Delicate - Emily Blunt x Reader

9 - Babe

"You broke the sweetest promise that you never should've made."
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Emily tells you that Nolan has a photoshoot for a magazine and will meet you at the party. You wonder how this makes Emily feel, but you don't ask her.

You leave the apartment at nine, an hour before the party, as Emily lives that far away from Beverly Hills. She offers to drive again, and you realize that being behind the wheel must be a form of relaxation for her. She plays her old music with the windows down again, and, also like before, you don't talk much.

Until you pull into the neighborhood.

"Have you ever been to a party like this?" Emily asks you. You have a feeling she knows that the answer is no, but she's trying to be nice by asking.

You shake your head.

"Okay, quick rundown," Emily takes the turns through the neighborhood like she's been here a million times before. You remember that she didn't tell you whose party it is and at whose house, but decide that now is not the time to ask. "These aren't like normal secondary school or university parties. They are all about being seen and making and maintaining good relationships with other celebrities. They can be fun if you play it right, but every move must be calculated."

"Okay," you say through a nervous exhale.

"Don't worry," Emily reaches over to grab your hand, her eyes not leaving the dark road ahead, "just stay next to me and you'll be fine."

You nod.

Emily finds a parking spot along the road. She points out a mansion to your right. It's very modern with white stucco walls and lots of black paned windows. You see people moving around all throughout the mansion.

An uncomfortable feeling tugs at your stomach. You don't belong here. Everyone is somebody. You're nobody. And how is that going to make Emily look? If every move is calculated, then why did she bring you?

Emily must notice you stop walking because she loops her arm through yours and pulls you along with her. At the gate, she shows a man in a black tuxedo her invitation. He looks at you and then Emily longer than he should, then buzzes you into the gate.

You walk up the driveway, and Dwayne Johnson greets you at the door. He is a lot bigger in person than you would've thought, especially standing next to Emily.

"Blunt!" Dwayne exclaims joyously. He wraps one arm around Emily's waist and lifts her into the air in a giant bear hug.

You saw their movie together a couple summers ago, Jungle Cruise. Their chemistry was fantastic. You remember wondering whether or not they were a thing, but after seeing interviews, you realized they had a friendship like none other.

"Where's the big man?" He asks Emily.

You take a mental note that he must be referring to Nolan.

"He had a photoshoot for a magazine. He should be here soon," Emily forces a smile.

"But you brought a friend," Dwayne motions to you.

"Yes! This is Y/N," Emily's arm hooks around your waist as she pulls you closer to her, her cheek resting on your upper arm.

"It's a pleasure, Y/N," Dwayne extends his hand.

You take it, surprised to feel his handshake is a lot more gentle than you imagined. "The pleasure is all mine."

"Enjoy the party," Dwayne says, reaching out to pat Emily's cheek. She playfully swats his hand away, and she leans more into your body to avoid his touch.

As you make your way through the many rooms of the mansion, you realize how right Emily was. This is nothing like any party you've ever been to. The conversations are contained and quiet. There's no loud music or fights or messes. You're not sure why you expected that from Hollywood's best. It feels more like an organized get together than a party.

Emily pulls out a hard seltzer from a cooler in the kitchen and hands it to you. Strawberry kiwi, one of your favorites.

"What about you?" You ask her, noticing that she didn't grab anything for herself.

"Oh, I don't drink," Emily shrugs.

As the night goes on, you notice how much people gravitate towards Emily. She has this presence. All eyes on the room are on her, watching her every movement. Your worries about your belonging here have disappeared. People aren't even sparing a glance at you. They are looking at Emily, and you cannot blame them.

Everything about her is mesmerizing. The way her hair falls perfectly over her shoulders. The way her outfit hugs her body in all of the right places. The way she can smile and change the whole mood of the place. The way she tells stories as if her life is the real movie, not one she's acting in.

Next to Emily, you're unstoppable.

Finally, in a break between crowds of people coming to see her, Emily turns to you and places a gentle hand on your arm. "Are you doing alright?"

You smile and nod. "They love you," you tell her.

"That's what they want you to think," Emily pushed through the glass doors leading to the backyard.

"Can you just give yourself credit for, like, five seconds?" You follow her out.

Emily flashes you one of those smiles that makes you feel like the world has stopped just so everyone can turn and look at her. You forget everything you just said.

The backyard of the mansion is dominated by an in-ground pool and lounging area. In the middle of a sectional couch sits a fire pit, its orange flames flickering in the cool night air. A carefully trimmed hedge outlines the property, obstructing any view out or in, the perfect private destination for a Hollywood star.

"There she is!" A familiar voice says from behind you.

"Hello, darling," another familiar voice says in its best imitation of an English accent.

You turn around to see Matt Damon and Robert Downey Jr swooping in and planting a kiss simultaneously on each of Emily's cheeks.

Emily throws an arm over each of her Oppenheimer cast mate's shoulders and they engulf her in friendly hugs.

"I haven't seen either of you since the press tour!" Emily exclaims. "How are you?"

You know that Emily's friendship with the two men are nothing more than platonic, but you can't help but watch their hands lingering on her waist and boil with jealousy.

You shake the thought away, smile at how happy Emily looks being reunited with her two friends, and go back to the kitchen to grab another drink.

You recognize Emily's friend, Natalia Parks, perched up on the countertop, her legs straddling the man making out with her. His back is to you. You duck your head and pull another seltzer out of the cooler.

While you're searching for another strawberry kiwi, you hear Natalia laugh and then a familiar laugh from the man.

Your head snaps up.

Natalia is pulling away from the lips of Nolan Eldridge.

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"I keep picturing her lips on your neck. I can't unsee it."