Literary Love (Lazy Love Book 2) (6 page)

Her phone remained silent, so she could only assume he’d gone to bed. Good.

She picked up her computer. “Chapter Three.” She could make it work now. She knew exactly what Marissa needed to do to find her happily ever after. She needed to trust poor Sebastian, if only a little bit.

*****

Bob woke early on Sunday morning as was his habit, and reached for his phone, automatically switching it from airplane mode. He’d gotten into the habit of shutting all notifications off via airplane mode when he’d first started working for
Lazy Love
, because so many of the actors kept different hours than he did, and they’d text to see if he was awake and wanted company.

He got four text notifications and carefully read through them. His mother wanted him to call and touch base. One of the cameramen wanted to go out drinking that night and was looking for a designated driver. Bob filled that role a lot, because he didn’t drink. Jesse wanted to have lunch sometime soon. His heart jumped when he saw there was a message from May.

He clicked onto her name and read her message, his breath catching in his throat. She’d marry him? Really?  He glanced at the clock. It was five-thirty. She should still be up.

He tapped her name to call her, putting the phone to his ear.

“Hello?” She sounded distracted, but perfectly alert. He hadn’t woken her. Good.

“G’morning, sunshine.”

“Morning? I haven’t gone to bed yet. You can’t say good morning, until I’ve slept.”

He could hear her fingers tapping away at the keyboard, so he waited a minute. “I got your text.”

“You did?”

“I did. Do you want to fly out of state to marry today? Or do you want to get our license tomorrow? I vote for going now. You could sleep on the plane…”

She laughed softly. “Why don’t we go get our marriage license tomorrow? I’ve been traveling a lot lately, and I want to keep my feet on terra Texas.”

“Mind telling me what changed your mind?” he asked, not really sure he wanted an answer. He was so happy to be getting what he wanted that he was almost afraid to rock the boat.

There was silence for a moment. “I don’t think you’ll like my thinking on the matter. Maybe we should just leave it as it is.”

He sighed. “That’s fine. I’m not going to press you for an answer. Are you still working?”

“I am. I have another five hundred words to write tonight to meet my goal.”

“I’ll let you go then.” He felt strangely let down, even though she’d just promised him what he’d been after. “I’ll see you around dinner time.” She’d agreed to go to town with him for dinner. He was certain she’d only capitulated so they wouldn’t have to be alone, but he didn’t care. He was getting time with her, and that’s what was important. “Oh, what size ring do you wear?”

“You don’t have to get me a ring!”

“Of course, I have to get you a ring. What kind of man doesn’t get his fiancé a ring when she agrees to marry him?”

“Really, it’s okay.”

“May, I need to know what size ring to get you.” He wasn’t going to back down on this. She was getting a ring that day, if he could make it happen.

“Eight.”

“All right. I’ll see you at six.” He wanted to add that he loved her, but he knew she wasn’t ready for that yet. When would she be?

“Bye.”

He looked down at the phone in his hand, his heart heavy. She’d agreed to give him what he wanted, so why did he feel so sad about it?

*****

May looked down at her phone, her heart beating erratically. She was going to marry the man she loved.

Putting her fingers back on her keyboard, she wrote the next scene.
Sebastian got down on one knee in front of Marissa, taking her left hand in his. “I’ve loved you from the moment I laid eyes on you, and I want nothing more to have you in my life forever. Will you marry me?”

Marissa felt tears welling up in her eyes. She was going to grab the bull by the horns and marry him, even though she knew he had no feelings for her. She deserved to be happy for as long as he was willing to stay with her. How could she refuse? “Yes, I’ll marry you.”

He slowly slipped a beautiful diamond ring on her finger before getting to his feet and pulling her to hers with the hand he still held tightly in his grip. When his mouth came down on hers, she sighed contentedly. She was marrying the only man she’d ever love.

Chapter Six

May woke to her alarm buzzing in her ear, slowly realizing where she was.
Home. I’m home.
The panic that she felt upon waking after so much travel slowly left her, and she breathed deeply.
What day is it?

Realization came back in waves. It was Sunday. Bob was going to be there in an hour to take her to the Tex-Mex place in town. They were getting married. She sat up and wrapped her arms around her knees for a moment, glorying in the realization that she was getting married!

After a minute, she grabbed her iPad and phone, heading for the bathtub. She quickly washed her hair and then dialed Aunt Sally’s number.

“Hello?”

“Aunt Sally.”

“Hi you. I guess you got home all right?”

“I did. Thanks for taking care of Fudgified for me. Was she good?”

“She’s always good.” Aunt Sally always said the same thing when asked.

“What do you have going this week?” May asked, trying to keep her voice casual.

“Summer vacation for me. I’m just hanging out at home.”

“How would you like to attend a wedding this week?”

“Are you trying to tell me something, May?”

Sally had never married. She was only twenty-four when she’d taken on custody of her ten-year-old niece, and she’d devoted all of her energies to raising her. By the time May was out of the house, she’d decided she was too old and set in her ways to marry, even though she was still in her early thirties at that time.

