Chapter Fifteen The Convention
Aryn
A few minutes earlier.
The convention was organized chaos as crowds of people meandered around, finding their favorite fiction elements in the booths. Art, collectibles, books, costumes, and so much more was on display.
“That’s new," San said, nodding toward a booth covered in detailed fantasy maps. “That wasn’t here last year."
“They’re hand-drawn," Ben added, stepping closer to look. “Look at the detail on the coastline."
“It’s excessive," Topher said.
“It’s fantastic," Ben replied. “There’s measurements, a map legend, and hidden images."
“Hidden images” Topher echoed, suddenly interested.
I let the conversation move around me for a moment, scanning the layout of the hall without appearing to. Booths arranged in rows, foot traffic moving in predictable patterns, clusters forming around anything interactive.
“You’re quiet," Ben said, falling into step beside me.
“I’m looking around," I replied.
“You’ve been looking around for ten minutes."
“That’s how long it takes to look around."
“That’s not what I meant."
I glanced at him. “I know."
He studied me for a second, then let it go. “Fair."
“You’re looking for her," San said from ahead of us.
I didn’t answer immediately.
“That wasn’t subtle." Topher gently elbowed San in the ribs.
“You have sharp elbows," San complained.
“He likes her," Ben confidently stated.
I exhaled lightly. “We met yesterday."
“And today," San pointed out.
“And you brought her to D&D," Topher added.
“That was her idea," I replied, not certain if I wanted to discuss this with them. This thing between Meri and I was fragile and new. If there was something between us. We barely knew each other.
Topher grinned. “She was wearing your college hoodie."
I frowned as I looked at him. “How did you come up with that?”
“It has the scorch mark on the sleeve from where I almost lit you on fire with the flaming sombrero drink," Topher smugly told me.
“She borrowed it. It’s not a big deal," I dryly replied.
“Did she give it back?” Ben questioned.
“No. Why?” I frowned.
San nodded wisely. “She wants to see you again. Otherwise she would have returned it."
I looked between them. “Are we done with this?”
“No," San said.
“Not even close," Topher added.
I shook my head slightly. “If you see her, just be normal."
That stopped them for half a second.
Then San smiled. “We’re always normal."
“That’s not accurate," Ben wryly stated.
Topher leaned toward me slightly. “Define normal."
“Don’t make it a thing," I said. “Don’t ask weird questions. Just be polite. I don’t want her to feel uncomfortable."
“Aryn has a girlfriend," San sang.
I rolled my eyes.
“When was the last time he had a girlfriend?” Topher wondered. “Besides the bimbos he takes to the premiers."
“Those are all set up by my agent. I don’t even know those girls and once the evening is done, we don’t even talk," I replied, knowing that I had explained it to them before.
“It’s been a while," Ben observed. “Maybe college?”
“She’s not my girlfriend." I sighed.
“But you would like her to be," San commented.
I couldn’t really refute that. I decided to try to distract them. “Hey, look at this."
I moved on before they could continue, stopping at a booth displaying replica weapons from various fantasy series. San picked one up, testing the weight.
“Put it down," Topher advised.
“I wasn’t going to swing it," he said with a frown.
“You absolutely were," Ben replied.
I stepped back slightly, letting them argue it out while I scanned the surrounding booths again. Posters lined one wall, advertising panels and appearances. My name was on one of them, printed in bold letters alongside the others scheduled for the afternoon.
“You’re on that one," San said, following my gaze.
“I know," I dryly told him. “My agent lined it up."
“That’s a big panel. Eight of you up there at the same time," Ben observed.
“Elowyn Ashwood is on the panel," Topher read, his face lighting up. “You know, I was going to skip it since you’re up there, but I could go to see her."
“Funny," I deadpanned.
“Do you think Kitty would like one of these?” Ben wondered, holding up a small crystal dragon. “She is the dragon queen in our game."
“She might. She might like a ring on her finger better," Topher teased.
“We’re getting there in our own time. I don’t want to mess it up," Ben defended.
“Dude, she’s so in love with you, I don’t think you could mess it up," I assured him. Ben wasn’t the most confident guy, having been the larger member of our group for most of our lives. When I could, I tried to give him a boost. “Don’t overthink it. If you like her that much, go for it."
“Are you going to take your own advice?” San questioned.
“I think I might," I decided. If I could figure out a way to uncomplicate things with the film offer.
