Bryn had walked in with three nominations and walked out with one win. She held the award upright in her hands as she posed for post-awards pictures.

"Congratulations," a deep voice called out to her. She turned her head to see Gabriel, trying again to play the part of her date.

She leaned in to hug him with a not-so-unnoticeable fake smile gracing her lips.

"You don't have to keep this up," she spoke acidly as she rested her chin on his shoulder.

He pulled away, grinning. "I rather like it."

She playfully smacked him on the arm, pretending to really be crushing on him.

"Why don't you... Join me in my car?" She asked sweetly.

He nodded and they headed off, away from the prising cameras.

"What are you doing?" She half-yelled as soon as the doors were shut. "I didn't want to be your actual date!"

"We can't give them half a show and never finish it."

She looked back out her darkened window to see if anyone was around. "Goddamn it, Gabriel, this isn't a fucking television show!"

"Are you going to the afterparty?"

"For the love of God, pay attention."

"I'm sorry, I can't afford to."

She looked at him and the shit-eating look on his face. "You think this is all a joke, don't you? My mother was probably watching the awards on live television and now she's most likely in the hospital for a heart attack."

"Because she saw you with a man?"

"Because she saw me with a boy."

His eyebrows went up in feigned sadness. "Oh, come on, that hurt!"

"I am not putting up with this. I don't even know you." She started to reach for the door handle.

"Why can't you try to?"

She stopped moving.

Gabriel's sense of sarcasm stayed. "Hey, I asked you a question earlier, didn't I?" Then his tone got more serious. "Are you going to the afterparty?"

"I don't have a choice do I?"

"You always have a choice. You just have to ask yourself which one is right."

Bryn sighed and turned to face him. "You know, I've always heard you're philosophical."

"You can take this the wrong way, or you can take this the right way: I've heard absolutely nothing about you. Who is the mysterious Bryn Gardner?"

"A woman who punches douchebags in the face. Now, to answer your impatient question, yes, I was planning on going to the afterparty."

"Was?"

She rolled her eyes. "I have to change, then I'll be there."

"I'll pick you up?"

"I passed my driver's test, Mister Macht."

"Can't a gentleman pick up his lady?"

"I'm not your lady. I'm driving myself to and from the party."

"Fine, I'll be the bigger person here and drive you home when you're too drunk to give me your address." Gabriel smirked.

She reached over and slapped him, leaving a bright red hand mark on his left cheek. "Let's see what the media thinks of your lady. Get out of my car."

But his crude sense of humor hadn't left. "See you tonight, babe." He winked and bravely strode out of the car, adjusting his suit inconspicuously so as not to allude to having sexual relations with Bryn inside her vehicle.

See you at nine, asshole.