Page 48 of Guys Can’t Write Romance
Chapter thirty-five
The Award and the Moment
The Heartstrings Publishing Awards Banquet filled the grand ballroom of the Beverly Hills Hotel.
Crystal chandeliers cast a warm light over tables draped in cream-colored linens, each centered with a flower arrangement.
Publishing industry insiders mingled with literary agents, editors, and the finalists, all dressed in their finest, sipping champagne, and pretending not to be desperately nervous.
Daisy sat next to Chloe at a round banquet table, nervously smoothing down the front of her silk dress as she scanned the ballroom for her wayward writing partner.
Chloe leaned over to her. “Any sign of him?”
Daisy shook her head. “No. He texted twenty minutes ago that they were stuck in traffic on Wilshire.”
“Think he’ll make it by next year’s banquet?”
Daisy smiled, despite herself. “It’s doubtful.”
“There’s our star,” said Mags, as she and the rest of the writers’ group walked up. “And don’t you look absolutely radiant.”
Daisy smiled, smoothing the front of her dress for the millionth time. “Thanks.”
Bernie looked around the table. “It seems we’re missing someone. Was Chad unable to find a formal baseball cap to go with his suit?”
Daisy chuckled. “He’s coming. He’s just stuck in traffic.”
Ruth snickered. “We wouldn’t expect any less of the boy.”
“Although I have noticed quite a few changes in him lately,” Liv added. “I believe that’s largely due to you, Daisy.”
“The human race and publishing industry thank you for your service,” Phil said with a grin. “If I had to read about one more of his monsters, I don’t know what I would have done.”
Daisy laughed. Before she could respond, the lights dimmed slightly and a woman in an elegant suit approached the podium at the front of the ballroom.
“Ladies and gentlemen, if you could please take your seats? The awards ceremony is about to begin.”
The writers’ group wished Daisy luck before heading back to their assigned table. Daisy smoothed her dress yet again and took one more look around the ballroom. Chloe gave her hand a comforting squeeze.
“He’ll be here,” Chloe assured her. “Because he knows I know where he hides his Hallmark movies. And they just might disappear.”
The woman at the podium, Elise Parker, the editor-in-chief of Heartstrings Publishing, according to the program, welcomed everyone and began describing the contest’s history and significance.
Daisy tried to focus, but her attention kept drifting to the ballroom entrance, waiting for a familiar mop of sandy hair and that crooked grin.
“... received over one thousand submissions from aspiring authors across the country,” Elise continued. “Our editorial team narrowed these down to fifteen exceptional finalists, five in each category: Contemporary Romance, Historical Romance, and our newest addition, Romantic Comedy.”
A polite ripple of applause moved through the audience.
“Tonight, we will announce one winner from each category who will receive a publishing contract with Heartstrings, along with a $10,000 advance.”
The applause was more enthusiastic this time, tinged with nervous energy from the finalists.
“Before we announce the winners, we would like to recognize our runners-up in each category. These authors demonstrated exceptional talent, and while they didn’t quite make the winner’s circle this time, we at Heartstrings believe they have bright futures ahead of them.”
Daisy’s pulse quickened. Chad’s category would be coming up soon, and he still wasn’t here.
Her phone buzzed in her purse. She reached in and discreetly checked the message.
‘Almost there.’
Relief washed over her, followed by exasperation. Only Chad could be late for his first awards banquet.
“... and now, for our romantic comedy category,” Elise announced. “Our runners-up are: Angela Williams for ‘The Dating Game,’ Francisco Reyes for ‘Love in the Time of Tacos,’ and Chad McKenzie and Daisy Fields for ‘A Ghost of a Chance.’”
Wait— what?
Daisy froze, certain she’d misheard. Her name? Why would her name be announced with Chad’s book? She exchanged a puzzled look with Chloe, who looked just as confused.
The spotlight found her, and the audience began to applaud. Chloe nudged her, urging her to stand. Daisy rose to her feet in a complete daze, faintly aware of the applause growing louder as she made her way to the stage.
Elise smiled, holding out a crystal award as Daisy stepped up. “Congratulations, Daisy! Is your co-author here?”
