Chapter 34
thirty-four
. . .
Winnie
I hated the departure lanes at airports. The cars pressing on their horns, and the security guards directing people to move forward. Travelers who were in a hurry moved past me, dragging their wheeled bags behind them.
And I felt this overpowering need to tell Archer that I loved him.
He’d put the truck in park and jumped out to grab my bag. I adjusted my crossbody purse across my chest and slipped my backpack over my shoulders when I stepped out to the curb.
A loud whistle startled me as the security guard shouted: “That truck can’t stay there, buddy.”
Archer held up a hand in acknowledgment. “Just getting her bag out.”
He smirked at me, all sexy and confident.
Do it. Tell him.
It had been weighing on me. I felt it. I knew he felt it, too.
Why were we holding back?
And I was leaving for three weeks. I needed him to know.
“You okay?” he asked as he stroked the side of my face.
I nodded, feeling my eyes well with tears.
Why the hell was I so emotional?
It wasn’t goodbye; it was “see you later.”
I wasn’t leaving forever.
“I’m good, I um…” I said, and my mouth went completely dry. A couple of cars honked their horns as they moved in and out of the drop-off area, and my heart raced with anxiety.
“Okay, beautiful. Happy release day. I’m so proud of you. Be safe and call when you land.” He pulled me in for a hug.
“Love ya.” The muffled words left my mouth as a loud whistle blew from right behind me, and I startled and nearly fell before I jumped back.
“Love ya”? Is that what I just said?
“I’m going to need this truck moved now, or I’m writing you a ticket,” the buzzkill security officer said, and I had a deep desire to flip him the bird.
He’d just ruined my airport “I love you” and turned it into an epic fail.
Archer nodded, leaned down, and kissed me once more before glancing at the man in uniform glaring at us. “Got it.”
He jogged around the truck and jumped in the driver’s seat. I waved as he pushed the controller to put the window down.
Say it.
For the love of God, please say it.
“You’ve got this, Winnie,” he told me. “Don’t worry about us. Have a great time.”
“Have a great time”?
I forced a smile just as a woman with an oversized rolling bag slammed into me, and Archer pulled away from the curb.
“Ouch!” I grumped, pulling my foot away after she’d completely wheeled over it.
I replayed the events of the goodbye as I made my way through security and then again through the entire flight to Seattle.
He’d definitely heard me, right?
I’d told him that I loved him, or at least a more casual version of “I love you”—and he’d told me to have a good time.
But from the moment I landed in Seattle, where Laney was waiting for me, I was forced to focus.
Our itinerary was packed, and after my arrival at the airport, we’d gone straight to a bookstore, where I signed fifteen hundred copies of Whisper Sweet Nothings.
I didn’t have time to think about the fact that I’d whispered a sweet nothing into my boyfriend’s ear when we were saying goodbye, and he hadn’t said it back.
So maybe I had some time to think about it.
But I forced myself to be present.
It was release day, and I needed to get my head on straight.
Everyone helped by opening the flaps of each cover to make things move along faster. It was exciting and overwhelming all at the same time.
Laney and I made our way to the hotel to change clothes quickly. Then we hopped in a car to get to an in-person signing at another bookstore, with readers who were there to celebrate my release with me.
I glanced down at my phone to reread the text Archer had sent when I landed.
Not exactly what I was hoping for.
Archie
Did you land, beautiful?
Yes. I’m here and heading to the bookstore.
Archie
Okay, be safe. I’m watching your rank online and cheering you on.
Sorry we were so rushed with our goodbye.
Archie
Don’t worry about it. Airports are always a little stressful.
Really? You think?
Try telling a man you love him and have a whistle blown in your ear.
“You ready for this tonight?” Laney asked as we drove toward the bookstore that was hosting the release day signing.
“Yes. I’m so excited to meet Ashlan Thomas. I can’t believe she’s doing the signing with me.”
Ashlan Thomas was one of the most well-known romance authors out there right now, and we were with the same publisher, so they’d asked her to join me for a discussion before we signed.
Once we arrived at the store, everything was a blur. I met my editor, Daisy, whom I worked with at the publishing house, as she’d flown in for the event as well. We’d had many Zoom calls, but it was my first time meeting her in person, and it meant so much to me that she was here.
And then I turned to see the gorgeous woman beside her.
“Hi, Winnie, it’s so lovely to meet you. Thanks for letting me celebrate with you tonight. I’m Ashlan.” She extended her hand.
