Page 14 of Happily Ever Laughter

“Geez, and here I thought you were here for the fabulous coffee and my sparkling personality,” Henry laughs as he wipes down the table beside us.

Elizabeth is always the expert at getting us back on track. As we discuss this week’s book, I even have some insight now into the way the main character seemed so absolutely obsessed with their vision of what the world should be.

In the past two days, I’ve learned a bit about obsession. Both my deep craving to be an artist of any sort, and Felix’s focus on, well, making sure that I’m his.

That’s a thought that makes me shudder so hard that I hope none of the other girls notice.

As always, our book discussion also covers everyone’s lives, from our romances to our work, to the personal side projects. Being surrounded by such interesting women once a week is always a great energy boost.

By the time I walk home, my mind is buzzing with positive energy. As I enter my apartment, the urge to shoot some clips is overwhelming.

Grabbing my camera, I look around the space, but everything interesting has been shot a dozen times already.

Wait.

That’s before I had a purpose for these clips.

Felix said that they need something behind the logo at the beginning of the show. That means instead of having a focal point, they’ll need more of a background sort of vibe.

Within minutes, a purple sheet is tacked across the wall, flowing down across my kitchen table to create a seamless backdrop. My plants are arranged with the tallest in the back. I set up a small fan and the leaves sway and dance just enough for them to look lively.

Time passes unnoticed as I arrange and tweak and shoot a video, then zips by as I animate and manipulate the clip. I figure one full minute of background will give them more than enough.

It’s quarter to midnight when I send Felix a link to a fifteen second preview clip in my cloud drive. I barely have time to brush my teeth and wash my face before the phone rings.

“Hello?”

“Sweetheart, this is absolutely magical,” Felix says. “You have outdone yourself.”

“You think they’ll like it?”

“I’m absolutely positive they will. And listen – I have a video chat with Gretchen, the client, tomorrow morning at ten. You’re probably at work then, aren’t you?”

“Yes, and I’ll be in a meeting.”

“Damn,” he mutters. “I really wanted you to meet her and be more involved, but maybe on the next one. Okay?”

“Absolutely.”

To be honest, I think I’m happy to have him take care of all of the client wrangling. I don’t know how any of that works, and don’t want to mess up his job. Although, I certainly do want to learn at some point so that I can have jobs of my own as soon as possible.

“I’ll take notes,” Felix says. “I’m going to be preparing the fragments of music all day tomorrow. Can I pick you up after work Friday night? I can show you my studio.”

The thought of going to his apartment fills me with excitement. I want to see how he lives. I want to see more of his world. “Sure.”

“Are you going to sleep now, sweetheart?” His dark voice purrs into my ear.

“Yes.”

“Let me listen while you get into bed.”

How on earth is he able to sound so wholesome and so seductive in the same breath? I put the phone on speaker and set it on the nightstand while I turn out the lights and get under the covers.

“I can’t wait to see you,” he says. “Sweet dreams, gorgeous.”

“Sweet dreams to you too.”

Neither of us want to hang up, and we simply listen to each other breathing for a moment.

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