Page 66 of Secrets That Bind Us

Verity

Present Day

“So… how are you feeling?” Zoey asks from behind the counter.

I blush, remembering last night and how rough Dean got. When he said every hole in my body– he meant it. Although he was very gentle during anal. All the praise. The worship. I feel like a brand new woman. “Like it’s my turn to plan a wedding.” I grin.

“God, you’re glowing.” Zoey giggles. “I’m so happy for you, Ver.”

A patron grabs our attention before I can answer.

The grand opening of The Ink Plot has been a royal success.

Having all of those influencers come in from so many miles away has brought so much traffic through our doors, we’ve actually had to re-stock almost everything.

Iris has had to run out and purchase more ingredients for sandwiches, making us switch up our menu halfway through the day.

I know it won’t always be like this, but it has been an incredible day.

I look over at my best friend, who looks exhausted, just as Jake comes from around the corner. It’s finally gotten a bit quiet. “How are you feeling? You’re getting married in two weeks.”

Zoey’s nose scrunches and she squeals excitedly. “I know! I just got off the phone with the caterer. Everything is pretty much ready. Invitations have gone out, Will is finally done with the barn, so that’s perfect. Ugh, it feels like everything is falling into place!”

“Eli and I were approved for adoption.” Jake adds nonchalantly.

Zoey and I turn to him. “OH MY GOD!” We rush to hug him. He throws an arm around each of us and squeezes, tears in his eyes. “Jake!” I feel my own tears sting my eyes. “Jake, this is such good news! You’re going to be the best dads!”

He sniffs but grins that cocky smile of his. “I know. We were going to tell you after the wedding, once the chaos died down. Your plates have been so full. I didn’t want to add more to it.”

“I wish you hadn’t! Oh my God! I’m going to be an aunt!” I crush him to me. “Where is Eli?!” I ask, looking around the shop.

“He’s out back, on the phone with your publisher. I think you should go out there and talk to him.”There’s a seriousness to his tone that catches me a bit off guard.

My belly swoops. “Is it about my manuscript?”

“ More , Ver. You really should go out there while it’s quiet so you can talk.”

Worrying my bottom lip, I nod. “Alright…” I push off of him, grab my coat, and make my way to the empty patio, since it’ll only be open in the evenings for adults.

I find Eli with his hand on hip, another impeccable suit on.

Chocolate eyes meet with mine, and he holds a dark brown finger up in my direction, silently telling me to hold on.

He’s nodding and mumbling, and it’s all making me a little anxious.

“Yeah. Well, I mean, I’ll talk to her and I’ll get back with you as soon as she gives me a definitive answer. Yeah, yeah. Okay. Talk soon.” He hangs up and shoves his phone into his inside jacket pocket, giving me a pointed look.

I take a seat on one of the empty bar stools. “What’s all that about?”

He sighs. “Someone leaked your manuscript to a streaming platform executive.”

My hand flies to my pendant. “But… I’m not done writing it yet. Do you know who it was?”

“I have an inkling. And I really don’t think they did it with malice in their heart.

I think this has been a long time coming.

” He waves a dismissive hand in the air with a shake of his head and licks his lips.

“Verity, they want to make it into a limited series. They want to purchase the rights and have you fly out and meet with executives so they can start the process as soon as you finish writing it. They believe by the time it comes out and makes its six-month round, they can have the script ready to start looking at actors. They want you to be a part of everything. They don’t want to take anything away from you and want you on set as much as possible. ”

I blink, trying to process it all. “Where… where are they…”

“Their studios are based in New York, and they want to film it there as well. Well, parts of it. They think some of it can be done in a rural town in Canada during the summer. They just want to know when you think you’ll be finished with the manuscript?”

He takes the seat next to me. I shake my head in disbelief. “I… I mean… after the editing process, maybe four months.”

Eli nods. “That’s what I was thinking. You’d have to move back up North.”

“That’s not an issue. I just have to talk to Dean about this. Uprooting his entire life?”

“I really don’t think that’s an issue for him. I mean, what’s really keeping him here? He got the girl.” He points out.

“I just have to talk to Dean about it, is all. I mean, we’re getting married. This is still… wow. This is a lot.”

