Chapter 28
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Grayson
Hutch, Bray, and I sit at the bar waiting for Al to serve us our Thursday drinks.
“So, how are we getting you two back together?” Hutch asks as he grabs his drink from Al.
All eyes turn on me and a hush falls over everyone including Margie, Cornelia, Jessa, Troy, Cam, Carly, Drew, and even Ava. According to Cam, Roxy had to go pick up a last-minute shipment, so she won’t be here for a while. I’ve been trying to figure out a way to talk to her. To apologize for being an ass, to plead with her to give us a second chance. But I haven’t figured out a way to do that yet.
The door to the stairwell swings open and Jocelyn walks out, looking at all of us as we turn to see her.
“Uh, hi, I…” She trails off and looks around.
“Hey, come on over,” Al says warmly with a wave of his hand.
She walks over to us and stands at the end of the bar. She looks straight at me, and again, everyone is silent.
“How are you going to fix this?” she asks as her eyes search mine.
“Yeah, Gray, how are you fixing this?” Hutch mimics as he leans over Bray to look at me.
I run my hand through my hair. “You’re freaking him out. Give him a minute. The boy needs to think,” Cornelia says as she gets up and walks over to me, patting my shoulder. She leans closer and whispers in my ear, “You do have a plan, don’t you?”
I close my eyes and sigh. How am I the last one to have known? Why did it take us fighting for me to realize Roxy is the best thing in my life? She likes me for me. It’s not about my family or their money or even my career. She just liked me for who I am. And I need that in my life.
“We can help,” Al offers. There’s a rash of nods and “yeses” from my neighbors.
“Bro, you need a giant-ass grand gesture,” Drew quips from where he sits behind me. “I mean like a motherfucking, sorry, Aves, mother-effing huge book boyfriend grand gesture.”
“That’s OK, Mr. Drew,” Ava says from where she is coloring at the table next to him. “What’s a grand gesture?”
“It’s like…crud, I can’t think of a cartoon grand gesture,” Carly muses as she taps her cheek, deep in thought.
“Oh, uh, remember how the Beast gave Belle that library? That’s like a grand gesture,” Drew says.
“Dude, that’s not a grand gesture. It was that ball thing when they danced,” Hutch says.
“No, it was when he fought off that jerk guy,” Cam interjects.
“Mommy, I still don’t get it,” Ava whispers.
Carly laughs. “It’s OK. I’m fairly certain I’m confused now too.”
“Oh, Mr. Gray?” Ava says and I turn to look at her. “Miss Roxy likes books. Why don’t you get her a book?” Her face lights up. “Or take her to see that new movie. Mommy, what’s that new movie you and Mr. Drew were talking about? Mr. Drew said it’s an apatation.”
“Adaptation,” everyone corrects simultaneously.
“Yeah, that,” Ava says. “What is that?”
“It’s when a book is made into a movie,” Carly says as she and Bray exchange smiles. God, those two need to hook up and get it over with.
“Movies are books?” Ava asks, her eyes wide.
“Some movies are,” Bray answers.
“Cool,” Ava replies with a grin.
My mind starts to spin. A movie. Shit, Pierce’s other project is working on a film adaptation of this super famous romance book. He had mentioned last week that the film tour was wrapping up here next week. We had been discussing when our film’s press tour would start and he had said it was perfect timing with the other one finishing up now. Roxy’s grand opening is supposed to be next week, although word on the street is she was wanting to push it back because she was worried what she had planned wouldn’t be enough. Which it is, but maybe, just maybe, I can help make it better.
“I have an idea,” I say slowly as I pull my phone out of my pocket.
“I love ideas,” Al says excitedly.
I press call on my phone. “Pierce?” I say when he picks up. “I need a favor.”
* * *
I’ve spent all week making arrangements. At first, I wanted to tell Roxy and take all the credit for what I’m doing, but I changed my mind almost as fast as the idea had come to me. I don’t want to make this about me. This is her day. So in the end, I had Pierce and Haven agree to take credit for the idea. Haven worked with Roxy and set up a visit for the grand opening from not only the bestselling author of the recent film adaptation but also two of the film’s actors. Jocelyn says Roxy is ecstatic and that the event is looking to be absolutely beyond anything Roxy has imagined.
That made me smile.
It’s the morning of the grand opening. It’s also the day that I’ve turned in my last score edits for the film. When I wasn’t working with Pierce to get actors to Roxy’s shop, I was working with the local orchestra to record the final musical score for the film. Wade just sent me the files and it’s beyond my wildest dreams. For the first time in my life, I’m proud of my work. I did that.
My phone rings and it’s Pierce.
“Hey, just got the final files,” I answer.
“You want to see them in action?” Pierce asks.
