Page 33 of Always Another Sunset

“Thanks, Blake,” JC said, forcing a grin to lighten the mood. She knew he meant well. “But today I’m going to go sit on that rock and try to figure out my crazy life.”

Blake nodded. “JC, if that works, let me know,” he said. “And I’ll sit on the rock next time.”

33

The literary conference was exhausting, but Bella was thankful her editor insisted she go. Networking with the other authors, as well as with publishers, and especially readers, was invaluable. Her presentation on writing characters with emotion was a hit, and dozens of aspiring authors tracked her down afterward to ask follow-up questions. Bella didn’t mind helping them. She was grateful her book was so popular and wanted to give back whatever she could.

After navigating the few days of panels and speakers, awards night had arrived. Forcing herself not to wring her hands in her lap under the table, Bella waited as the presenter read the names of the different books in the romance author category. The competition was fierce, and although her friends and editor kept saying her book was the best of the group, Bella couldn’t quite believe it. Even if her book was a runaway bestseller with sapphic book readers, the award judges did not necessarily feel the same way. They would be much more critical and might dismiss Bella’s book as too sappy or unoriginal. She felt the strongest urge to call JC, knowing that somehow the sound of the woman’s confident voice would calm her nerves. Even after only a short time together, no matter what Bella went through, she knew JC could always be counted on to be her rock. Before the tug of longing for the woman could build, they were announcing the romance novel winner.

“And this year’s winner of the romance category is Bella Wood.”

Suddenly the people around Bella erupted with applause and said her name. Sitting in her chair, trying to register what happened, her editor tugged at her arm. “You won, Bella,” Joanie said. “That means you have to stand up and go get the award.”

Moving by instinct more than anything else, Bella stood and, after hugs from Joanie and a few people at her table, she made her way to the podium. Her acceptance speech was a blur as she squinted into the bright lights illuminating the stage. Through it all, one thing remained constant—she wished JC was there to share the moment with her.

As soon as she was back at her table, she sent off a text to JC about her win, but it was not until hours later that she could sneak away to the lounge outside the bathrooms long enough to call her. “That’s so amazing,” JC said once Bella gave her more details. “I’m so proud of you.”

Bella felt tears spring to her eyes. “I hoped you would be,” she murmured, hesitating for a moment as she considered her next words. “JC, I’m sorry I didn’t insist you come to this with me. Not to the author stuff, but to have you here when my name was announced. Your hug was what I needed most.”

There was a beat of silence on the phone, and Bella started to say something more in case she had said the wrong thing, but then JC cleared her throat. Bella heard the emotion in it. “We can’t change the past,” she said. “But I hope you want me to come to the next one.”

Oh, JC, I want you to come to all of them,Bella thought and had to bite her lip to keep from blurting out the words. Until that moment, she didn’t realize how deeply she felt about JC and how much she wanted to ensure they had a future together. Even with all the complications around her house and her life in Oregon, nothing compared to how much she loved the woman in Hawaii.

“Bella,” she heard her editor say as she came up behind her. “So, this is where you are hiding.” She slipped an arm around her shoulders. “Everyone wants to talk to you, and they have copies of your award-winning book to sign. Don’t leave your fans waiting.”

Feeling more than a little trapped, Bella faced her editor. “Two minutes,” she said. “I’m talking to JC.”

“It’s okay,” she heard JC say in her ear. “Go work some magic. Call me whenever you’re done. No matter what time.”

Settingher phone on the kitchen counter, JC thought about what Bella had said, “I’m sorry I didn’t insist you come to this with me.” It felt good to know she was missed because, if she was being honest, the distance was very hard on JC. Bella had confided in her that she was beyond nervous about the award ceremony and what she would say if she won. Being so far away while someone she cared about needed reassurance was challenging. More than anything, JC wanted to be there for Bella but would never have asked outright. Some things had to come at their own pace.