“I— he’s—” Daisy stammered, still trying to process what was happening. “I think there’s been a mistake. I didn’t co-author this book. It’s Chad’s.”
Elise looked momentarily confused and quickly scanned her notes. “The submission was listed under both your names, with a note specifically requesting that any recognition be shared equally.”
Before Daisy could respond, the ballroom doors burst open, and a slightly disheveled Chad rushed in, adjusting his tie as he hurried down the center aisle. He spotted Daisy on stage and his face broke into a relieved grin.
“Sorry I’m late!” he called, jogging up the steps to join her. “Did I miss it?”
“Perfect timing, Mr. McKenzie,” Elise said with good-natured exasperation. “We were just about to present you and Ms. Fields with your award.”
Chad turned to Daisy, his expression softening at her obvious confusion. “Surprise,” he said quietly.
“Chad,” Daisy whispered, “what did you do? I didn’t write your book.”
“Actually, you did,” he said. “Maybe not the words, but the heart of it? That was all you, Daisy.”
Elise handed them the crystal award, which Chad immediately passed to Daisy. “Would either of you like to say a few words?” Elise asked, gesturing to the microphone.
“I would,” Chad said, stepping forward while Daisy stood in stunned silence, clutching the award.
He adjusted the microphone and cleared his throat.
“First, I want to thank Heartstrings Publishing for creating a contest that gave writers like me a chance to be heard. A year ago, I was writing zombie cheerleader stories that made my writing group cringe.” He paused as laughter rippled through the audience. “Not exactly Pulitzer material.”
His eyes found the writers’ group, seated together and beaming proudly.
“I also want to thank our incredible writing group, who put up with my terrible first drafts and even worse jokes.” The group raised their glasses in acknowledgment.
“Special shout-out to Mags, who threatened to hit me with her purse if I didn’t stop having my characters make stupid decisions just to move the plot forward. ”
More laughter, as Mags playfully brandished her sequined purse.
Then Chad turned to Daisy, his expression growing serious. “But mostly, I want to thank Daisy Fields, who is probably still wondering why her name is on this award.”
He took a deep breath. “When I met Daisy, I thought she was an uptight control freak who took writing way too seriously.” A murmur of laughter. “And she thought I was an immature man-child who couldn’t be bothered to use proper grammar.” A louder laugh.
“We were both right,” Chad admitted with a grin.
“But somewhere between her color-coded editing system and my terrible first drafts, something amazing happened. She made me a better writer. A better person, actually. She taught me that structure doesn’t have to be the enemy of creativity, that vulnerability isn’t weakness, and that sometimes the scariest stories are the ones where you risk your heart. ”
The room had gone completely quiet, everyone captivated by the genuine emotion in his voice.
“This book wouldn’t exist without her,” Chad continued. “Not just her editorial skills, but her belief that I could write something worth reading. So her name belongs on this award just as much as mine does.”
He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper. “And since she’s still in shock, I’ll read the dedication from the book, which she hasn’t seen yet.”
Daisy watched, barely breathing, as Chad carefully unfolded the paper.
“This is on behalf of my writing partner, Daisy, who lost her dad three years ago,” Chad began, his voice gentle.
“To Captain Michael Fields, who’s reading this on his Kindle in Heaven.
Your daughter made it! The little girl who would fall asleep with a book in her hands grew up to write one that’s going to be on shelves everywhere.
She’s everything you knew she could be, brave, brilliant, and unstoppable.
She colors the world brighter just by being in it.
Her biggest fan isn’t just proud, he’s right. ”
Tears welled in Daisy’s eyes, blurring the lights of the ballroom. Chad’s words reached directly into her heart, speaking to a loss she carried every day, acknowledging it without diminishing it.
“Thank you,” Chad finished simply, folding the paper and stepping back from the microphone.
The audience erupted in applause, many dabbing at their eyes. But Daisy hardly noticed. The world had narrowed to just this moment, just this man who had somehow seen through to her deepest hopes and fears, and had found a way to honor both.
Without thinking or planning, Daisy crossed the short distance between them, grabbed the lapels of his jacket, and kissed him. And as his arms came around her and his lips responded to hers, they held that kiss.