Page 123 of The Flirty Vet
Wilby nods proudly. "Sure is, mate."
"Oh, I am so using that in a future book." Benji leans back in his chair. "Please go on."
Hewantsthis to continue? Wow. Maybe it's true what they say about authors. Maybe they are all a little crazy.
"Listen to this next part, mate. Everything was cruising along nicely. But then I found out Col came to steal my family's farm right from under my nose."
"Objection, your honor… I mean, Benji." Why am I suddenly talking like I'm in a courtroom? I am not on trial. "That's not actually true."
Wilby overrules my objection with more blabbering. "I take off. I need to get out of town—Scuttlebutt, two T's both times"—He winks at Benji—"And Col here follows me all over Australia like a lovesick puppy."
"I wasn't lovesick. I was furious with you. See how he's glossing over facts, Benji? This is what I have to deal with."
Benji just smiles, looking perfectly content watching a fan and a rambling Aussie lunatic spewing out their messy love story in front of him.
Wait. Messy story. That's what I meant. Sorry, my brain is scrambled and having a hard time keeping up with what's going on.
"Anyways, here we fucking are." Wilby covers his mouth. "Sorry, am I allowed to swear in front of you?"
Benji nods. "My last book contained the wordfucksix hundred and eighty-two times. You're fine."
"Okay, good," Wilby continues. "We're now on our way to Sydney where the fate of my family's farm will be determined. Once that happens, Col will go back to the States, and we'll most likely never see each other again."
Wilby takes a breath and looks over at me, the heaviness of those last words hanging between us. My chest has gotten all tight and uncomfortable.
What he said was, strictly speaking, true. I will most likely be flying back to New York once this case wraps up, but the truth can be a bitter pill to swallow. I don't feel happy about leaving…and I'm not looking forward to going home.
"Oh, and if all that wasn't enough," he continues, turning back to Benji. "When we're in Sydney, I'll potentially be meeting with a guy who may or may not be my biological father."
Benji lets out a low whistle. "That's a lot."
His eyes drift over to me, and I don't know if I'm still affected by Wilby stating I'll be leaving or by looking at an author I admire so much. Whatever the reason, I suddenly blurt out, "And I still haven't scattered my mother's ashes after nineteen years."
Beside me, Wilby's hand finds mine as I stand there like a big idiot.
"Oh, Col. I'm so sorry." Benji gets to his feet and rounds the table. "If you've read my books, you know I've experienced both loss and mental health issues."
"I do," I say softly as he approaches. "And I love how you incorporate those issues into your books. They're romance, but they're somehow real, too."
He clutches his heart. "Thank you. That means so much to me. Can I…can I give you a hug?"
"Of course."
"You, too, you crazy lug," he says to Wilby, and then I have a three-way hug with my favorite author and my favorite person.
One of the official-looking book signing people comes up to us and clears his throat, signaling we're probably taking too long and holding up the line. Which I get. We are.
"Let me sign your book," Benji says, heading back to the table.
He scribbles something on the inside front cover. "It was truly amazing to meet you," I gush as he hands me the book. "Sorry about our rambling. We're really not crazy."
"Hey, speak for yourself." Wilby elbows me gently.
Benji laughs. "You two are awesome. I really enjoyed meeting you both. Thank you for reading my work. I wish you all the best with your mum." He angles his face to Wilby. "I am so stealing the name Scuttlebutt. And, hey, tag me in your wedding photos on Instagram."
I'm too in awe to reply to that last bit, so I simply clutch the book to my chest as Wilby slides his palm to the small of my back and escorts me away.
"You okay?" he asks once we're outside the convention hall.