Three Grumpy Groomsmen

21. Liam

CHAPTER 21

Liam

“It might surprise you to know I’m not really a boardwalk kind of guy.”

Ford looks over at me. “Oh, I’m totally shocked.” He grins. “Me either.”

“Really? I would’ve thought you’d love it like everyone else here.”

We’re down along the boardwalk that runs the length of the beach in Honeysuckle Harbor. It’s clearly a favorite spot for locals as well as tourists. It’s also obviously been here for a very long time. There are shops and snack carts, an actual boardwalk and an area with rides and games.

That’s where we are now. Harrison and Ford wanted to show us around town after breakfast. It didn’t take long since the town is so small, but when Harrison drove us down here, and Ivy saw the Ferris wheel and let out a little squeal that got a huge grin out of Harrison, Ford and I exchanged a look. We both knew then that we were going to be here for a while.

We are standing back, watching Harrison and Ivy at the ring toss.

Ivy really wants a gigantic pink stuffed bunny.

But she is terrible at this game. They’ve been playing for fifteen minutes. Harrison told her that he would win her a giant stuffed animal, but she’d have to get on her knees later. Or she could try to win her own. Despite the fact that she’s gone eight rounds without winning, Harrison just keeps handing money to the guy in the booth. Despite it also means no blow job. Ivy is smiling up at Harrison as if he’s her hero. I’m not sure who is having more fun.

I am a little surprised, however, that Harrison didn’t push the blow job angle a little harder. Ivy is damned good at that. But I think maybe my boyfriend is starting to have more than just a small soft spot for the girl in our foursome. I suspect the reason she’s tossing rings instead of getting on her knees is because Harrison is enjoying watching her have a good time.

I know I am. And it’s very clear looking at Ford that he is too.

“Oh, when I was a kid, it was awesome to come down here,” he says. “But I guess I’ve become a little bit more of a curmudgeon about crowds and strangers.”

I snort. “Curmudgeon? Yeah, you must have. I think only curmudgeons actually use that word.”

He chuckles. “See what I mean?”

Though I’ve never actually used that C word, I can relate. Crowds and strangers are overrated.

Just then Ivy throws both arms up in the air and yells, “Yes!”

Harrison scoops her up in his arms and twirls her around, laughing. “You did it!”

No one says finally . Though I’m thinking it. And I’m sure the guy running the game is as well.

She chooses a bright pink rabbit that is nearly half her size and comes practically skipping over to us.

And officially she is the cure for curmudgeon-itis. I feel myself smiling and see the huge grin on Ford’s face.

Clearly, we would do, or put up with, anything for her.

She thrusts the rabbit at me. “Look what I won!”

I laugh. “Honey, Harrison bought this. The money he forked over on that game could’ve bought you two of these.”

She leans in, squishing the bunny between us and presses a kiss to my lips. “This was way more fun, though.”

See? It’s all about fun with her and Harrison. But I have to admit that it’s contagious.

“Okay, Ferris wheel next,” Harrison announces.

Small correction—I would do almost anything for Ivy.

I shake my head. “Nope.”

Ivy tries pouting. “Come on, we have to go on the Ferris wheel.”

“I don’t think that thing has passed a maintenance inspection in at least a decade,” Ford says, eyeing the rickety thing that’s half a football field away.

Ivy laughs and looks up at Harrison. “You only live once.”

“Exactly.” He looks at Ford. “Seriously? You’re not riding either?”

“Very much a fan of my feet being on the ground,” Ford tells them.

“Fine,” Harrison says with a shrug. “Guess it’s just me and Ivy. Again.”

Ivy grabs his hand and starts tugging him away. “Come on. Maybe we’ll ride twice to make up for them.”

Harrison gives Ford and I a grin. “Just so you know, I’m going to finger fuck your girlfriend on that Ferris wheel just because you won’t be there to stop me.”

Ivy stops and looks back at him. “ Just because they won’t be there?”