“You mean, you added them already?” I ask in confusion. I knew Pierce was working with his editor on the film, but I had no idea they had a rough cut ready.
“Yep,” he replies.
“Hell, yeah, I do,” I laugh, still feeling like this is all a dream.
The call switches to a video chat and I accept. I’m greeted by a large monitor.
“Here you are. I’d invite you over, but I’m too stoked to wait any longer,” he explains as he hits play and my music fills the silence on the call like a misty fog rolling across a valley. I’m encased and enraptured by it; I watch the opening scene unfold as crescendos build drama. My heart thunders in my chest, only slowing as the music ends.
“And here.” Pierce fast-forwards to the next scene with music. He does this again and again until we reach the ending credits.
It’s quiet as he presses pause following the last note of a moving piece of music that I created after the first night Roxy and I slept together. I was so inspired that I changed my score, and when I shared it with Wade and Pierce, they immediately green-lighted it for recording.
Pierce turns the camera to his face. “You nailed it. Everyone is going to want to use you. You have no idea what is coming your way. My advice…enjoy these next few weeks because your life is about to change in a major way. And you deserve it. I knew you would be the perfect fit for this production. But you exceeded even my wildest expectations. Congrats!”
I shake my head in disbelief. “Thanks. I…don’t even know what to say,” I admit. “Just, thanks for taking a chance on me, for believing in me. I don’t know how to repay you for that.”
“You did that. Your insistence and bugging me got you in my door and the rest is just, well, it’s your talent. This is your moment to shine.” He pauses and smiles at me. “I believe you have a big day today. Haven and I will be there at one sharp.”
“I’ll see you both there. Wish me luck,” I say.
“You don’t need it. She may be mad at you, but she loves you. It’s clear to anyone who has seen you together. You’ll see,” he promises and I hope what he says is true. Love…shit, yeah, I love her too. God, I hope he’s right.
Licorice meows and I look down at her. “Hey, you ready to go see your mom?” I may have gotten her a cute cat outfit. It’s taken a few days to acclimate her to it, but she’ll at least walk around with it on now.
I get myself dressed in a suit because Roxy commented on my suit one night and that stuck with me. So many of her passing comments stick with me. She has no idea how much I’ve come to need her, to crave her in my life. I’ve been an empty shell for days. How did she weasel her way into my heart so quickly? I thought for sure after Lydia broke up with me that I’d never love another woman. But Roxy changed me, and for the better.
I get Licorice dressed next and in her harness, and then I look in the mirror.
“Ready?” I ask her. She meows back and I laugh, already feeling lighter just knowing I’ll be in the presence of the woman who has stolen my fucking heart.
“Let’s do this,” I say more to myself than the cat. I grab the flowers sitting on the side table by my front door and we walk downstairs. Through the glass of the front door, I can see that the sidewalk is packed with people, a line stretches down the street. Holy shit! I had no idea it would be this crazy. I pull out my phone and call Troy.
“Hey, man, what’s up?” he answers on the first ring.
“I need a favor. I need you to let me in the side entrance to the bookstore,” I say.
“Er, I don’t think I can. Sorry. Maybe try the front door?” he suggests.
“Troy, look out the window,” I growl.
He’s quiet for a beat. “Fuck. That’s a lot of people. Sorry. Maybe you can ask to skip the line, I see a limo pulling up, pretend you’re with them.”
A limo. “That’s actually not a bad idea,” I state as I walk out the front door and see Pierce and Haven following two actors, another woman who I assume is the author and their entourage.
“Hey,” Haven says when she sees me.
I look at the line and back at Haven. “Any chance I can come inside with you all?”
Haven grins and winks at me. “Of course, just follow behind us.”
I nod and get in line behind them as security ushers us inside. Damn, she even hired a security guy for the front door.
Pierce leans into me as we approach the door. “I paid for some security. Glad I did,” he says with a laugh as the people in line start screaming when the two actors approach them. The actors take it in stride, walking down the roped-off line and taking selfies with fans. They come back after a few moments, promising more when the fans get inside. I follow them all into the store. If the soft launch was awesome, this is ten times better. An area in back has six tables with signing authors. The two actors have a backdrop area just to the left of the desk. There’s a table with giveaway bags. Outside, two food and ice cream trucks have pulled up to serve customers. A coffee bar is set up inside and she’s added a special editions section for opening day.
“Wow!” I say as I continue to look around until my eyes lock on two familiar blue ones. Roxbury Benedict looks like a wet dream. She’s in a red dress. Her gorgeous hair hangs down in loose curls. And those heels should be illegal. Her gaze meets mine and we just stare at each other for a long beat. The whole world disappears for long seconds. And I know without a doubt that I will do anything to win her back. If this doesn’t work, I’ll show up here every day from now until eternity.