“It’s not a secret,” she said. “At least, not anymore. I’ll tell you.” She took in a deep breath and then let it out. “I always wanted to be a writer. I want to be an author of children’s books.”
I took a beat. She stared up at me, her cheeks turning red, and I got the sense that it was really hard for her to admit that out loud to me. I squeezed her hand. “You know what?” I said. “I think you would make an incredible children’s book author.”
“Really?” Her eyes watered up a little. She must’ve been getting a little tipsy already.
“Yes, really,” I said.
“Well, good,” she said. “Because I’ve actually started to pursue it more seriously.”
“Yeah? Since when.”
“Since yesterday.”
We both laughed.
“No,” she said. “But I’m serious. I’m really excited this time around. It feels different from the other times that I’ve said I was going to stick to it. I think I’ll actually be able to finish the book this time, and then it’ll just be a matter of finding someone who could publish it for me.”
“I might know a few people who could help with that,” I said. “The Becker family has connections all over the country, and I’m sure we know at least one person who’s connected to the publishing world somehow.”
“That would be great!” She grinned. “I can’t tell you how helpful it would be. It can be really hard for new writers to get their foot in the door.”
“I’m sure it is. So whenever you get the full book done, let me know, and I’ll see what I can do.” I put my glass on the bedside table and got out of bed. I yawned and stretched my back. “Alright, well, it’s getting late. I think we should call it a night.”
“Yeah,” she said. “Totally.”
“I’m going to go get ready for bed. I’ll uh, see you in the morning.”
She smiled and rested her head back down on the pillow, letting her eyes flutter closed for a second. “Okay, I’ll see you in the morning.”
I was a little confused by this behavior, but I decided she was just being playful. She understood that I wanted her to go back to her room right? How could she not? I said I would see her in the morning, which was obviously code for I’d like to be alone now, please leave. I went into the bathroom to wash up, fully expecting her to be gone when I returned.
ChapterFifteen
STEPHANIE
Matt went into the bathroom and I shimmied down further under his incredibly soft sheets.
I felt like I was on cloud nine. The sex had been even better than the first time, and the wine he bought was beginning to really hit the spot. Not to mention, we’d stayed up late talking and now we were going to cuddle in bed together all night long.
I was so happy, I could scream.
But thankfully, I controlled that urge, and instead I let out my contentment in the form of a satisfied sigh and closed my eyes. I thought about him, his body and the way he used it, and more importantly, I thought about his reaction when I told him I wanted to be a writer. He didn’t laugh at me or act like it was a pipe dream or something. He seemed to really take me seriously, so much so, he even offered to help me get published when the time came! I couldn’t believe how lucky I was. I had found a guy who was rich, handsome, a family man, and so,sogenerous. Not to mention, he was amazing in bed. I was feeling things I’d never felt for anyone before, and it got me thinking, I might actually be falling in love with this man.
I wouldn’t tell him that night, I didn’t want to scare him off. But I figured if we continued to spend time together like this, it would only be a matter of weeks before I let it slip. It would be too hard for me to contain it.
But for tonight, I figured the best thing to do would be to just tell him I had a lovely time, and for us to fall asleep next to each other. It was chalking up to be the most romantic night of my life, and the last thing I wanted to do was mess it up by talking too much.
Then, Matt came out of the bathroom, and gawked at me.
“Stephanie,” he said.
I sat up and frowned at him. “Uh, yes… Why? Were you expecting someone else?”
“No, it’s just—I thought I told you that we should call it a night.”
“Yeah,” I said. “That’s why I was getting comfortable.”
“But when I said that, I meant that you should go back to your bedroom and I would stay here.”