“Yeah, I guess I am. We haven’t decided on the date yet, but I have a feeling it’s going to be a small service.”

“Who are you marrying?” Sally’s voice was filled with confusion.

“Bob Bodefeld.”

“The actor from
Lazy Love
? The one you’ve had a crush on for God knows how long?”

“That would be him.” May grinned as her aunt laughed softly.

“I’m not even going to ask. Not today anyway. Send me an email. You’ll say it so much better in words than you ever would aloud anyway.”

“So you’ll be there for the wedding?”

“Wild horses couldn’t keep me away. I love you!”

“I love you, Aunt Sally. Thanks for being my everything.” May had always given her aunt gifts on both Mothers’ Day and Fathers’ Day. Her aunt really had been her everything for a whole lot of years.

“Just keep making me proud.”

May looked down at the phone in her hand, feeling her eyes well up. She cried more than she should probably, but she’d always felt emotions very intensely. She didn’t care if it bothered people anymore, but she once had. Now, she knew that her emotions came through in her writing. If she didn’t feel so much, she wouldn’t be able to make her readers feel so much. No, her emotions were a part of her, and she thanked God for them every day.

By the time Bob arrived, she had dried her hair and was wearing a pair of jeans with a cute button up shirt. It was too hot to wear jeans, in her opinion, but she wanted to look decent for him on their first real date.

When she opened the door for him, he stepped inside and closed it behind him, taking her into his arms and kissing her passionately. “I’m not waiting long.”

May shook her head. “I’m not asking you to. We’ll go and get the marriage license tomorrow. We only have to wait three days.”

“My scenes are all morning scenes on Thursday.”

“Thursday afternoon then?” she asked. “I can call my pastor and see if he’ll marry us. If you’re all right with a church wedding, that is.”

He nodded. “Sure. I’d prefer one. I’m going to tell my mother we’re marrying, but I don’t expect her to make the drive. Honesty, I’d rather she didn’t, because I don’t want to feel like I need to entertain her.” He trailed his finger along her cheek. “I’d rather spend my time with my new bride.”

She shivered under his touch. What was it about him that made her feel so much
more?
More than she’d ever dreamed of feeling with anyone.

“My aunt is going to be there. I hope that’s all right.”

He nodded. “You called her?”

“Yeah, she lives in Wiggieville, so if I didn’t tell her, someone would. We don’t need that.”

“I can’t wait to meet her.” Bob stuck his hand into his pocket and pulled out a ring box. “I got this for you.”

May looked down at the ring box in his hand, eyes wide. “That was quick. I didn’t think you’d have one today.”

He flipped the box open, surprised at how nervous he felt. “If you don’t like this one, I can return it and find a different one.”

Her eyes grew wide when she saw the huge heart-shaped diamond. “It’s beautiful.”

“I thought a heart would suit you, being that you’re a romance writer and all. Do you really like it?”

She looked up at him, surprised to see how eager and nervous he looked. “I love it. Thank you!” She held up her left hand, and he fumbled the ring out of the box, slipping it onto her finger. It felt heavy on her hand, and she couldn’t take her eyes off of it. “I didn’t expect anything this perfect.”

“I couldn’t find anything as special as you are, so this is going to have to do.” Bob looked down at her, wishing she could read the love shining in his eyes. Maybe then she’d believe him when he told her how much he cared.

May stepped close to him, wrapping her arms around him tightly. “I’m going to be a good wife to you.” As soon as she said it, she laughed softly. “Okay, let me amend that. I’m going to
try
to be a good wife to you. There’s little chance that I’ll do a lot of cooking or cleaning or any of those good wifely things. There’s a better than ninety-nine percent chance I’ll get so involved in my characters, I’ll forget who you are from time to time. I’ll probably even pretend to hear you and have no idea what you’ve said on occasion.” She sighed, looking up into his face. “Are you sure you want to marry
me
?”

“I couldn’t be more sure. I’m sure we both have our faults, and more will come out as we go along. But yes, you are the only woman I’ve ever dreamed of spending my entire life with. I’m keeping you.”

She laughed. “As long as I get to keep you as well.” She draped her arms around his neck, standing on tiptoe to kiss him.

He grinned, holding her close. “Forever.”

She took a deep breath and worked hard to keep the smile plastered to her face.

“What did I say wrong?” he asked, knowing it was something.

She shook her head. “Nothing. Forever is exactly what I want.”

“That’s what I’m offering.” He took her hand in his, leading her to the door. “Are you ready to go?”

She nodded. “Just let me grab my purse.”

“Have you told your Team Bob friends we’re getting married?”

She laughed, shaking her head. “Like they’d believe me.”

“They would if we took a selfie, kissing, with your ring showing.”

“What is it with you and taking kissing selfies?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ve never taken one before, and I just—I want to send one to my mom to announce our engagement.” He knew it was silly and a bit sappy, but he thought his mom would love it.

