Love in the Heartland

by Diana Currie

  “You do it?” Maddie gasped.

  Nathan handed his itinerary to her. She looked it over and sawmany differences between them. How come Nathan didn’t need the Power Peel or the pedicure? “Aw, look, honey. We’ll be poked with needles and hooked up to IV drips together at one thirty!” she declared, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

  “You’ll be fine,” Emma encouraged. “Now eat!”

  By 3:45 Maddie was running on adrenaline and B12. Emma and Nicole were standing over her trying to squeeze her flesh into something they called Resultwear. “Keep your curves going in and out at the right places with Resultwear, the latest suck-it-all-in underwear brand. Featuring a reversible one-shoulder seamless underwire-free bra top and an all-in-one mini dress with a tummy panel that flattens everything,” Maddie read out loud. “I feel like you’re subtly telling me I’m fat.”

  “No, not fat. You’re a civilian. If I’d have had access to you for the last six months this wouldn’t be necessary. You’ll thank me when you’re standing amongst all the other women,” Nicole asserted.

  Irene brought over the silver and pink dress the team had selected for Maddie to wear earlier in the day. She liked it a lot more than she thought she would when Emma had suggested it. The neckline plunged just beneath her breasts and the straps and bodice portion of the dress was secure enough that she didn’t feel like anything would slip out of place. The Resultwear lived up to its name when Maddie saw how amazingly it smoothed out her stomach and hips to give her a really fabulous figure. The lower half of the dress was long and billowy. She had to admit she looked like a real movie star.

  “It’s time to go, are you ready yet?” Nathan asked as he rounded the corner of the hall and entered the first-floor study that the prep team had turned into a dressing room. “Whoa. Maddie, you look…”

  “Fabulous? Sensational? Titillating?” Emma offered.

  “I was going to say beautiful, but I’ll work on my adjectives,” Nathan deadpanned. “Are you wearing fake eyelashes?”

  “Yes. These girls have left no part of me untouched.”

  Nathan chuckled. “I look forward to peeling all of this off you later tonight.”

  Maddie smiled shyly, knowing that they weren’t alone. “You think I’ll do okay in front of all the cameras? I’m nervous.”

  “You’ll fit right in. And I’ll be beside you the entire time.”

  “I’ve seen celebrities walk down the red carpet enough times to know that isn’t true. They’ll take your picture with me, but then they’ll ask you to step away so they can get some shots of you alone.”

  Nathan knew she was right. “Just for a few minutes. You’ll just walk ahead with Holly and I’ll catch up with you. It’s easy; you just follow the people walking ahead of you.”

  Holly squealed behind Nathan’s back as she came into the room to find out what was taking them so long. “The limo is here! Come on… I am freaking out with excitement!”

  “Holly, have you started drinking already?” Maddie asked, embarrassed.

  “She better not. The itineraries say alcohol is not allowed until you arrive at the event,” Emma interjected.

  Holly smiled. “I haven’t yet, I swear! Pete said there’s champagne in the limousine though!”

  Emma checked her watch and saw that it was five minutes to four o’clock. “Oh! Time to go!” She slid between Nathan and Maddie and skipped into the living room. Using her megaphone, she announced that the limousine had arrived and everyone should use the restroom if necessary and line up at the front door for her inspection.

  Nathan threaded his fingers with Maddie’s and led her into the foyer. Holly ran to get her clutch and met them at the door. She smiled at Maddie and did a little happy dance when Pete Walker stepped beside her and winked. He was reluctant at first when Nathan had asked him to escort one of Maddie’s friends to the premier. Luckily, Nathan hadn’t been lying about her beauty and Pete was really looking forward to showing up on the red carpet with Holly on his arm. He was hoping that if he introduced her to every celebrity she asked him to that he might get laid at the end of the night.

  Stanley opened the limo door and the five of them carefully stepped inside. He drove them through Hollywood with a bright smile on his face. It seemed like not too long ago Stanley had been driving Nathan around solo, hoping to God that the young actor made it through the evening in one piece. Now he saw a new man in the back seat of the car; a happy man with a lovely woman beside him and good friends all around. Like Nathan, Stanley was wondering how long it might be before Miss Maddie came to live in Los Angeles. He wanted to see his boss happy and knew that this woman was the key.

