I thought my wedding was the happiest day of my life until our daughter was born. When I held Annabelle in my arms for the first time, breathed her in, and caressed her soft wisps of hair, I knew I was a goner. She captured my heart like her mom before her, and just like then, I closed my eyes and thanked God for giving me two of His precious souls to protect and love.

I glance around me, taking in the flashing lights, clicking cameras, and beautifully dressed movie stars with calm eyes. Nothing phases me anymore now that I’m a father and husband. When you’re up at 3am because your daughter has colic and your wife’s been out of town filming for the past two weeks, the red carpet suddenly feels like date night.

“Tate! Charlotte!” a reporter cries.

“Over here, Mr. and Mrs. Gunner!”

“How’s married life?”

“How’s Annabelle…”

The voices and chatter fade into the background as my eyes find my date for the evening. Charlotte is stunning in her low-cut, backless, shimmering gold gown and matching heels. With her chin tilted up, shoulders thrown back, and hip thrust to the side, she looks like she was born for the red carpet.

I lean in to the Dior-dressed goddess posing next to me. “Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?”

Charlotte smiles and glances up at me. “Yes, but it’ll never grow old. And you look dashing, too, famous guy…”

The cameras and crowds go wild as she leans in and plants a steamy kiss on my lips. I wrap an arm around her soft waist and pull her closer, losing myself in her embrace.

I can’t believe that I almost moved to New York City two years ago and left this incredible woman behind. What had I been thinking?

I’ve had a lot of time to think about it over that time, and I’ve come to the conclusion that I was running from myself. I was a mess back then, a hothead, impetuous, a bad boy in pursuit of quick and easy gratification. I distracted myself with women and money and partying because it prevented me from seeing what I had a become: a lost, lonely soul. It finally took meeting the woman of my dreams to knock me flat on my ass and get me thinking straight.

Charlotte pulls away and grins up at me. “I love you, Tate.”

“Love you, too, babe,” I smirk.

She rolls her eyes. “Ready to tackle tonight?”

I nod and take her hand. “I’m here for you.”

Tonight’s a big night. We’re both up for nominations: Charlotte for her romance and me for my hero flick. Just as I predicted, both were huge successes—Charlotte’s, especially. Her performance catapulted her name through the ranks, and she was now one of Hollywood’s most sought-after actresses. I’ve never been more proud.

“Mr. and Mrs. Gunner, do you have a moment for Access Hollywood?” a prim-looking brunette asks us from the side.

I turn to Charlotte. “At least she’s polite.”

Charlotte smiles and nods. “We always have time for you, Britney.”

I stare at my wife for a moment. How does she always manage to remember these people’s names?

“Great to see you again this year, Mrs. Gunner—”

“Charlotte, please,” my wife urges. Britney’s smile widens.

Looks like my wife just added another diehard fan to her ranks.

“Thank you, Charlotte. I’ll only take a moment of your time.” Britney motions to her cameramen to come closer. “First, congrats to both of you for being up for awards tonight. I’m sure you’ll win the nomination.”

“Thank you, though I know we’re up against some very talented and driven actors and actresses. This will be a tough decision for the judges.”

Britney turns to me. “Tate, you’ve been dabbling in play-acting in between projects, and now you have a youth center planned for early next year. Can you tell me a little about that?”

“Sure. It’s a drama center for underprivileged youth to get experience on the stage. Lots of schools are cutting drama programs and clubs, so we offer a safe space for kids to hone their acting skills or just have fun stepping into a role for a little while.”

“Wow, that’s fantastic. How do you two manage it all? You both juggle careers and parenthood…”

“It’s hard!” I say with a laugh. “I may play a superhero in the movies, but some days, parenthood is a lot harder than saving the world.”

“We have a great team in place that gets us through the day,” Charlottes chimes in.

“And each other,” I add, giving my wife a loving look.

“Speaking of parenthood, you’re expecting your second this July?”

“July nineteenth, to be exact,” Charlotte answers, rubbing her growing belly softly. “I’ll have to take a break from filming in May or June to prepare for our newest family member.”

Britney leans in. “You two are co-starring in a new romance, is that right?”

“Yes, to be released later next year,” I say.

“And rumor has it that it’s based on your own relationship?”

I laugh. “It’s about a fake romance between two actors in Los Angeles. I guess we’re actors, like them, but as for the other part…”

I pause and catch Charlotte’s eye. She winks at me.

“…it will forever remain a mystery.”

“Well,” Britney says with a little smile, “I know there’s a lot of excitement already building around the film. It’s not every day that Hollywood’s ‘It Couple’ stars together.”

Charlotte laughs. “Don’t let my husband hear you say that! His ego may inflate even more.”

“Hey!” I scowl into her face and kiss her nose. “I’m working on it.”

Britney beams at us. “Do you think your relationship will give you that on-screen chemistry that audiences love?”

“Absolutely,” I say, keeping my eyes on my wife. “It’s like acting with my best friend all day.”

“Do you two practice scenes together, then?”

I remain silent, letting Charlotte answer this one. I already know my answer, but it’s not for the public’s ears.

The truth is, I know all my lines by heart. In fact, I barely had to memorize them at all. They’re what I tell Charlotte every day. They’re what I feel for her when I open my eyes each morning and see her sleeping next to me.

They’re the smile that gathers on my face when Annabelle runs up to me as I walk through the door after a long day, or how peaceful she looks when she falls asleep in my arms. I see her mom in my daughter’s smiles, her scowls…

My two girls are everything to me. They’re my world.

So when I’m on set and the director tells me that my character professes his undying love to the woman of his dreams in this scene, I don’t need a script to tell me what to say. All I have to do is look into my leading lady’s eyes, and tell my wife what my heart feels when it gazes upon her beautiful face.

“I love you, my darling. Today, tomorrow, and forever after.”

* * *