Harrison put his arm around her, his hand right on her ass. “Well, and because you have a very nice pussy.”

She smiles up at him, sliding her arm around his waist. “Thank you very much. And you have very nice fingers.”

They walk off together looking very much like a couple.

“Tell me I’m not alone in being a little turned on watching another guy take Ivy on the Ferris wheel with that promise,” Ford says, watching them go.

I look at Ford. “You are definitely not alone. And I’m not a little turned on. I’m a lot turned on.”

He blows out a breath. “Well, at least we’re in this together.” He turns toward the stand selling kettle corn, cotton candy, and other treats. “I’ll buy you soda.”

“Sounds good.”

We approach the stand and wait in line behind a dad and his kid, who’s about twelve.

When they turn to leave, I notice the kid’s shirt.

It’s from My Fellow Aliens , my TV show. I grin. “Like your shirt,” I tell him.

The kid grins. “Thanks.”

We place our orders and Ford hands me a cola, then we turn and start to stroll toward the Ferris wheel.

“That must be really cool,” Ford comments.

I take a pull on my straw. I’m not sure what he’s talking about. “What?”

“Seeing people wearing the merch out and about. Or hearing people talk about the show. I assume you’re probably on forums and stuff, though, right?”

I stop walking and turn to look at him. “You know my show?” I’m completely surprised by that. I’m aware that Ford and Harrison know that I’m a writer for a TV show, but I honestly had no idea Ford knew the name of the show.

Ford’s eyes widen. “Are you kidding? I’m a huge fan.”

“Are you serious?” I ask. “You watch My Fellow Aliens ?”

“I’ve watched it since season one. Before I knew who you were. But that’s how I knew your name when we were introduced.”

I shake my head. “I didn’t know you knew my name when we were introduced. Or I guess maybe I thought you knew my name because of Ivy? That Brad told you my name?”

“I think he might’ve mentioned you, probably by your first name, but when we actually met in person, Ivy said your first and last name. I immediately put it together.”

I peer at him. “You know the name of a writer on the TV show?” No one ever knows that.

“What can I say? I’m thorough when I get into something. I love the show and the writers are the biggest part of anything like that. So I looked you all up. I know you’re one of the head writers.”

I’m actually shocked. Ivy knows the name of the show and she knows I’ve been with it since the beginning, but she doesn’t know much about what I actually do on the show. Harrison might know the name of the show, but I sincerely doubt it. “That’s amazing. I’m so glad you like it.”

“No, Liam,” Ford says sincerely. “I don’t like it. I love it. It’s so well done. The world building is outstanding. The layers to all of the relationships are so compelling. And the humor’s top-notch.”

I’m stunned. We start walking again. “I guess I don’t see you as a sci-fi guy.”

“Well, in fairness, there’s a lot about me you don’t know,” he says with a chuckle. “And vice versa. Though I feel like I have a little insight into you because of the show. But yeah, we haven’t gotten to know each other that well.”

“I guess that’s true. This is a very welcome surprise.”

Ford smiles. “Well, I’m glad. If you ever need a pep talk about how the show is going, I’m your guy.”

“That’s amazing to hear.”

“And considering our…situation…” He nods toward the Ferris wheel. “If you wanted to share anything with me about what’s coming up for Captain Daniels and Princess Daria…”

I laugh. “Oh, very smooth. Very subtle.”

He chuckles. “Well, it was worth a try.”

We walk a little further until we find a bench to wait for Harrison and Ivy. They’re still going around but as we watch, suddenly it stops at the top. They’re the only people on it and I narrow my eyes.

“He totally paid them to stop it at the top, didn’t he?” I ask.

“Yup.”

I sip more of my soda, thinking. But what the hell? “So Captain Daniels is actually one of my main characters. I’m in charge of his character arc.” Daniels, the captain of the primary spaceship, has been on the show from the very beginning.

Ford turns to look at me. “No shit? That’s incredible. He’s by far one of my favorite characters.”

