Chapter 38
Wyatt
Reid and a few of her on-site staff members had only been here for two hours, but already had Taylor’s study transformed. Blended in seamlessly with the modern decor were subtle touches that paid an enchanting homage to Elara and my Shadow series.
Twinkling fairy lights adorned the bookshelf that would be my backdrop, mimicking the mystical glow of the magical forest where most of the last book took place.
An ornate water feature, sculpted to resemble my mythical Shadow Drakes, trickled water into a crystal-filled basin.
The addition lent an ethereal ambience to Taylor’s heavy oak desk.
“Too much?” Reid asked, chewing her lip. “I could change it up if it is. Get rid of it altogether?”
“It’s perfect,” I replied quickly, hoping to catch her before she spiraled over the edge. “Everything’s perfect, thank you.”
“Okay, good.” She sighed with relief. “And did you see this?”
Reid plucked a glistening object from the corner of the desk and held it out to me. I gasped out loud when I recognized it as Elara’s key, a replica of what I’d described in the books. The intricate design captured the essence of my story down to the last detail.
“I told her to lose the smoking crystal ball, but this was a nice touch.” Patricia came up behind Reid with a satisfied smile on her face. “How are you holding up there, Wyatt?”
“I’m not dead, so that’s a plus,” I deadpanned. “And thanks again for going in to bat for me, Trish.”
She’d been a pain to win over, but it was more because of the publishers than her own hangups with the digital age. When Patricia saw that I wasn’t going to change my mind, she fought those suits tooth and nail to let me have my way.
“Any time, sweetie. Although, I should be thanking you. This is a first for me. You’re ushering me into the future with this virtual brainwave of yours.” She slung her arm over my shoulders and gave me an appreciative squeeze. “You look great, by the way.”
“Told you.” Taylor had walked in just in time to hear that and winked at me. “Leather will win every time.”
There was a slight tremor in my hands as I adjusted the collar of my favorite leather jacket, threatening to betray the composed image I had to project in a few minutes.
I took a deep, steadying breath, but instead of getting my nerves under control it only upset the tens of thousands of butterflies in my stomach.
They took flight, bringing on a fresh wave of nausea.
“Uh-oh.” Reid’s expression changed as she studied me. “Why do you look like you’re going to be sick?”
“I don’t do well with public speaking,” I muttered, swallowing back the metallic taste washing into my mouth. “I don’t do well with public anything, actually.”
“That’s great then.” Reid clapped her hands together. “Because there’s nothing public about this aside from the stream.”
“That’s what I told her.” Taylor sidled up to me, placing a chaste kiss on my cheek. “She’ll be in here by herself. No crowds, no surprises.”
Patricia narrowed her eyes as she looked at me. “You were gunning for this, Wyatt. Don’t tell me you’re not feeling it when there’s less than half an hour to go before your first tour event.”
“No, I’m fine.” I stood taller, squared my shoulders. “I mean, do I wish books could be launched without all the fanfare? Yes. But am I going to bail on a commitment?”
I so badly wanted to say yes to that one, too. To turn around and go upstairs to our bedroom, curl up with a good book and a warm cup of tea.
Sensing my rising panic, Taylor clasped my hand in hers and held on tightly. “You’ve got this, my love. Just pretend you’re talking to me about Elara’s last stand. Easy.”
“Except look into the camera when you do it.” Patricia was trying to be helpful. “And you’re going to have to imagine Taylor is every one of the two hundred ticket holders joining the call from all over the world.”
“Seriously?” I stared at her incredulously.
It got Reid laughing, but she quickly simmered down after noticing my very real dismay.
“You’re going to be just fine,” Reid said. “I’ve given you the best tech, so no worrying about broken feeds or scratchy sound. We’re going to do one last sweep of the setup and then you’ll be good to go.”
“Good to go.” I nodded, repeating her words like some kind of mantra to my hammering heart. Maybe if it heard that I was going to be fine, it would slow the hell down.
“One more sweep, people.” Reid snapped her fingers and her tech team sprang into action, bustling around the room as they checked and re-checked every connection.
