Page 160 of Foreplay on Words

She looked vaguely familiar; I was certain I’d seen her before. “Evan, it’s good to see you again. You may not remember me; it’s been about a decade since I saw you last.”

She laughed as I squinted at her. “I’m Dorothy—Dottie for short. I helped teach part of your AP English class. Mrs. Farmer is a friend of mine.”

I’d been in all Advanced Placement classes my senior year; our teacher had contracted pneumonia, leaving us with a sub for most of the last part of the first semester.

“Wow, that’s been a long time,” I told her with an impressed nod. I couldn’t believe she remembered me being in that class.

“It has,” she laughed. “I’m glad you retained some of what I taught you over the years. Folks around here are pretty proud of what you’ve made of yourself.” She squeezed my shoulder and then beamed at Chase. “Don’t tell this one’s mother, but I’m so happy you pulled him out of his comfort zone. He’s grown as a writer with those last two books.”

“Your secret is safe with me. He’s also helped my writing,” Chase told her with a proud smile.

“Do you have another book coming out soon?” Dottie asked with curiosity.

“I do,” Chase nodded. “My editor is working on editing the complete manuscript right now. Should be out in a few months.”

“She wrote the whole book in six weeks. It was amazing to watch,” I gushed as I looked at my phenomenal girlfriend.

“I remember being amazed by watching a very determined young man sit with his laptop for hours in that corner over there.” Dottie nodded toward my favorite corner of the shop. I had spent quite a bit of time when I was writing one of my earlier books in Chicago. It’d been before I officially made the move to Boston. Before I’d met Simone.

I shook off the bad memories she conjured and turned my attention back to Dottie.

“I’m sure your fan club will be here soon. Why don’t you two get the table situated where you’d like? My assistant set up the promotional materials Diana sent.”

Dottie excused herself to talk to the few customers milling around, and Chase came with me over to where we’d be doing the book signing. The store wasn’t overly large, but it was packed with books.

“So much for being anonymous,” I sighed once Chase and I were alone.

“You can only hide it so much when your picture is inside the back cover. I know I can’t hide when I’m back home either,” she laughed.

“I’m sorry in advance for whatever they say to you.” It seemed like everyone supportive in my life enjoyed embarrassing the crap out of me.

“I’m hoping they tell me a few embarrassing Evan stories.” Chase rubbed her hands together and shot me a mischievous smirk. She did love having dirt on people.

“Kill me now,” I sighed.

“Oh, come on, I’m sure you were adorable. I’m counting on Kelly to pull out all the naked baby pictures later,” she giggled.

“Don’t think I won’t enlist Elle to do the same for you,” I threatened.

“Girl has got my back. She’ll never tell,” she grinned.

As the time got closer to when the reading was supposed to start, the shop began to fill up. I saw a few familiar faces in the crowd and realized that, in isolating myself, I’d neglected the people I knew who supported me.

Old friends from high school, neighbors who watched me grow up, and family friends. I saw all of them among the people milling about. It simultaneously made me feel warm inside and terrified. My last two books had some borderline taboo things, and I would have difficulty making eye contact with some of them.

“Alright, ladies and gentlemen, let’s settle down and let these two get started.” My pulse raced as Dottie herded everyone to the front of the shop and handed Chase the microphone.

“Thank you all for joining us today. I, for one, am excited to be in Stone’s hometown. I’m sure some of you knew him before he was this ridiculously successful, handsome, professional...”

I heard laughter filter through the crowd, and someone coughed, “Evan is a dork.” I was sure it was one of the guys I used to play soccer with.

“But I am honored to call him both my writing partner and now my life partner.”

The ladies toward the back all awww’d at her words. I knew I felt a rush at her publicly claiming me.

“The last several months have been a whirlwind, but I know he has improved my writing. He’s made me push myself and try to grow as a writer.”

I grabbed the mic from her impulsively and swallowed hard before speaking. “And we all know she’s made my writing better.”

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