Going to the refrigerator, she took out a beer and grabbed the bottle opener from the drawer. With a practiced flip of her wrist, she removed the cap and took a long drink of the cold liquid before letting out a deep sigh. “Well, she won, Roxie,” JC said to the dog lying on her bed in the kitchen corner. “But we never had any doubt, did we?” Roxie wagged her tail, making JC smile. It was almost like she knew what JC was saying.Or she simply hears the happiness for Bella in my voice, she thought. Regardless, Roxie was a good companion, and she already couldn’t imagine life without her. “What do you say we go for a swim?” Roxie’s ears perked up at the word ‘swim.’

Although dog hair was terrible for the pool’s filter, she liked having Roxie swim in the pool with her. The dog loved the water so much that once JC showed her it was okay for her to get in, it was impossible to keep her out whenever JC swam. “I thought you’d like that idea,” JC said, taking another swallow. “Let me go change my clothes.” While carrying the beer with her, JC walked into her bedroom and, as she was changing, heard her cell phone buzz on the kitchen counter. Hoping it was a text from Bella, she hurried back only to see the words were from Chris.

“Sorry to interrupt your evening,” the text said. “But I have been thinking about our last conversation at the restaurant.” When there was no more to the text, JC raised an eyebrow. Many things had come up that evening, and Chris could be referring to several topics. Not in the mood to play games and try to guess, she typed back a simple sentence. “What about it?”

There was a pause, and JC slightly regretted the harshness of her words, but she wasn’t sure exactly what Chris’s agenda was and didn’t need any drama while Bella was on the mainland. The last thing she wanted was to send any sort of wrong impression.

Finally, the three dots on the iPhone screen started jumping, and JC knew another text was coming. “About my fiancée. She’s here, and I would like the four of us to go to dinner.”

JC frowned. Chris didn’t know Bella had left Hawaii.That might be for the best,she thought.Still, it would be the polite thing to do to accept the offer. To be honest, she was curious about the woman Chris was engaged to, and it might work out better to meet the fiancée. It could help clear up any lingering confusion.

“All right, I’ll join you for dinner,” JC wrote back. “When would you like to meet?”

“Tomorrow night?”

The request seemed a little rushed for JC, but she saw no reason to put it off and sent a text back. “That works,” she said. After a few more exchanges where they set up a time and location, JC finally took the impatient Roxie into the backyard. As she stood at the edge of the pool, she wondered if she should text Bella about her arrangement with Chris for tomorrow night. She knew Bella was not a fan of JC’s ex-girlfriend even if there was a fiancée involved. Ideally, they would have all gone to dinner together.But she’s not here, JC thought as she finished her beer and set the bottle on one of the small tables beside a lounger.And I can always talk with her about it tomorrow.

34

“So, how does it feel to be an award-winning author?” Bella’s editor asked as she sat down with her at the small outdoor table. They were in the courtyard at the hotel having a brunch put on by the conference organizers. It was the last get-together before everyone left to go their separate ways. Bella would miss Joanie’s company after four days of supporting each other during the nonstop whirlwind of the event. Even though she was a hard-ass editor, she did a lot more for Bella’s career and was also a close friend. One who would never mince words and was always good to turn to when she needed advice. Advice like she needed this morning.

A few quick texts back and forth with JC, and Bella learned the woman planned to have dinner with Chris that evening.And her fiancée too,Bella reminded herself.It’s not like a romantic get-together.Still, the entire situation with Chris nagged at her. She hated to admit she was the jealous type, but apparently she was because thinking of anyone making moves on JC made her very anxious and frankly, a little angry. “The recognition feels good,” Bella finally answered, and Joanie raised an eyebrow.

“You could sound a little more enthusiastic,” she said before forking a pile of scrambled eggs. “What’s going on?”

Bella sighed, toying with the handle of her coffee cup, not having much of an appetite. “Just me being silly,” she answered with a shake of her head. “JC’s going to dinner with her ex and her fiancée tonight, and it bothers me a little.”

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