Maybe it had been stupid to cooperate with Tara. While I did want to do the film, would Meri see it the same way I did? I didn’t know anymore. In the space of two days, she had become more important than what I considered the role of a lifetime.
It was confusing.
“There she is," San suddenly said.
I turned, looking for Meri but instead saw Elowyn Ashwood near the staging area with a group of other authors as fans took turns getting photos.
It was still a bit of a shock to see her. She looked so different from the girl in the hoodie, makeup free, with brown hair and expressive eyes. Now she was dressed in the red dress and heels from last night, paired with red glasses and a wig that obscured who she really was.
“She’s hot," San added.
My reaction was immediate and unexpected, my thoughts tumbling over one another, all of them sharp and disagreeable.
I didn’t like him commenting on Meri like that, objectifying her.
The worst part was that I realized probably most of the guys in the room were thinking the exact same thing. My jaw tightened.
San and Topher got distracted by a nearby t-shirt vendor while Ben gave me a speculative look.
“What?” I asked, knowing Ben would bring up whatever was on his mind anyways.
“I didn’t say anything," Ben began innocently. “I mean, it’s obvious you have feelings for Meri."
“I might," I cautiously agreed, watching as a fan got a little too close to her. Meri was stiff and uncomfortable by the contact even as the fan smiled for the photo, wrapping an arm around her waist. Her smile was forced, her body rigid, her shoulders slightly raised.
“Yet you’re glaring at the guy getting his photo taken right now with Elowyn Ashwood," Ben observed.
I couldn’t exactly deny it. “He’s way too close to her. She’s uncomfortable. Why haven’t any of the staff noticed? They should be making sure she’s okay."
“Wow. Okay." Ben turned his attention to the stage. “That confirms it."
“Confirms what?” I asked, a bit of an edge to my voice.
“That is Meri Bennet on that stage," Ben casually said.
I swung my head sharply to look at Ben, drawing in a sharp breath, then I realized my reaction had given away exactly what he was guessing.
“It really is," Ben said in surprise. “Meri is Elowyn Ashwood."
“Quiet!” I hushed him, pulling him aside from the crowd a bit, not that it was any less crowded near the edge of another booth. “You can’t tell anyone."
“We had a famous author at our D&D table this morning. This is crazy," Ben grinned.
I knew that while I was considered a famous actor, the guys didn’t consider me that way. They had known me in my scrawny with glasses and braces days when we were all in the chess club. “She has a pen name so she can be anonymous. We are going to respect that."
“She is beyond cool," Ben decided.
“Again, respecting her privacy, right?” I insisted.
“Yeah, yeah. I understand all about the privacy thing.
" Ben did understand. His family were extremely wealthy and owned a chain of hotels.
While Ben had his own technology business, he was well aware of how to keep things private from the rest of the world.
“So do you think you stand a chance with her?”
“What?” I frowned at him.
“You’re used to girls fawning over you now but she’s not that type. Meri didn’t seem to even be all that into you this morning. Plus, she’s famous and has guys fawning over her," Ben mentioned.
Suddenly it felt like high school all over again and my confidence hit a new low.
Ben was right. Meri hadn’t shown any interest in me at all.
I thought back over our encounters, most of which I had initiated.
Yet she had chosen to come meet my friends this morning.
Was it just because she wanted to learn the game or because she wanted to spend time with me? I didn’t know.
“Oh, you are in deep," Ben commented as he studied me.
“He’s in deep where?” San asked, appearing beside me with a large bag in his hand. He had a collection of t-shirts and had probably added a dozen more.
“With Meri," Ben spilled the beans.
“That’s old news. The question is what he’s going to do about it," Topher replied as he rejoined the group. He checked his watch. “We should get our seats at the panel. It’s almost time."
Looking at my watch, I nodded. “I better go. I’ll catch up with you guys afterward."
“Don’t give any stupid answers," Topher told me.
“He can’t help himself," Sans teased.
“You guys are so funny," I told them before heading into the crowd. I cut across the room, headed out into the hallway and towards the prearranged meeting room.
“Aryn Levich?”
The voice was familiar but I didn’t recognize the woman in front of me. She was dressed in a navy suit with high heels and a lanyard declaring her one of the assistants to the special guests of the convention. Her black hair was swept back in a sleek bun.
“Tara Collins," she said. “Elowyn Ashwood’s publicist."
“Good to meet you in person," I told her, shaking her hand.
Tara smiled but it didn’t reach her eyes.