  Nathan told Maddie to stay in her seat when the limousine pulled up at the El Capitan on Hollywood Boulevard. “We’re letting Tyler out first. Then Pete and Holly. And you and me will be last.” Tyler checked his suit and face in the mirror over the wet bar and then opened the door. The screams that ensued flooded the space inside the limo and surrounded Maddie in an instant. The sound was overwhelming; so much more intimidating that it seemed watching at home on TV. Two minutes later Pete opened the door for the second time and stepped outside. The screaming only got louder when the crowd saw him.

  “Are you going to be okay?” Holly asked Maddie.

  “Yeah, I think so. You?” she replied.

  “I’m nervous, but it’s a good nervous. Thank you so much for letting me join you guys. I’ll never forget this as long as I live, Nathan,” Holly said.

  “You’re welcome, Holly. I’m happy that you’re here.”

  Holly smiled brightly and took a deep breath. She turned and stepped outside the limo to take Pete’s waiting hand. They walked towards the crowd and Maddie bounced in her seat as she watched through the tinted windows until Stanley unexpectedly closed the limo door.

  “What is he doing?” Maddie asked panicked.

  “It’s okay. We’re going to circle the block so it looks like you and me are arriving later. The paparazzi need a few minutes to focus on Tyler and Pete before I step out. This way our arrivals are a little more spaced out.”

  “Oh. Did you plan it this way because you know every camera will abandon them when you step out?” Maddie guessed.

  Nathan blushed and nodded, not wanting to say it out loud and sound conceded. Maddie leaned into him softly to kiss his cheek, careful not to smear her lipstick on his face. “Did I tell you how handsome you look, Slugger?”

  “No, you didn’t actually,” he teased.

  “Well, you do. Not everyone could pull off a navy corduroy suit,” she giggled. “Who suggested that fabric? It couldn’t have been Emma.”

  “What are you trying to say, Angel?” Nathan joked. “It was Garrett’s suggestion.”

  “I knew it,” she replied smiling.

  Nathan laughed. “I sent him some pictures from this New York designer I met in the Cayman Islands. He’s up and coming.” He pulled Maddie close to him and nuzzled her neck with his face, mindful of the makeup and hair.

  Stanley cleared his throat and said, “You’re up, Boss,” as the limo rolled to a stop outside the theater again.

  “Here we go,” Nathan announced.

  Maddie’s hands began to tremble but she ignored them. Nathan led her out of the limousine and the ensuing noise from the crowd erupted as expected. She held her hand tightly around Nathan’s arm as he escorted her towards the insanity. There were so many faces, so many shouting fans, and so many flashing lights and cameras. It was impossible to process everything she saw; the people calling out to her and to Nathan looked like a blur as they walked on.

  She was transfixed with the ease at which Nathan glided past the cameras, waving and pausing to smile when appropriate. It was comforting to know that Nathan had been through this kind of intense media attention before and he would keep her safe. If he was overwhelmed by the attention it certainly didn’t show on his face.

  Nathan appeared completely at ease even when he was stopped by Access Ho
llywood for an interview. The female reporter shoved a microphone in front of his face and asked him what he liked most about filming the movie. Maddie stood beside him like a statue, hoping the line of questioning wouldn’t turn to her. After about three minutes of staring at the side of Nathan’s face with a fake “say cheese” smile on her face, Maddie felt Nathan tugging her forward.

  “What were you doing?” Nathan whispered.

  “What?”

  “The reporter asked me if you were my girlfriend. I said, ‘yes this Maddie. Isn’t she stunning?’ and you just stared at me like you couldn’t hear me.”

  “I did? I was so focused on looking happy and confident that I didn’t even hear my name.”

  Nathan chuckled. “Yeah, she said your name. She had no idea what to do when you didn’t respond. Her expression was priceless!”

  “Oh my God. I’m so embarrassed. That’s going to be on TV tonight, isn’t it?”

