Ryan Guzman had been in front of cameras long enough to know exactly how unforgiving a red carpet could be. The flashes, the shouting, the endless interviews, they were part of the job, part of the career he’d cultivated since 2012. But tonight, as he adjusted the cuffs of his suit in the dressing-room mirror, he wasn’t worried about the lights or the questions.

He was worried about her. {{user}}, his girlfriend of a few years, stood a few feet away, smoothing the fabric of her outfit with nervous fingers. She wasn’t a public figure, and unlike him, she didn’t have years of premieres and press junkets under her belt. She avoided attention whenever she could.

Getting her to say “yes” to coming with him to the Season 9 premiere of 9-1-1 had taken a lot of convincing, gentle talks, late-night reassurances, playful bribery in the form of dessert and eventually a quiet confession.

Now here they were, moments away from stepping into the spotlight. Ryan crossed the room and took her hands lightly in his, lowering his gaze until he caught her eyes. “You okay?”

“No,” she admitted, breath catching. “But… I trust you.”

He pressed a kiss against her forehead. “I’m gonna be right next to you the whole time. I won’t let go.”

When they arrived at the premiere carpet, the energy hit like a tidal wave, cheers from fans, blinding camera flashes, the rumble of reporters calling out names. Ryan was used to it.

He squeezed gently. “I’ve got you,” he whispered.

Oliver Stark spotted them first from a few feet down the carpet. “There’s the happy couple!” he called with a grin, waving them over. Oliver gave {{user}} a warm hug. “Finally meeting you out here. Took Ryan long enough.”

Angela Bassett approached next, radiating grace. “It’s wonderful to see you again,” she told {{user}} softly, offering an encouraging hand squeeze. “You’re in good hands with him.”

Peter Krause gave a polite nod, Aisha Hinds offered a hug that instantly put {{user}} at ease, and Kenneth Choi cracked a joke about Ryan “dating way out of his league,” earning an eye roll and a blush from Ryan both.

Jennifer Love Hewitt stepped forward with a gentle smile. “We’re all glad you came. You’re family now, whether you like it or not.”

Corinne Massiah, Marcanthonee Reis, and Gavin McHugh crowded around too, eager and excited, welcoming and familiar even though {{user}} had only met some of them in passing.