Chapter Text
February 2025
Los Angeles, California
“And the Grammy for Song of the Year goes to…Too Sweet by Hozier!”
The chorus played over the sound of thousands of star-studded celebrities and fans alike rising to their feet in congratulatory applause. Andrew’s eyes widened, brows furrowing as shock and realization hit his senses at once. He tried to wipe the bewilderment from his face as a camera zoomed in on his right and, to his left, his team patted him on the back and hollered praises to him. Several kisses were pecked on his cheek before he turned to kiss Carmen. She wiped her lipstick from his lips with a smile that spread from ear to ear.
He floated to the stage. Someone might’ve taken his hand and squeezed it. Another one might’ve patted his back. There was a hug somewhere in there too. A flashing of lights. Sounds that were both overwhelming and indiscernible. Then, the award was in his hand. A shimmering, gilded gramophone. His name was engraved in black, bolded letters on the plaque. The trophy was smaller than he thought it would be, but heavier than he expected. And it was his. Ten years it took but it was finally his. He looked into the near-blinding lights of the stadium, framed by cameras with red blinking lights. Underneath it all, he could just barely make out the outline of the audience.
“Ehm,” he tried, a nervous laugh breaking the words from his mouth. Clearing throat, he tried again. “Wow. I—thank you. Thank you so much. What an incredible honor and privilege it is to be on this stage, winning this award tonight. I’d like to thank my team, my manager—Gary. Daniel who helped write it, Alex Ryan and Ryan Connors—not only the bassist and drummer who play on this record but also my best mates. I’d like to thank my incredible fans who have supported me throughout the years. My family that I love dearly. And lastly, most importantly, I’d like to thank my beautiful and amazing wife. I dedicate this award to you, love.”
He held it up for the audience to see, but their attention had turned from him. Instead, all eyes and heads of the arena turned to face the spot in the audience Andrew had just vacated. Even the cameras blinked their lights directly at Carmen, who was giving her best performance in not looking like she was in the midst of a heart-stopping panic attack. She clapped for him as he was escorted off the stage, but the cameras only zoomed in on her. The Jumbotron screen didn’t show Andrew walking away with one of the biggest awards of the night. No, instead that screen, as well as millions of screens around the world tuned into the biggest night of music, showed a crystal clear image of the diamond on Carmen’s ring finger. She winced at the sight. A singular thought echoed through her mind:
Cat’s out.