Chapter 6 #2
Nirblob continues. “During the next few days, you can set aside your worries and indulge in the pleasure of celebrating the amazing world of Tentacular Tales with fellow fans and die-hard enthusiasts. Most especially, we’ll share our love for our favorite main characters, Lord Vardox and Captain Starblade! ”
The room erupts into cheers and whistles of enthusiasm.
“Speaking of which, you will find several hand fans at your tables. One side is emblazoned with Team Starblade and the other Team Vardox. When I call your team, hold them up, facing my direction with that name. Are you ready?”
Raucous shouts of agreement resound all around us.
“Okay, let’s start with the Team Starblade stans!”
Attendees start waving their fans and shouting with loud enthusiasm.
River looks around the room with obvious satisfaction.
“Excellent,” Nirblob says into the mic. “Now, let’s hear from the Team Vardox lovers!”
The noise around us becomes deafening as fans are zealously waved in the air.
River leans in to whisper. “I think Lord Vardox is the indisputable favorite.” He pooches out his bottom lip. “Captain Starblade, my precious himbo, needs more love. Don’t you think?”
I wrap my arms around him and hold him close. “Who knows, with the new direction you’re taking your story, especially with the reverse jealousy plotline you mentioned earlier, maybe you’ll net yourself some new Starblade fans?” I say, keeping my voice low.
He rubs his hands together. “You’re so right. How did I not think of that? This could be Captain Starblade’s comeback era!”
I chuckle and rest my chin on the top of his head.
On the stage, Nirblob is now explaining the convention rules for attendees and reminding everyone about tomorrow’s schedule of events.
“It’s a day jam-packed with pure fun and enjoyment.
Use your digital schedule on the app to make sure you don’t miss the events you’re most passionate about.
For tonight, live it up and start getting to know some of your fellow Tentacular Tales fans.
You’re among your people here and safe to indulge in all your fannish desires—just make sure if they involve anyone else that they’re consensual! ”
The crowd laughs and claps loudly. Then the lights on the stage go down and the ones in the room turn up again. Music starts playing, and some eager participants head to the makeshift dance floor by the stage and start to strut their stuff.
“Do you want to join them?” I ask River. I’m not particularly keen on the idea myself, but I’ll dance with him amid all these people if he wants me to.
My husband gives me a look that sees right through me and pats me on the arm.
“Don’t worry, hubby-boo. I know this scene isn’t your jam.
Too crowded. I won’t subject you to dancing.
Not tonight, at least.” He flashes a roguish grin, which, with his current outfit, takes his whole sexy pirate vibe to the next level.
I need to tell him to keep the outfit so he can wear it for me when we’re alone.
He can be the dangerous pirate who kidnaps and seduces me… Mmm…
River jars me out of my wayward thoughts when he says, “But I will expect some slow dancing with you at the costume ball, so prepare yourself.”
I sketch him a little bow. “As you wish.”
“Hey, that’s my line tonight!” He gestures toward himself. “Respect the costume.”
I throw my head back and laugh.
Before River, I rarely laughed so freely. Now, it’s an almost daily occurrence.
And galactic gods, do I love it.
A short time later, we make a quiet escape from the ballroom and head back to our honeymoon suite, much to my relief. I’m already yawning once we get inside.
“Stop that,” River says around a yawn of his own.
“My apologies. I’m still a lot more tired than I expected. Given how laid-back our entire day has been, I wasn’t anticipating this.”
River steps closer and carefully removes my fake mustache, then pulls off my curly Inigo Montoya wig, running his hands through my hair. “That’s just another sign how badly we need some serious R and R, babe.”
I return the favor and help him remove his eye mask and headscarf. “Perhaps, but it makes me feel decidedly old-mannish.”
River links his arms around the back of my neck and looks up at me sweetly. “You’ll be my sexy old man sometime, but not quite yet. A brief stint at relaxation isn’t going to cancel out the weeks of stress and overwork we’ve both been through. Let’s just listen to our bodies and take it easy.”
“You’re probably right,” I grudgingly admit, “but it goes against my strongly ingrained work ethic.”
He snorts. “You mean your workaholic tendencies?”
“Uh… perhaps.”
He chuckles. “In all seriousness though, we should take advantage of this rare time to ourselves. Our lives and our schedules are going to change a lot once we have three kids to take care of. If we think we’re tired now, just imagine how exhausted we’re going to be in five years.”
I wince. “That’s one thing I’m not prepared for.”
River grins. “Thank goodness we have two sets of grandparents, Uncle Benji, your brother Mal, and two great-grandparents waiting not so patiently on the sidelines and ready to pitch in and help. When we’re overwhelmed or too exhausted, they’ll be there.
We won’t have to handle everything on our own. ”
He’s absolutely right. It’s one of the reasons I was confident River and I could handle this new challenge going forward.
“Trust me,” River adds, “I plan to make the most of their willingness to help. Even if it means I have to subtly or not so subtly guilt my parents into giving us a break when we need one. After all, they owe me big time, and I suspect they’ll bend over backward to do for our kids what they didn’t do for me. ”
His words break my hearts a little. River has forgiven his parents and accepted them back into his life far more graciously than anyone else in his situation might have.
Their actions, faking their deaths and leaving him in his uncle’s care, left scars that will never fully disappear.
They all lost out on precious years together, but River most of all.
I’m trying to open my hearts to Melody and Chris, but I suspect it will take me a very long time before I can.
I unbutton my shirt and wrap my arms and two tentacles around him, holding him close. “They should be honored that you’re willing to let them be in your life and that of our children.”
River leans his cheek against my chest and sighs.
“I know how much they regret most of their choices and all the time they lost with me while I was growing up. Even if I didn’t get the level of care and attention from them that I needed, I’m more than happy to have them make up for lost time on that front with our kids.
” He squeezes his arms around me. “You and I are going to make sure our babies have the safest and most loving and supportive upbringing possible.”
I pull him with me toward the bed, and as if by silent agreement, we shed our clothes and curl together under the covers. In the dark, I stroke my hand through those glorious curls I’ll never tire of.
“You told me earlier that our kids are going to be the most epically cool ones in the universe, but I think we’re also going to be the most incredible parents in the entire universe.”
River snuggles closer. “You bet your ass, we will. We’ll be so fucking phenomenal we could win intergalactic awards.”
I chuckle, and we both yawn again.
Riding on happy thoughts about our future, we drift toward dreamland.