He smiles at me, every perfect white tooth showing. “I know. But this is what happens when you do your best work while on hiatus. Take the weekend to talk to your muse.” -I blush- “We’re not going back until Monday afternoon. Then we’ll be back for the wedding. Are you okay?”

“Yeah. It’s just kinda shitty it was leaked, but I’m also kind of strangely happy about it?”

He throws his head back and laughs. “I wasn’t expecting that kind of call today.

I really thought I was going to be able to just kick back, relax, and watch you work your small town magic.

But, I have to say, even with your manuscript being leaked, I’m glad you’re taking the news so well.

” He goes quiet for a minute like he’s remembering something and another perfect smile breaks across his beautiful face.

Jesus, he really should be on the cover of magazines.

“You know, back when you were just a little country bumpkin trying to make it in the big city, and kept calling me Mr. Wolfe,” he chuckles , “I took one look at you and knew you were gold, kid.”

I roll my eyes at the use of country bumpkin, then put my hand on his. “Thank God you took a chance on me. Wow. Thirteen years already.”

“ Good years, Verity. I know sometimes it was tough for you, but you always made it out. You were fearless every step of the way.”

I shake my head and wince, looking away from him at the rustic, industrial decor. It has a small-town feel, yet modern. “I was afraid every day, if I’m honest, Mr. Wolfe .”

“Could have fooled me, Verbear.” He chuckles and winks but then his smile drops as he eyes me up and down.

He licks his lips and squints at me. His brows draw up.

“You know, maybe that’s what gave you that tenacity.

And look at you now. You beat them all at their own game.

You came out on top and keep coming out on top.

And I’m so lucky you’re my friend. You’ve been an inspiration to so many– myself included– and you’ll keep doing just that.

Ripples create waves, sweet pea. You taught me that. ”

I lick my lips, then bite the lower one, swallowing down all of my emotions.

Elijah Wolfe is the friend I never thought I would have.

What was a platonic business relationship became so personal when we started traveling together.

And then when he started dating Jake after I introduced them at a signing event, it was like we became this little family always meshed together.

His acquaintances became mine, and so on and so forth.

We’ve lost a few of those friends over the years but…

but he never let anything personal come between us.

I suppose it helped I remained unbiased when he and Jake would argue. Which is rare.

Eli and Jake are the most opposite of polar opposites but they work.

Watching them slowly fall in love was incredible.

Well, it was Eli who fell for Jake. Jake was kind of an idiot with us being ten years younger than him.

It almost cost him this love that is so strong between them.

It came down to an ultimatum and I’m so glad Jake pulled his head out of his ass when he did. Maybe one day I’ll write their story…

“I am so lucky you’re mine.” I look at our hands. “I never said thank you… for that day. At the gallery. I think…”

“Verity.”

My gaze snaps to his when he uses that stern voice.

“If I would have known how unhappy you really were, had I known… that was going to happen, I never would’ve let you go in alone.

He kept himself hidden pretty well, Verity.

Trust me. Men like that… they’ll put on a mask, and when it slips entirely, it only goes one of two ways.

They either go to therapy and make changes, or they go to therapy and learn how to go into stealth mode and hide it better until they get a chance to kill you.

Micah was the latter. I saw it in his eyes.

The eyes don’t lie, kid. You did yourself a favor by letting him show you who he really was and getting out.

You’ll never have to thank me for that day. Ever .”

I exhale. “Then… Thank you for everything else.”

He grins, leaning over to tug me into a tight embrace, and it warms my heart. Eli gives the best hugs. “It’s been a pleasure and an honor working with you. The rest has just” -he twirls a wrist in the air- “been a bonus.”

“Baby? Oh hey, Eli.” I hear from behind me, and I turn to see Dean with Savannah and Noah. “We’re just about to go shopping for Savvy’s dress with Jake. You ready to go?”

I nod. “Yeah. Eli?”

He holds his arms out, and Noah and Sav go to him, giving their uncle a hug. “Unfortunately, I have a few more things to do here, but we’re still going to dinner, right?”

“Of course.” I slip off the barstool and land on the concrete of the patio floor.

His phone starts ringing again. He pulls it out of his jacket pocket and rolls his eyes with a huff when he sees who’s calling. “Good. It was a great first day, Ver. You should be proud.”

And I am.I leave him to his Very Important Phone Call that he answers with an annoyed , “Yes?”