Page 70 of Second Chance Baby
SIXTEEN
Interruptingthe brothers and then leading the way to Rita’s had been a sudden impulse. Even if listening to them playfully gripe as they followed me down the hill was endlessly entertaining.
“Did Carrington think what I’d done so far passed muster or what? Not that I got super far.”
“Oh, she loved what you did so far. Though she said you forgot to put up one of the witchy flamingoes before she got a call from her friend, Missy, and she said she’d be back soon.”
Loudly, Travis cleared his throat. “Imagine that. Tell her to look in Rita’s shed. No, don’t. I’m only kidding.”
I looked over my shoulder at them, and they both looked oddly consternated.
Sometimes boys were inexplicable. Of course, so were women. But Rita had seemed so nice at the shoot.
“Party number two today.” Rita called, turning on the patio lights.
“Sorry to invite myself over. Just I overheard you were staying down here, and we didn’t get to talk much. You have such a cool career. Have you been an author long?”
She shot a slightly panicked look at Penn, who only shrugged. “For years, actually. It’s not for the faint of heart, we’ll say. Yours seems even more fun. Well, assuming you like the model you’re working with. Which you obviously do.” She looked past me toward Travis and cleared her throat. “Also, I actually asked your agent if you’d possibly do another shoot. An outdoor one this time. For my books, not me, personally.”
I couldn’t keep the surprise from my face as I twisted my hair over my shoulder. “I was thinking about cutting back on modeling since we’re trying to have more kids, not to mention I’m tired of trying to watch my weight.” I laughed. “My agent has been shopping a memoir, actually. I was going to use that to ease out of modeling if anyone picked it up. But no nibbles yet.”
“Things you learn,” Travis muttered.
“Oh! Well, you know, you could always self-publish. More and more authors are taking control of their careers that way. Hell, if Taylor can do it, why can’t we?”
“Damn straight,” Penn offered. “Or maybe even Duality Press could hook you up. We’re thinking about forming an imprint for fiction, and maybe non-fiction.”
I couldn’t help shifting my attention to Penn with wide eyes. “No way. Elaine will shit bricks.”
He laughed at that, as did Travis. “I mean, we aren’t Macmillan or anything, but we do our best to keep our authors happy. We’d be honored to take you on, Brig.”
I cupped a hand over my mouth. “Holy shit, really?”
“Yes, really. We will have to read what you have first, of course, but I have no doubt we can make this work for all of us.”
I rushed to grab him in a giant hug before whirling around to hug Travis too. “Sorry, I’ll let you read it first, of course. Just so much was going on, and I didn’t even think about work.”
“That’s just fine. We have an entire lifetime to get caught up.” He cupped the base of my head against his shoulder. “I love you. I’m so proud of you.”
I sniffled loudly and squeezed him super hard.
When I turned back to Rita, she was rubbing her hand under her nose as if she was a little misty too.
“You have to come over this weekend,” I suggested, glancing back to Travis to see him nod, so I reached out to link fingers with him. “We can have a celebratory cookout. That work for you guys? We can offer many mini marshmallows for s’mores, if we go shopping.” I let out a hitching laugh.
I threw myself at her too, unabashedly hugging her and rocking back and forth in a damn near explosion of happiness. How many good things could happen for me at once? “Sorry, I’m an emotional mess,” I said, swallowing a sob as she gripped my hand. “I was basically the biggest ass ever and ran away from my family, but somehow, they seem willing to take me back. And even new family too?”
I looked between her and Penn, clearly out of my damn gourd. They were probably in the earliest days of their relationship, and here I was, practically marrying them off.
I waited for him to tell me off, but he only reached over to clasp our joined hands in his much bigger one.
Not saying yes, but definitely not saying no. Just keeping the possibilities all the way open.
“We’ll let you both enjoy the evening now, but I’m so glad I eavesdropped and came down here.” To my utter relief, Rita laughed freely, indicating she had no problem with my nosy neighbor syndrome. Penn and Travis laughed too, although I’d been pretty sure they would be okay with it. “So, are you going to stick around here now? Spoiler alert—they don’t make small towns better than Crescent Cove.”
“Yeah, as long as you’re okay with little people,” Travis put in.
“Like real little people?” Rita frowned. “You know, like smaller ones?”