Page 150 of Doctorshipped
She doesn’t realize I was that girl once, the one staring at my favorite authors across their book-signing tables like they were larger than life. She doesn’t realize I still don’t floss as often as I should, I still read past my bedtime, and I have on mismatched socks right now. All she sees is me, JJ Culhane, author of a bestselling vampire series.
“What’s your name?” I ask her.
“Jamie, like your real name, but spelled with an I-E. And I want to be an author too, but my dad says I’d better have a backup plan.”
“Backup plans rock,” I tell her. “And cobbling a life together can work too.”
I eye the line of people standing behind her. People lined up just to be able to meet me for a few minutes. People who want to have my name scrawled in the front of a book filled with words that flowed from my imagination.
It’s beyond surreal.
“Cobbling?” she asks.
I flash back to my interview with Grant for a moment, how stern and condemning he seemed at the time, and how I didn’t back down even though he struck a nerve.
“Sometimes you have to do other things so you can pay for a life that allows you to write your novels. If writing is your dream, you do what it takes to make it a reality.”
“Oh.”
“What kinds of books do you want to write?”
“Young Adult, Fantasy Romance … Stories about love with some struggles in them.”
I smile. Something about her reminds me of myself, and it’s not only that we share a first name.
“What’s your last name, Jamie?”
I never ask that question.
“Stewart.”
“I’ll keep an eye out for you and your work.”
She beams like I offered her an all-expense paid ride to the moon with complimentary beverage service and those cooling eye mask things they only get in first class.
“Thank you!” she squeals, looking over her shoulder at an older woman I hadn’t seen until this moment. The woman mouths, “Thank you,” to me—obviously her mom.
“You’re welcome,” I say.
Then I scribble,Jamie, Stay true to your vision. Write words that build worlds. - JJ
My agent taps me on the shoulder. I look over at him. “A half hour to go. Do you need anything?”
I shake my head, no, and then I look at the line of people. I’ll never get to all of these people in a half hour. Some of them will have to accept my pre-signed copies in exchange for the blank one they bought. How is this my life? My eyes are traveling down the line of customers when two people come into view. My two favorite people, to be specific.
Grant fills a room when he enters, not because he’s charismatic like Duke, or has the boyish charm of Brooks, but because he’s so stunningly good looking people can’t help but look at him, and then they can’t seem to look away. Top that off with his broody allure and he’s irresistible, and not only to me. Even after nearly a year of dating him, my heart skitters in my chest at the unexpected sight of him here.
He and Fiona weren’t supposed to show up until I finished signing. I told them they didn’t have to stay at the bookstore for the whole two hours. I didn’t want them to be bored, so they made father-daughter plans around Columbus.
Speaking of Duke and Brooks, they come walking in behind Grant and Fiona. What are they doing here?
They’re followed by Aiden, Rob, and Chris. And then my girlfriends are in the mix.
What is going on? Why are all our friends in Columbus? Did they all come out here to surprise me and celebrate my book signing?
Grant continues walking in my direction, Fiona at his heels, and the crowd parts for him like it's the Red Sea and he’s Moses.
When he reaches the table where I’m sitting, he stands off to the side of the customer who should be next in line. She looks up at him and steps away to give him a chance to speak to me. How does he do that? He didn’t even look at her, yet she knew he took precedence. I smile up at Grant.
