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“Yes. And because we both are powerful women with our own stories.”
Wil wished she could see her mother in the audience then, just because it felt good to say it. She was a powerful woman with her own story. It was what Beanie had raised her to believe about herself. It was the only thing Diana had ever wanted for Katie.
And here they were.
Then Wil thought of the dozens of people who’d been in and out of Katie’s living room and kitchen last night, talking animatedly, waving their arms around, strategizing and arguing with each other as they worked toward this moment that would, they all hoped, make achange.
“I’m wondering if I could do something on your show,” Wil said. This was a little off-script, and Wil hoped she didn’t fuck it up.
What Busy and Wil were supposed to be talking about rightnow was what was next for Wil. Everything that had happened so far was what the team had set up to make a favorable foundation for what Katie wanted to say in a statement or other interview. Also, to make something worth talking about to take over the commentary about Ben’s statements and Wil’s pictures. All of that was Madelynn’s idea.
But Katie had shared an idea with Wil that was entirely her own.
“You can do whatever you want on my show,” Busy said. “Right?” She asked this of the audience, and they whooped and cheered. “Like”—Busy squeezed Wil’s hand—“for real, for real. Whatever you want. It’s Christmas.”
“I wanted to give someone a kiss. On your show.” Wil watched a flush travel up Busy’s neck. Wil was thrilled to give Busy’s show what were going to be stratospheric ratings, and she was glad Busy was catching on.
The audience lost their minds.
“Like, someone from the audience?” Busy asked.
But sheknew.
The audience lost their minds some more.
“Like, this would be my last kiss,” Wil said. “My retirement kiss, really.”
The audience rose to their feet.
“You’re killing me, oh my God.”
“Merry Christmas, Busy.” Wil winked. Then she stood and looked at the wings, and she smiled.
Katie smiled back.
Wil was going to kiss the love of her life on national television, and for whatever reason—or for all the reasons—it felt exactly right.
Chapter Twenty
Katie had made a lot of good entrances. She’d stunt-rolled out of a moving car, she’d dropped through a ceiling, and one time she even did a cartwheel, but she didn’t think she’d ever enjoyed an entrance more than this one, walking into Wil’s open arms.
“Hi there,” Wil said. She wrapped herself around Katie’s body.
Katie pushed the tip of her nose into Wil’s. She didn’t have a microphone, but it didn’t matter. This wasn’t a speaking role. She took Wil’s face in her hands, then smoothed her fingers over Wil’s ears and down her neck to wrap her hands around her nape. Wil’s hands found Katie’s waist and pulled her closer until their legs touched.
The audience had collectively lost their minds.
A little bit, so had Katie. She’d missed this. Missed Wil.
She’d been on so many stages and so many sets, she was used to thinking about a hundred things at once. How she needed to position her body for the cameras. What the director had asked her to convey, what the script said, what her goals were for the piece, what the character needed from her, and of course the other actors—what they needed, how they felt to her, what their faces and bodies projected and how she received them, took their energy, changed it and gave it back.
But never like this. Katie had never done anything like this.
She’d never been in love and watched the woman she loved go on live television and be so sexy and charismaticallycommanding. Katie should have expected it, because she’d seen the videos, a year’s worth of kissing videos on Wil’s TikTok, but she hadn’t, still. She couldn’t have imagined Wil would be likethis. She hadn’t known Wil would hold the audience and the host herself in the palm of her hand.
Katie felt Wil’s thumbs brush under her eyes, across her cheekbones, which was how she knew she must be crying. She smiled at Wil. “I love you,” she said.
It was so easy to say. It was the truest thing, the easiest thing, the most beautiful thing she’d ever had.