Chapter 75
ASHLEY
The moment mom utters her wish, the lights and camera wheel towards Demi and I. Demi staggers backwards until she slams right into my chest. I hug her from behind to hide the awkwardness from the sharp eyes of the journalists.
"Just smile. We’ll discuss it later. Everyone’s watching." I whisper through clenched teeth. She complies and relaxes into my embrace while pictures of us are taken from different angles.
I can feel her vibrating with tension. She hates cameras and being put on the spot like this is one of the worst things you can do to her. I am just going to assume mother isn’t aware of how badly Demi hates the spotlight.
I find mom’s eyes in the crowd. She’s smiling gaily at me. Next thing I know, she winks at me. Was this the help she was talking about? Is this the plan to get Demi and I to be closer to each other? A BABY? How did she think Demi would react to this?
"Mr. and Mrs. Rollins, how do you feel about your mother’s wish? Should she be expecting a grandchild anytime soon or is there already a bun in the oven?"
The enthusiastic journalist shoves the mic too close to Demi’s face. I cup the microphone and push it downward with a stern look at him.
"My mother’s birthday party is not over yet. Please, let’s not draw the spotlight away from her."
While most of them back away to refocus on mother, some nasty ones remain to capture every worry line on Demi’s face. I spin her to face me and she buries her face in my chest.
"Let’s go upstairs." I whisper before taking her hand. At the most subtle of signals, our personal security edge closer and block the paparazzi from following my wife and I till we safely make it across to the mansion.
I intentionally dismiss guests trying to congratulate us too early with a smile and apologies for my abruptness. I manage to whisk Demi all the way to her bedroom where she sinks on her bed looking pale.