Stay Close [h.s.]

Chapter 9

The first few moments at the Met Gala overtook all my senses. I felt the soft crush of the red carpet beneath my shoes and the warmth of Harry's hand around mine as we walked toward the steps. I heard the shouts of the press pool, their cameras shuttering and flashing rapidly. I watched as event ushers wearing all black swarmed around, gently guiding celebrities up the steps and into the museum.

Our first usher appeared. "Hello, welcome."

"Hi," Harry said.

"Please wait a moment, Mr. and Mrs. Styles." He pressed his finger to an earpiece.

A newly discovered actress ascended the steps before us, her gown trailing down in an emerald fan. Above her, John Legend and Chrissy Teigen stood arm-in-arm for the cameras. When Lupita Nyong'o disappeared from the steps into the massive doors, the usher waved us forward. "Go ahead. Have a wonderful evening."

Harry squeezed my hand three times. "Let's go, baby."

We floated up the stairs slowly, breezily. Our fingers remained linked, our eyes upward for the cameras. Harry leaned coolly against his shepherd's cook. Every few stairs, we stopped and posed for the photographers.

"Turn this way, Harry!"

"Over here, Kate! Over here!"

"Amazing, amazing!"

"Give us a smile, Styles!"

One of the photographers' voices rose above the rest. "Show us your lovely wife, Harry!"

Celebrities grouped at the base of the stairs below us waiting to come up, but Harry didn't seem to mind our delay. In one quick motion, he grabbed my waist with his free hand and brought our bodies together, our lips meeting inevitably. He leaned back and grinned at me, the mass of people watching us exploding with screams. We stayed embraced and looked at the cameras together.

At the top of the stairs, a new usher waited for us. She explained that two interviewers from Vogue were speaking with the guests as the entered. We were to do a brief interview with one of them as we walked by.

The Met Gala was a well-oiled machine. Every detail was perfectly orchestrated with exact timing and methodical flow. Its rhythm was steady and lively, carrying people along through each phase of the evening.

As we waited, I noticed how calm I felt. Brendan had been right about the teams of people watching over each guest to ensure they were in the place they were needed at the right time. And having Harry with me was always an added strength and confidence. Being a natural performer made Harry comfortable in the face of otherwise stressful circumstances. His ease erased any nerves I had.

"You're doing great, you know?" Harry whispered, as if he had just read my mind. "I knew you would."

"Thanks," I smiled.

"After this part, there won't be any more cameras. If you trip and fall or spill your drink, there won't be any evidence. It will only be a rumor." He smiled a teasing smile.

"That's very reassuring, thank you."

He kissed my forehead. "We're up, love."

Natasha Taylor beamed at us, microphone in hand and cameraman in tow. "Hi, hi, hi," she leaned in and kissed us both on the cheek. "How are you two?"

"We're well," Harry said, linking our fingers together. "It's nice to see you."

"The pleasure is all mine. Congratulations on your marriage, by the way."

Harry smiled. "Thank you very much."

"It's great to see you two here together."

"There's that saying about how marriage assigns you a date to every event for the rest of your life. I'm pretty glad to be here tonight with my eternal date. Isn't she stunning?" Harry raised our hands to his lips and kissed the back of mine.