  “They’ll probably edit it out, Angel. Don’t dwell on it,” Nathan said confidently. “Look ahead; see the guy with the glasses? That’s an Entertainment Tonight reporter. I have to talk to him too. Do you want to step away from me so you aren’t on camera?”

  “No, don’t leave me,” she whispered through the fake smile that was starting to hurt her cheeks.

  “Alright. Just breathe normally and watch the guy’s face. I’ll do all the talking.” Maddie nodded her head as they approached the second interview of the evening.

  Once they made it inside the theater everything got easier. Maddie finally let go of the death grip on Nathan’s arm when she saw that inside the building most of the cameras were gone and the only noise was the collective chatter from the attendees. Pete and Holly were waiting for them near a high top table with fancy food platters and champagne flutes in the center. Maddie took some champagne, hoping the alcohol would calm her nerves a little.

  “So, what did you think of your first walk down the red carpet?” Pete asked the girls as they were clinking flutes.

  “Intense,” Maddie responded honestly.

  “It was amazing! I loved it!” Holly exclaimed excitedly. “Forget the movie! I want to do that again!”

  Pete laughed out loud and pulled Holly against his hip. “There’s so much more to show you. There’s all this amazing food and drinks, and then the actual showing of the movie. But afterwards is when we have the real fun. You want to hit up some afterparties, right?”

  “Hell yes!” Holly replied.

  “Let’s go work the crowd; I think I saw Chris Evans at the bar.”

  “Oh my God, seriously? I love him! Are you guys coming?” Holly asked Maddie and Nathan.

  Maddie looked up at Nathan and shook her head. “No, you go meet Captain America. We’re going to hang out here.”

  “Suit yourselves,” Pete said. “We’ll see you inside the auditorium.”

  Maddie watched as Holly followed him across the room. Pete clapped a man on the back who had dirty blonde hair and broad muscular shoulders. As he turned around, Maddie could hear Holly scream and saw her grab the unsuspecting man and hug him.

  “Poor Chris,” Nathan mumbled.

  Maddie laughed and shook her head. “Aren’t you glad I don’t react like that with every famous face I see?”

  “You have no idea how relieved I am that you don’t,” Nathan replied. “It means I can take you places without embarrassing myself.”

  “And Pete?” Maddie asked smiling.

  Nathan snickered. “Pete is paying a hefty price for some nookie,” he confirmed as he saw Chris Evans prying Holly off his chest and excusing himself into the crowd.

  Maddie covered her mouth with her hand and giggled. “She better not, she’s still sort of dating my brother!”

  “Well, Pete Walker is certain to ditch her as soon as his advances are rejected. We better stay with them at the after party so Holly can ride home with us.”

  “Good idea.”

  Nathan led Maddie through the enormous room so they could say hello to some of the people he wanted her to meet. She was surprised to see how many crew members Nathan knew. He seemed to be friendly with every boom operator, makeup artist, and director’s assistant that worked on the sound stage and knew all their names. She got to meet the movie’s director and a few secondary characters she didn’t recognize but was told she’d see them in the film. He took her over to say hello to Katie Owens, who was surprisingly sitting in the lap of Nicholas Hoult. They had a brief awkward conversation and then Nathan pulled her away for another introduction.

  The best surprise of all was when Nathan introduced her to Eli Duncan, the author of Love Spelled Backwards and Tomorrow and Forever. She had a brief “Holly moment” when she shook his hand too long, so surprised to be meeting him that she lost track of how many shakes they’d shared. To Maddie, meeting the genius who created the Caleb and Abigail characters was more thrilling then when she met Katie Owens or Pete or Tyler. Eli Duncan had a brilliant talent for writing complex characters and making the reader care deeply about them. To her credit, it was the only celebrity encounter that threw her off her game.

  When the lights flickered, everyone began making their way into the huge auditorium where the movie would be shown. Nathan and Maddie found Pete and Holly already seated and sat beside them. As they waited for the movie to begin Maddie thought about all the times she and Holly had sat in movie theaters back home to watch one of Nathan’s movies. Two years ago, they were psyched and riled up to see Nathan in EVOL. She remembered how excited they were when the lights dimmed and the movie began playing. And now they would be watching that movie’s sequel sitting in a famous Los Angeles theater with Pete Walker and Nathan Foster sitting right beside them. It was unreal.

