Page 87 of Three Grumpy Groomsmen

Ford smiles. “Well, I’m glad. If you ever need a pep talk about how the show is going, I’m your guy.”

“That’s amazing to hear.”

“And considering our…situation…” He nods toward the Ferris wheel. “If you wanted to share anything with me about what’s coming up for Captain Daniels and Princess Daria…”

I laugh. “Oh, very smooth. Very subtle.”

He chuckles. “Well, it was worth a try.”

We walk a little further until we find a bench to wait for Harrison and Ivy. They’re still going around but as we watch, suddenly it stops at the top. They’re the only people on it and I narrow my eyes.

“He totally paid them to stop it at the top, didn’t he?” I ask.

“Yup.”

I sip more of my soda, thinking. But what the hell? “So Captain Daniels is actually one of my main characters. I’m in charge of his character arc.” Daniels, the captain of the primary spaceship, has been on the show from the very beginning.

Ford turns to look at me. “No shit? That’s incredible. He’s by far one of my favorite characters.”

I was hoping he would say that. “Yeah. And as you just alluded to, everyone’s kind of thinking he should end up with Princess Daria.”

I’ve actually been stuck on this point for about a week. I haven’t been able to work through it.

Ford nods. “That’s been pretty obvious.”

“Yeah. That’s what the other writers and the showrunner have been pushing for. It’s actually something I’m supposed to be working on right now. But I’ve been a little stuck,” I confess.

Ford squares up to me. He looks very serious. “You don’t think they should end up together?”

I shake my head. “I really don’t. I think that’s why it’s so hard to write.”

“Because he needs someone softer,” Ford says. It’s not a question.

My eyebrows lift. “Yeah. Daria is amazing. She’s kick ass. A born leader. There’s no question they have a ton in common. But she doesn’t offer him anything that he doesn’t already have, you know?”

Ford’s head is nodding up and down before I even finish. “I do know. I get it. I mean, they have chemistry. They’re hot together. And clearly they’re both fighting for the same thing. But yeah, she doesn’t ever let him kind of…I don’t know, let down?”

I jab a finger toward him. “Exactly. It’s like he’s got all these hard edges. And they’re there for good reason. But he needs somebody who can get past that. Not someone who just reinforces those, right? I mean, Daria is a fantastic warrior. She’s a great like…co-worker for him. A good friend. But to be in love, doesn’t he need someone who can go a little deeper with him?”

Ford looks at me for a long moment, then toward the Ferris wheel. He smiles. “Yeah. I think he does. He needs someone who can smooth out some of those rough edges. Someone who will encourage him, and support him, but who also lets him be softer, and has a softer side for him to lean on.”

I take a deep breath and blow it out. Okay, yeah, this is probably all just me writing about me and Ivy. But still, I feel it in my bones. This is what’s right for this character. “I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t a big piece of me inside Captain Daniels,” I say.

“Well then, lead writer, take him on the journey he needs to go on,” Ford says. “I can promise you the fans are gonna be there for you.”

I can’t even describe how that makes me feel. Pride, relief, and a sense of rightness. I know what I’m doing. I need to go in this new direction.

“Thanks Ford.”

“Anytime. And I promise I’ll keep my lips zipped about anything you spill to me. I go on the fan forums, but I just lurk.I never post.” He pauses. “Okay, I do post and comment, but I swear I won’t say anything about this. I am here for you if you need to talk about the show.”

I laugh, but actually, I love that idea. Having someone outside of the show itself, but who’s still knowledgeable and passionate about it, could be the most amazing thing for my creative process. I am really gonna need to get this guy some merch.

Finally, Ivy and Harrison come strolling back over to us.

Our girl is smiling widely, and her cheeks are flushed. I shake my head. I should probably feel jealous or something that my friend fingered my girlfriend on the Ferris wheel and clearly got her off, but I don’t. I just grin at both of them.

“How was the ride?” Ford asks.

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