I was hoping he would say that. “Yeah. And as you just alluded to, everyone’s kind of thinking he should end up with Princess Daria.”

I’ve actually been stuck on this point for about a week. I haven’t been able to work through it.

Ford nods. “That’s been pretty obvious.”

“Yeah. That’s what the other writers and the showrunner have been pushing for. It’s actually something I’m supposed to be working on right now. But I’ve been a little stuck,” I confess.

Ford squares up to me. He looks very serious. “You don’t think they should end up together?”

I shake my head. “I really don’t. I think that’s why it’s so hard to write.”

“Because he needs someone softer,” Ford says. It’s not a question.

My eyebrows lift. “Yeah. Daria is amazing. She’s kick ass. A born leader. There’s no question they have a ton in common. But she doesn’t offer him anything that he doesn’t already have, you know?”

Ford’s head is nodding up and down before I even finish. “I do know. I get it. I mean, they have chemistry. They’re hot together. And clearly they’re both fighting for the same thing. But yeah, she doesn’t ever let him kind of…I don’t know, let down?”

I jab a finger toward him. “Exactly. It’s like he’s got all these hard edges. And they’re there for good reason. But he needs somebody who can get past that. Not someone who just reinforces those, right? I mean, Daria is a fantastic warrior. She’s a great like…co-worker for him. A good friend. But to be in love, doesn’t he need someone who can go a little deeper with him?”

Ford looks at me for a long moment, then toward the Ferris wheel. He smiles. “Yeah. I think he does. He needs someone who can smooth out some of those rough edges. Someone who will encourage him, and support him, but who also lets him be softer, and has a softer side for him to lean on.”

I take a deep breath and blow it out. Okay, yeah, this is probably all just me writing about me and Ivy. But still, I feel it in my bones. This is what’s right for this character. “I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t a big piece of me inside Captain Daniels,” I say.

“Well then, lead writer, take him on the journey he needs to go on,” Ford says. “I can promise you the fans are gonna be there for you.”

I can’t even describe how that makes me feel. Pride, relief, and a sense of rightness. I know what I’m doing. I need to go in this new direction.

“Thanks Ford.”

“Anytime. And I promise I’ll keep my lips zipped about anything you spill to me. I go on the fan forums, but I just lurk. I never post.” He pauses. “Okay, I do post and comment, but I swear I won’t say anything about this. I am here for you if you need to talk about the show.”

I laugh, but actually, I love that idea. Having someone outside of the show itself, but who’s still knowledgeable and passionate about it, could be the most amazing thing for my creative process. I am really gonna need to get this guy some merch.

Finally, Ivy and Harrison come strolling back over to us.

Our girl is smiling widely, and her cheeks are flushed. I shake my head. I should probably feel jealous or something that my friend fingered my girlfriend on the Ferris wheel and clearly got her off, but I don’t. I just grin at both of them.

“How was the ride?” Ford asks.

Harrison tucks something into Ford’s front pocket. Ford frowns and pulls on the edge of it. It’s clearly Ivy’s panties.

I lift a brow at first Harrison, then Ivy.

“So, you had a good time?”

Harrison steps close to me and lifts his hand to my mouth. He slides his index and middle finger over my lips and into my mouth. “Taste for yourself.”

With my gaze locked on his, I swirl my tongue over the end of his two digits.

I don’t think I’m just imagining the taste of Ivy on his fingers.

I suck hard, watching Harrison’s eyes darken, then pull back and look at my girl. “Delicious.”

Her cheeks are dark pink, but she’s grinning.

Fuck, I actually love that she and Harrison are getting along and having fun—even sexy fun—together. I love that Ford and I had a moment.

Yes, Ivy is definitely going to be my muse for the sweet tavern wench on the far-off planet of Nestia who Captain Daniels is going to fall head over heels for.

She’s been in the back of my mind for almost a year.

But dang, now I kind of have an urge to give her a couple more boyfriends.

Captain Daniels maybe needs more than just one person to really figure his life out.