  The movie’s director was introduced and spoke for a few minutes about his experience making the film, and he thanked a lot of people for their help in getting the project completed. He ended his speech by welcoming everyone to the El Capitan and cuing the man upstairs to start the film. There were no movie previews which felt wrong; Maddie was so conditioned to watching the coming attractions that it felt like something was missing when Tomorrow and Forever’s opening credits just started playing on the screen.

  Throughout the movie, Holly periodically whispered comments to Maddie about certain scenes or characters just the same way she would have if they were alone in an Amarillo theater watching Nathan Foster on the big screen. She held nothing back even when it came to comments on how hot Nathan looked in the first love scene. Maddie couldn’t disagree, but it wasn’t as fun to ogle Caleb with Nathan sitting next to her. And she couldn’t enjoy the on-screen sex in that setting the same way Holly clearly did. She thought it was probably more likely that Katie Owen’s presence in the theater was killing her libido more than Nathan’s proximity. Watching her boyfriend act all sexy on screen was fun, but not with the female actress there too. What a buzzkill.

  The second love scene began with Caleb slowly unbuttoning his shirt in front of Abigail, giving everyone an eyeful of his impressive abs. Maddie blushed into the darkness as she watched Caleb’s shirt fall to the floor, because he gave Abigail a look that Maddie recognized from real life experience making love to Nathan.

  “Yeah, baby… take it off for mama!” Holly whispered to Maddie with a girlish giggle, despite the fact that Nathan was two feet away and could hear her. Maddie giggled too and slapped Holly playfully on the arm.

  “Is this what you two were like when you went to see EVOL?” he whispered to Maddie.

  “Yes,” she replied covering her face with her hand. The truth was they were worse back home but she wasn’t going to elaborate her answer.

  “Interesting,” he replied and squeezed her knee affectionately.

  The movie got darker and more intense as Caleb and Abigail fought and broke up. Maddie was surprised by a scene when Caleb shakes Abigail fiercely and throws her against a wall. It was a side of both Caleb and Nathan that Maddie had never seen. She had read Duncan’s book
over the summer and knew how the story would end. It was interesting to see what the screenwriters kept the same and what they changed when the book was adapted to screenplay. No fan of a book is every completely happy with the movie version, and Maddie couldn’t help but smile when Holly leaned in to tell her that Duncan’s Caleb would never have treated the love of his life that way. Maddie said she agreed but sort of enjoyed the darker twist the director gave Caleb because it made the movie more interesting.

  When the film ended, everyone in the audience clapped long and enthusiastically. Maddie wondered if that was customary or if everyone was really that impressed by it. She had loved the film, but knew that was because she was still a fangirl at heart with the added bias of dating the leading man. The director, the author, and the main cast including Nathan made their way up to the front of the auditorium to bow to the audience like it was the end of a Broadway play. Everyone began filing out of the theater and a few people approached the front of the room to talk with Nathan and the others still standing there.

  “I have to pee,” Holly said as they stood up and stretched their legs.

  “Shouldn’t we wait for Pete and Nathan?” Maddie replied.

  “They’re talking to people. I really gotta go!”

  “Okay, fine. We’ll wait for them in the lobby,” Maddie grumbled.

  Maddie saw people everywhere as they exited the ladies’ restroom. It seemed everyone was lingering in the theater to discuss their thoughts on the movie and make plans for various parties that were about to start. She glanced around and couldn’t find Nathan anywhere. “Great, now what do we do?”

  “Let’s go sit on the sofa over there by the window. They’ll see us,” Holly suggested.

  They walked over to the sofa and sat down to wait. The heels Emma chose were starting to hurt Maddie’s feet. She was definitely taking them off in the limo on the way to the after party. She wondered what a real celebrity party was going to be like. Nathan had taken her to many restaurants and clubs in Los Angeles but she’d never been to a private party hosted by a celebrity before.