“What just happened?” I asked myself as I slowly made my way back to my desk. The rest of the afternoon I had trouble focusing on my work.
On Saturday I couldn’t believe how nervous I felt getting ready for the cocktail party. “You’re acting like you’re getting ready for the senior prom,” I scolded myself, but then I remembered that I hadn’t actually gone to my senior prom because I didn’t have a date.
Anyway, I pulled out my best little black dress and the black ankle-straps with heels that were higher than I remembered. Checking myself out in the mirror, I wished for umpteenth time that I was a little bigger on top, but I felt like my legs looked pretty good, so I finally decided that I would do.
Terri came in to give me a final check. She circled me silently, then stopped in front of me with an approving nod. “Have a good time, sweetie, but take care of yourself,” she said solemnly.
“Yes, Fairy Godmother,” I said with a grin, “I promise I’ll be home before midnight.”
She just shook her head, but I thought I saw a trace of a smile on her face.
The event was being held at the Waldorf-Astoria, and I splurged on a cab because I didn’t want to get all sweaty in the subway. When I entered the lobby, I didn’t spot Alex at first, but then a knot of people parted and there he was, resplendent in his Superman suit. I had just assumed that for an important event like this he would dress in a normal suit and tie or even a tuxedo, but I decided that if he was brave enough to go in costume, I could be brave enough to go with him.
As soon as he spotted me, he came rushing over. “I’ve never seen you in a dress before. You look amazing!” he said, and even though I knew he was just being nice, it still felt good to hear him say it.
We took the elevator to the Empire Room, which was already crowded with a throng of people busily eating, drinking and chatting. Nevertheless, an instant buzz went through the room when Alex and I walked in, and before he and I could find something to drink, we were surrounded by people asking questions and making conversation.
It was fascinating to see the way these supposedly sophisticated people reacted to Alex in his Superman costume, and once again I was impressed with how easily he dealt with perfect strangers. But it would have been nice if the two of us could have had a chance to spend some time by ourselves. I guess that’s what happens when you’re with a celebrity, and I had to remind myself that I was at least partially responsible for his notoriety.
Just then, three people about our age came running over and began to chatter eagerly with Alex, teasing him about something that had happened at work. I held back so he could talk with his friends, but he grabbed me around the waist and gently pulled me to him.
“Hey, everybody,” he said, “this is Elle Finn, my date. She’s also the reporter who wrote the story in The Times.” He turned to me. “These are the people I’ve been telling you about in my office. This is Jacob and Tommy and Marie,” he told me, introducing them one by one.