Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 97846 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 489(@200wpm)___ 391(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97846 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 489(@200wpm)___ 391(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
Derek ignored them and kept walking.
I came closer to him and spoke so only he could hear. “Smile and wave. Now.”
He did as I asked, being quick about it before he darted inside.
The door was locked behind us, and we met the manager of the bookstore before we were guided to the table waiting for us, stacks and stacks of books on the tables behind him and team members from the publisher there too. The book wouldn’t release officially for a few weeks, so that made this signing even more exclusive.
“See? Was that bad?”
Derek shrugged.
His mom and dad were already there, sitting at the table talking as they enjoyed their coffee. When Deacon noticed his son, the affection in his eyes was unmistakable, the same look I gave Lizzie when all she did was smile. He rose from his chair and opened his arms to embrace his son. “Little man…” He hugged his son hard before he pulled away. “You look unhappy.”
Derek shrugged. “It’s just…a lot.”
Deacon patted him on the shoulder and gave a nod. “Yeah, I understand. Your mother tells me that a smile goes a long way, so whenever you don’t know what to say, just smile.” He rubbed his back as he comforted him.
It was sweet to see them together, father and son, both gifted and awkward, knowing the other understood the situation better than Cleo and I did. It made me happy to know Derek had someone who got him in a way I never could.
Cleo moved in next and gave her son a long hug, still shorter than him even in her rocking heels as she hugged him tight. “This is so exciting. I’m so proud of you, honey. I can’t believe my son is this hotshot author and has a line around the block of fans eager to meet him.”
Derek dropped his gaze like he didn’t know what to say.
She squeezed his arms before she kissed him on the cheek.
My god, they were so cute.
Deacon turned to me. “Thanks for getting him to do this.” He circled my waist with his arm and gave me a hug. “I’m sure you had to talk him into this…quite a bit.”
“Just a little.”
He smiled before he patted me on the back, giving me the same affection he did Derek, like he fully accepted me as a member of his family without my having to do anything at all to earn it.
Cleo hugged me next. “You look so beautiful, Emerson.”
“You can call me Emmy.” Derek was the only person who called me Emerson, and I never corrected him because I preferred baby instead. “Friends and family call me Emmy, so…”
She smiled. “I like that better anyway.”
Derek sat at the table, looked at the books stacked around him, and gave a deep sigh. “How long is this going to take?”
I moved behind him and massaged his shoulders. “All day.”
“Oh fuck…” He rubbed his hand across his jawline before he unfolded his list and set it on the table beside him.
“You’ll be fine. I know you will.” I moved to his side and stroked the back of his neck as I looked down at him.
He sighed before he turned his face into my stomach, his thick arm wrapping around the backs of my legs, and he just held me like that, like that was the only thing that could bring him comfort in his anxiety-induced state. He didn’t hesitate to show affection in front of his parents. It was as if he didn’t care.
I continued to rub the back of his neck, feeling his parents staring at us, trying to suppress the smile on my lips.
The doors opened, and the fans were lined up twelve feet away so Derek wouldn’t be overwhelmed with people too close to him. The first person in line was a young woman with three books in her hand, smiling in excitement as she stared at Derek.
Derek looked like he was going to be sick.
I sat beside him and rubbed his arm. “Don’t be nervous. It’ll be fine.”
“There’s like five thousand people staring at me right now…”
“At us,” I said. “You aren’t alone.”
Just before they opened the rope, Deacon handed the person his ticket to indicate he had purchased a book in advance, grabbed a book off the stack, and then walked to the front of the line, cutting in front of the woman who had probably arrived at five in the morning just to secure her place in line.
Derek stared at him, confused.
Then Deacon approached the table and extended the book, wearing a slight smile on his lips. “I’d be honored if you signed my book, little man.”
Derek hesitated before his eyes filled with affection. A smile followed. Then he took the book, opened the cover, and then signed it.
To: My Hero.
To: My Best Friend.
To: The Best Dad in the World.