“Oh my gosh, I, er, I’m a huge fan.” I stumbled over my words and just decided to hug her, which made her laugh.
We were quickly ushered onto the stage, where we chatted about our writing process, and how we’d chosen this profession, and I was just completely in awe of her. Our conversation was easy, and we laughed and had a great time.
When we finished our chat onstage, we spent the next two hours meeting readers and signing books. To say that it was emotional would be a massive understatement.
I must have pinched myself a dozen times before we said our goodbyes at the bookstore, and Ashlan, Daisy, Laney, and I climbed into a car to head to dinner.
I sent Archer a text with a photo from the signing, and he responded with the same sentiment as earlier.
Archie
So proud of you. Be safe and have a good time.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I get it. You want me to have a good time.
We made it to the restaurant and ordered dinner and drinks, and we chatted about how incredible the signing was.
“Oh my gosh. I can’t believe this,” Ashlan said as she looked down at her phone when it vibrated.
“Is everything okay?” I asked.
“Yes. My husband Jace just texted me. Apparently, we have mutual friends, Winnie. We’re practically family.”
“What?” I gasped, because I felt like I’d known her my entire life after the signing, so I was thrilled that we had mutual friends.
“Umm… does the name Beefcake ring a bell?”
“Stop it right now! You know Cutler Heart, a.k.a. Beefcake?”
She laughed as Daisy’s and Laney’s eyes moved between the two of us.
“My cousin is Cage Reynolds, also known as the father of the infamous Gracie Reynolds.”
“You’re Gracie Reynolds’s aunt? Beefcake’s girl! How did I not know this?”
“I guess we’re like the Kevin Bacon of small towns.
I live in Honey Mountain, and my cousin Brinkley is married to Lincoln Hendrix, and they live in Cottonwood Cove.
Lincoln found out that he had a half brother later in life, and his name is Romeo Knight, and he lives with Cutler in Magnolia Falls. ”
“Yes. Lincoln is the superstar football player, and I know Romeo. He’s the famous boxer, and one of Cutler’s uncles.”
“Correct. So that’s how Gracie and Cutler met, and then we met everyone over time as well. And now Cutler’s dad married Emerson Chadwick, of the Rosewood River Chadwicks,” she said with a laugh. “And here we are.”
“What a small freaking world it is,” I said.
“I think in the book world they’d call this an interconnected series.” Laney laughed. “All of these families appear to have one thing in common, this kid with a very interesting nickname. What is it? Coolcakes?”
Now it was our turn to laugh.
“His name is Cutler, but he goes by ‘Beefcake.’ He’s probably the coolest kid I’ve ever met,” I said.
“Totally agree,” Ashlan said. “That boy has more swagger in his pinky finger than most grown men. And he and Gracie are so adorable together. Best buddies, although he has grand plans of marrying her someday.”
“He told me all about it. And he is one determined guy.” I chuckled, just as Daisy said something to Laney, and they both glanced down at her phone and started talking release day numbers.
The waiter set down our entrées, and I groaned when I took the first bite. It had been a long day, and I was definitely ready for a good meal.
Ashlan glanced at the two women across the table from us, who were clearly talking business, and she leaned forward. “So how are you feeling? This is your first tour, and it’s probably a bit overwhelming.”
“Yes. It’s day one and I’m so excited, but I was nervous about being gone for so long.” I filled her in on how I’d moved to Rosewood River, and I told her all about Archer and Melody.
She couldn’t get over the similarities. She’d also been a nanny when she’d first started writing.
But she’d known her now husband most of her life, as he was a family friend.
She understood all the dynamics going on in my life right now, and it was so nice to have someone to talk to about everything.
“I just want to say this to you, because I know where you are and how mixed the feelings are. It’s obvious that you’re really happy and you’ve met someone you’re crazy about, and that’s a good thing, Winnie.
And your career taking off is also a good thing.
As a woman, I think we tend to feel so much pressure to be everything for everyone.
And the truth is, it’s not possible. But you can come damn close with a little balance.
” She chuckled. “That’s the key. You’ve got to find balance.
Balance in your life and your career. And it’s different for everyone, but I can promise you, I’m a mama of three, and I love my babies like crazy.
Jace, my husband—he’s my biggest supporter, my inspiration, and my safe place, you know? ”
“I love that,” I said. I could see how much she adored her family, since it was written all over her face.