Black leggings, black short-sleeved shirt, and her hair pulled to the side in a messy tie, she looks damn good. When she gets closer, I can see the pain still etched on her face, the unsteady wobble to her movements. Without stopping, she slips on her tennis shoes and grabs her hat.
“Where do you think you’re going?” I hate that I sound more like an overprotective father than a boyfriend, but I can’t help the concern in my voice as I cross my arms and stand between her and the door.
“Out.”
I glance outside. It’s the middle of the afternoon. The sun hangs high in the cloudless sky. I might be dreaming of being out there, but no way I’m having a repeat of yesterday with her. Crossing my arms, I raise my eyebrows as Breckin joins me, for once not questioning my judgment.
Her shoulders sink as she fidgets, still struggling to hold herself upright. “There’s a book signing.”
“Pretty sure it can wait until you feel better.”
She shakes her head. “Today’s the last day.”
Breckin and I share a look. Books are her life. Not just a hobby, it’s her livelihood. I’m sure if this wasn’t damn important to her, she wouldn’t be trying to go when she can barely stand.
“We’ll take you.” He’s the first one to cave. “But, we’ll be with you the entire time, and if it gets too much, we’re leaving.”
“Fine.” She rolls her eyes, but a slight smile tugs at the corners of her lips.
Driving my truck, it doesn’t take long to pull into the Seaside Hotel. My eyes widen at all the vehicles parked in their lot. This thing must be a lot bigger deal than I expected a bunch of book stuff to be. I do a quick glance around, but can only find a few spots open in the far back. That’s quite a ways to walk. Probably too far.
Pulling up at the door, I glance over at her. “Wanna hop out here and I’ll go park?” She stares at me with a defeated glaze to her colorless eyes, so I decide to egg her on a bit, see if I can at least get a little life out of her. “This way you can get started faster. The sooner you get in there and do your book thing, the sooner we can leave.”
She rolls her eyes as Breckin holds the door open. Just before she hops out, she leans over and kisses my cheek. “Thank you.”
I squeeze her hand. “Any time, Prude.”
With a shy smile, she lets Breckin help her out of the truck. After they disappear inside the hotel, I drive off in search of a parking spot.
By the time I park and head into the conference hall, Breckin and Asra are halfway down the first row. I hold in a laugh at Breckin carrying a canvas tote over his shoulder as I sneak up on them.
“I want him,” the short blonde with glasses talking with Asra declares, staring at my twin.
That seems as good of a time as any. Coming up to Asra’s free side, I wrap my arm around her waist and kiss her cheek.
The lady blinks, doing a double take at both of us. “Scratch that, I want them both.”
“Sorry, hon,” I hug my girl a little tighter, “we’re both taken.”
My girl’s cheeks turn bright pink as she peers down at her shoes and shakes her head. Little Miss Glasses just looks between the three of us, smiling like she’s holding in a squeal.
When Asra looks back up, a professional smile fills her face. “I’m sure we can work something out. Email me with the details.”
This time, Glasses does squeal as Asra elbows me in the side then practically drags us to the next table.
“I don’t trade,” I whisper, loud enough only we can hear, “and we don’t share.” At least not with anyone else other than us two.
“Modeling, Asshole,” she cuts me a sideways glare, “she wants a picture of you two on the cover of her next book.”
“Me?” My eyes widen as I whip around and find Little Miss Glasses. When her eyes lock with mine, I wink. “You hear that, Ken Doll? She wants me to be a model.”
“Both of you . . . It’s for a MM book.”
“What’s that?”
“A romance story about two men.”
“Like?”