s career.

"You have a sharp eye," the executive remarked. "Aaron’s lucky to have someone like you in his corner."

"Thank you," Kimberly replied, her smile genuine. "It’s easy to support someone as talented as Aaron."

Across the room, Aaron watched her, pride evident in his expression. She wasn’t just blending in—she was shining.

---

When the night wound down, they returned home, the city lights twinkling in the distance. Aaron dropped his jacket on the couch and loosened his tie, his energy still buzzing from the event.

"You were incredible tonight," he said, pulling Kimberly into his arms.

"So were you," she replied, resting her head against his chest.

He tilted her chin up, his gaze locking with hers. "I mean it, Kimberly. You’re not just by my side—you’re the reason I’m able to do all of this."

Her eyes softened, and she reached up to kiss him, the moment stretching into something tender and unspoken.

As they moved to the couch, the weight of the day melted away, leaving only the quiet intimacy of two people who had become a team in every sense.

The city outside buzzed with life, but within the walls of their home, it was just them—a perfect balance of love and ambition, driving them toward whatever came next.