Page 61 of Unscripted Love
“Asshole,” I heard Kyle sneer.
“What?” I rolled over quickly and found Kyle reading the book I gave him.
“This Gideon is a real asshole,” he said. “Poor Jamie. He’s not responsible for what his father did. What kind of psychopath sets out to do something like this?” Kyle looked over at me suspiciously. “Should I be worried about how you can come up with such disturbing plots?”
“You don’t have to be a psychotic asshole to write about them,” I told Kyle. I took the book out of his hands and tossed it on the bed. “No one thinks Stephen King is actually a killer clown.”
Kyle laughed and said, “You have a good point.”
“There are times when hands-on experience has its advantages though,” I told Kyle. I slipped my hand beneath the sheet and fisted Kyle’s erection. “You don’t mind if I practice my skills on you so that the experience shines through in my writing, do you?”
“Use me, baby,” Kyle said magnanimously, kicking the sheet and covers off him. “It’s all in the name of art.”
“Welcome to Ambrosia’s,” the hostess said cheerfully. “Do you have a reservation?”
“We’re meeting Agnes Simmons and Jennifer Sugarbaker,” I replied.
“They’re both here already,” she told me. “Follow me, and I’ll show you to your table.”
Kyle placed his hand on the small of my back and gave me a little nudge. He had noticed how tense I was on the ride over and tried to talk me down from the ledge. “You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do. You don’t owe them anything, babe.” I knew he was right even if I did feel a tiny bit of pressure to please my idol.
Agnes was the first to spot us as we approached. She smiled broadly and rose to her feet when she was certain that the hostess was indeed bringing us to her table. I had never posted a picture of myself on social media so she couldn’t be sure until I introduced myself.
“Please call me Chaz,” I told her. “This is my boyfriend, Kyle.” I never got tired of calling him my boyfriend.
“It’s nice to meet you both,” Agnes said. “This is Jennifer Sugarbaker.”
Jennifer shook my hand then Kyle’s and gestured for us to have a seat. “Are you enjoying your trip so far?”
“I’m having an amazing time,” I told them. “I appreciate your interest in having me as a client, Jennifer. I confess to being a little baffled since I’ve only released one book.”
“I’ve known Agnes for twenty years, and her instincts are always right,” Jennifer said. “I cannot believe that you’ve only written one novel. There’s a maturity to your writing that most people only achieve after many years of experience, if at all. I have a dossier for you to take home and look over that will detail the services I provide and the fees I charge. I’m at your disposal to answer any questions that you have, but tonight I’d like to get to know you as an individual. I spend a lot of time with my clients, and quite frankly I want to work with people I admire and respect.” Jennifer chuckled and said, “Pardon my bluntness, but it won’t matter to me if you’re the most talented writer with the largest income potential if you’re an asshole. I won’t rep people I don’t respect or who reflect poorly on me. Tell me who Chaz Hamilton, aka C.B. Hesterson, is.”
Holy shit!I was basically auditioning to see if I was good enough to be one of her clients. What she said made a lot of sense, and I had no problem with it. However, I was known to blurt out the most awkward things at the worst possible time. I was certain my panic was written all over my face as I sat there staring at her with unblinking eyes.
“He knows a lot of things about assholes, but he isn’t one of them,” Kyle said when the silence stretched long enough to become awkward. “He sure can write them well. Wait until you meet Gideon.”
Kyle’s praise snapped me back to reality. While I wasn’t sure I wanted or needed an agent, I wanted to make a good impression, if for no other reason, to thank Agnes for believing in me. If that failed, I hadn’t lost anything because I had the most amazing man in my life.
“Honestly, I find talking about myself boring and a little pretentious. What does one say about themselves? Let’s see,” I said then tried to come up with something. “I wake up every day thankful for the life I have and the people in it. I have a wonderful family, the best friends a man could ask for, and an incredible man who makes all book boyfriends look like chumps.” I looked at Agnes and said, “Even your Alexander.”
Agnes gasped and clutched her chest playfully. “Shut your mouth!” There was no heat in her words, only laughter, and I was encouraged to let my guard down further and have some fun.
“I have a hairless cat named Harry, and I manage my best friend’s salon when I’m not writing. Although, I don’t plan on working there much longer. We hired a new receptionist who I think could fill my shoes in a heartbeat and a smoking hot new stylist that—”
“What smoking hot new stylist?” Kyle asked.
“I told you about Wren,” I answered.
“You said ‘we hired a new stylist today’ but neglected to mention he was smoking hot. You surely never told me about him.”
“Babe, get a grip,” I told Kyle. “I’m only interested because I think he’d make a great book character with his broodiness and mysterious vibe.”
“I see how involved you get in your ‘research,’” Kyle said, busting out the cutesy air quotes again. “I’ve been on the receiving end of it a few times.”
“Giving end too, if I do recall correctly.” I leaned forward and gave him a quick kiss. “Dr. Dimples has no competition for my heart.”
“Isn’t that the sweetest thing,” Agnes said.