Page 117 of Three Grumpy Groomsmen

The way the older men have accepted me into their group is a little surprising, honestly. It makes me feel warm as I pick up my pace down the sidewalk.

I really don’t want phone calls from L.A. interrupting my mental pre-game prep. But when I don’t answer the call, my friend texts.

Pick up! I have news.

Dammit. I stop walking and dial Toby’s number. He answers immediately. “What’s up?” I ask. “I’ve only got a minute.”

“Well, hello to you too,” my friend and fellow writer answers. “I’ve missed you too. I’m fine, thanks for asking.”

I roll my eyes. Tobias Franklin is nothing if not a drama queen. “Hi, Toby. I’ve missed you. How are you?”

“I’mpanicked, Liam,” he informs me. “When are you coming home?”

I grin, but try to keep it out of my voice. I start toward the boardwalk again. “I’m not sure. Why are you panicked?”

It could be almost anything from a new guy he’s seeing that hasn’t called in twelve hours to his mother coming to town to stay for a week. The latter is definitely cause for panic.

“Andrew loves the new storyline you’ve added,” Toby says.

I stop. “Really?”

Andrew, our showrunner, actually emailed to tell me that himself. He loves the idea of giving Captain Daniels a new love interest. He even said that he thought changing that up could get us a renewal for another season. I was thrilled, of course. But if he also told Toby and others, that’s huge.

“Definitely. They’re going to startcastingsoon. You have to get back here or…” Toby trails off dramatically. Then he lowers his voice. “Or he’s going to give that storyline to Gwenyth.”

I freeze. “What?”

One, I had no idea that they’d be casting the part of the love interest so soon. I mean…I should have. Obviously. The storyline really kicks off in four episodes. And we’ll need to foreshadow it.

I should have thought of that.

I’ve been too distracted. I’ve had too much going on. Ivy. Harrison. Honeysuckle Harbor. I got the pages written and sent off but I haven’t reallythoughtabout it all.

Dammit.

Two, Gwenyth is the worst choice of anyone in the writer’s room. But yeah, I can see Andrew giving it to her.

“Iknow! She willruin it,” Toby says. “You have to get back here. If you’rehere, you can take the lead in discussions and you’ll make Gwenyth look pale in comparison, as always. But if you’re not here and you’re only emailing or doing it over video call, I’m afraid Andrew will be more impressed with her than he should be.”

He’s right.

Fuck. By now, Andrew should know that Gwenyth sucks. All of her characters lack depth. She mostly works on very, very side characters so the others cover up their shallowness and how boring they are, but she kisses up to Andrew more than anyone else and she’s very pretty. Pretty people get a lot of grace in this world.

And Andrew is very busy. If Gwenyth acts confident enough, he just might give her this storyline.

No. I can’t let that happen. This new character will directly impactmymain character. She cannot be boring and one-dimensional.

I have to get back to L.A.

“Thanks for the heads up,” I tell Toby. “I’ll…see you soon.”

“Oh, holy shit,” he breathes out. “Thank the heavens and the hells and everything in between.” He pauses, then says, the smile evident in his tone. “Also, I can’t wait to see you and Ivy together.God, I’ve beendyingto see the two of you finally admitting your feelings. You better plan a big dinner party for all of us. No! I’ll plan the party. You just bring your gorgeous, sweet girlfriend and prepare for us to all tell her how long you’ve been pining over her.”

I wish I could laugh. I wish I could roll my eyes and then grin, imagining this party. Because yes, Toby and a few others on the show figured out how I felt about Ivy pretty early on. But…

I’m not sure Ivy will be thrilled about going back to L.A. like this. I know this will feel sudden to her. Itissudden, even though we’ve both been planning to go back to California. Now, though, I feel unprepared. I know she will too.

The house sold faster than we expected. I’d really thought I could work remotely longer.

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