There was a guy on display, two adjusting cameras and lights, and one who kept tapping the microphone that was set up for me on the desk.
“This is a really brave thing you’re doing, and I’m proud of you.” Taylor tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, leaving her palm to linger on my cheek. “I should say it more, because I think it often. But you’re the bravest person I know, Wyatt. Not just for this, but for everything.”
Taylor, my anchor, my source of strength, calling me brave…
It sounded absurd to me. Felt even more so.
I was standing there, shaking in my boots.
I knew she was referring to my meeting with Gary, and possibly uprooting my life and moving to the city to be with her.
But I was terrified through all of that.
I didn’t feel an ounce of courage about any of it.
“I’m just pretending,” I whispered to her, checking that I wasn’t overheard, especially by Patricia.
“So are all of us, babe.” Taylor cupped my cheek, guiding my face toward hers. “Trust me, I know what I’m talking about.”
She pressed her lips to mine, and that was the thing that did it.
Got my heart to calm down. After making it skip a beat or two at first, of course.
I loved how that still happened every time she kissed me.
I loved how just being close to her made me feel like I wasn’t riddled with anxiety, unable to cope with the most basic of human tasks.
“Okay, everything is doing what it’s supposed to.” Reid came up to us with a satisfied smile on her face. “You’ve got yourself a decent setup here, if I do say so myself.”
“Thanks again, Reid,” I replied, my voice tinged with heartfelt sincerity. “I really do appreciate you going out of your way to do all of this.”
She gave a dismissive wave, and said, “It was nothing. Besides, I kind of like that I get to be a part of your big day. Bringing you in front of your fans like this.”
I flushed a little at the mention of fans. I’d been at this for years, but it was still so unbelievable to think that my writing had taken off and reached so many people. It started out as a boredom buster after moving to the mountains, nothing more.
“I just checked and all members have logged on,” Patricia announced, her excitement taking over. “We have people from Tokyo, Chile… even Porto. Can you believe it?”
I groaned inwardly, wishing she’d kept that information to herself.
“I can,” Taylor piped up. “The final book’s pre-orders are through the roof and Wyatt’s already climbed to number one without a word being read.”
She sounded so proud when she said it, too, that it gave me the courage I needed to get on with things. The little nudge to go at it and be the kind of brave she believed me to be.
“I’m ready when you are.” I gave Patricia a stiff nod.
She rubbed her hands together. “Perfect. Now, if your groupies don’t mind, I’d like to steal you away for a quick briefing before you sit down.”
“I’ll be just outside in case you need me,” Reid said, giving me a reassuring smile. She led her tech team out, making the study immediately feel twice as big. Double scary.
“And I’ll be over there, being the consummate cheerleader.” Taylor pointed to the far corner of the study.
“That reminds me…”
But Taylor held up a finger before I could finish my thought, and said, “I’ll be sure to get him before you go on. I asked Reid to give him a spot on the floor next to the desk chair so he’ll be close.”
The love I had for this woman kept growing, surprising me almost daily with just how boundless it was.
“I love you.” I gave her a quick peck on the cheek, then went to sit behind the huge oak desk.
Patricia perched herself on the edge of it and started flipping through her strategy folder.
“I’ll be moderating on my end,” she began, not looking up from the pages as she read. “Sending through whatever questions are worth answering and also giving you a heads up when it’s time to move on to a new topic. You went over the agenda I mailed you, right?”
I nodded. “It’s the welcome segment, short introductions to get some engagement going, then leading into what the final book is about.”
“Gold star for you.” She seemed pleased with my photographic memory. “Then you’ll go into the reading.”
Half of me listened while she talked me through how the event was supposed to unfold. The other half could hardly believe I was me. Living in the city again, a beautiful girlfriend who loved me, a new home on the cards, a new life…
I met Taylor’s eyes from across the study and she flashed a million-watt smile that I felt all the way in the backs of my knees.
A month ago, I was sick just thinking about the public life she led and whether it would be suitable for me.
Now here I was, getting prepped to speak to people from all around the world.
The limelight on my terms. And despite the constant flurry of nerves wreaking havoc with my insides, I was truly happy.