“Really? I—we can if you want.”

“You wouldn’t mind?” She’d been against a kissing selfie every time he’d mentioned it.

“Of course not.”

“Well, then why wouldn’t you let me take one before?” he asked, leading her to the vehicle.

She waited until they were both in and buckled. “I didn’t want a lot of mementos of a relationship that I thought was going to last for a few hours or a few days. I was worried my heart would be broken, and I’d never be able to get over you.” She was still worried about that, but she had a new attitude, and she wasn’t going to let her worries suck the happiness from her.

“And you’re not worried about that now?” he asked, pulling onto the highway and heading toward Wiggieville.

“I’ve decided not to let my worries for the future keep me from being happy in the present. I’m going to live in the moment.”

“But you still worry that I’m going to leave you and break your heart.” He wasn’t asking, because he knew. He only wished he knew how to convince her that he would be true. He’d never loved before, but he was like a wolf—he mated for life.

*****

Because Bob went back to work the next morning, May worked as hard and fast on her book as possible, trying to complete as much as she could before the wedding. They went into town to get their marriage license Monday afternoon, but other than grabbing a quick meal, they spent no time together.

He had to shoot all day on Tuesday. He had morning, afternoon, and night scenes. He called her for a moment between scenes while he was taking a few minutes of down time in his trailer.

She sounded groggy when she answered, and he immediately felt guilty, looking at the clock and seeing it was after four. “Hello?”

“Hey, sweetheart. I was sure you’d be awake by now.”

May groaned softy. “Timezit?”

He grinned, loving her sleepy voice. “It’s just after four. I wish I was there to kiss you awake.”

“Didn’t sleep ‘til ten. The characters were talking to me.”

“They were, huh? Did they tell you they were figments of your imagination?”

“I don’t think they realize they are.” She yawned into the phone. “You still filming?”

“Yeah. This is a heavy day for me. I’m in this episode a lot.”

“I’m sorry I won’t get to see you at all.”

“Really?”

“Really. It’s going to seem weird to have a whole day without Bob. I’ll be Bobless.”

“Bobless? Is that a new word?”

“The best thing about being a writer is getting to make up new words. Shakespeare did it, so I get to do it too, and no one can stop me.”

He chuckled. “All right. If you say so.”

“I’m going into Weatherford tonight. Aunt Sally and I are going to find a new dress for me to wear for the wedding. Are you inviting anyone?”

“Yeah. I’ve asked the gang. Jesse, Valerie, Amber, and Steven, the director, are all going to be there.”

“All right.”

“Does that bother you?”

“Of course not. Did you send the selfie to your mom?” Before they’d parted ways on Sunday night, they’d taken the selfie he wanted, with them kissing and her holding her hand up where the ring could be seen.

“I did. She’s excited, but unfortunately can’t make it for the wedding on Thursday. I shared it with Team Bob this morning too.”

“You didn’t!” He could hear the shock in her voice. “What did they say?”

“I haven’t looked since.”

“That’s diabolical! Do you have any idea how many direct messages I must have? You’re crazy!”

He chuckled softly. “Probably.” There was a knock on his door. “That knock means I have ten minutes to get my butt back to wardrobe.”

She sighed. “It’s such a nice butt.”

“You’ve been checking out my butt? I’m appalled, May Newman!”

“Go break a leg. I need to shower to get ready for my trip to town and do some Twitter damage control.”

“Have a good time. Dream of me.”

“I always do.”

*****

May stared down at the phone in her hand, wishing he was close enough to hug. She had to bite her tongue to keep from telling him she loved him. She quickly pulled up Twitter, and sure enough, there were lots of messages from her Team Bob cronies. Team Bob had about two-hundred active members. Twenty had sent her messages.

She read the ones from her friends, Cindy and Pam, who had started Team Bob with her first.
You’re marrying Bob Bodefeld, and he had to tell us? Are you crazy?
Cindy asked.

She typed her reply quickly.
It all happened really fast. Wedding is Thursday. I’ll send pics.

The second message, from Pam, was even more direct.
I’m not sure you can still be a Team Bob member after your betrayal. Why didn’t you tell us???

She grinned.
It just happened. I wasn’t trying to hide anything, but I didn’t think anyone would believe me either. I was going to send wedding pics on Thursday as my announcement. I’m going to have to get on there and say something to the masses. Be ready to do damage control for me. I’m about to go shopping for a wedding dress with my aunt.

She thought hard about what to say to the Team Bob group in general. What did you say when you were marrying the man they all idolized?
Marrying Bob Bodefeld on Thursday afternoon. Will send pictures. Sorry, ladies. He’s all mine now! #SorryNotSorry #TeamBob

She’d worry about Instagram and Facebook later, knowing Pam and Cindy would make sure the word was spread. She had no doubt both already had her selfie kissing Bob with the engagement ring all over them. She wasn’t going to look. She had to worry about finishing her book before the wedding.

After her shower, she called Aunt Sally. “I’m ready to shop. Can I head your way?”