Page 64 of Unscripted Love
“That’s so beautiful,” Meredith said.
“Is it me or does anyone else find Emory’s psychic timing suspect?” Adrian asked. “What else are you keeping to yourself?” Gabe’s partner studied the man through narrowed eyes. Emory stiffened, but I couldn’t tell if he was shocked or irritated.
Psychic?I looked around the room and I was the only one who looked surprised to hear that Emory had psychic abilities. Not even the club owner, Jonathon Silver, was shocked by the revelation. Hell, Emory couldn’t stand that guy, but he somehow knew Emory’s secret before me. Of course, I thought that Emory only wanted us to think he didn’t like Jonathon Silver. I had seen him checking out the dark-haired, blue-eyed man when he didn’t think the guy was looking, which wasn’t often. Jonathon Silver seemed to know where Emory was every second that they shared the same room.
“Do you really want to know?” Emory asked with a hint of sinister in his voice.
Adrian swallowed hard then shook his head. “No, thanks, buddy. That takes the fun right out of life.”
“That’s good because I honestly don’t do parlor tricks,” Emory replied with a hesitant smile. “Besides, it was a lucky guess, not a vision.”
Everyone laughed at Emory’s comment, but there was something about his tone of voice that had me questioning if he’d just said that to make people more comfortable. Or, maybe he was sorry that he said anything at all.
“Let’s eat before the food gets cold,” Chaz said, “then you guys can open your presents.”
The food was the catalyst to get people’s minds off of the nearly awkward exchange between Adrian and Emory. I saw Adrian seek Emory out and have a private conversation with him. I figured Adrian had picked up on Emory’s discomfort and tried to make the man feel more comfortable.
I enjoyed the party with our friends, especially seeing how happy and excited the expectant fathers were when they opened their gifts. Even so, the exchange between Adrian and Emory stayed on my mind long after the party ended and everyone went home. I was able to ignore them while I made love to Chaz, but they returned full force once we lay cuddled together in bed afterward.
“I can tell you’re rolling something around in your beautiful brain,” Chaz commented. “What’s on your mind?”
“Emory,” I replied automatically without thinking how bad it sounded.
Instead of getting mad, Chaz laughed. “Oh my God! I’ve infected you with the same virus that makes me say the worst things at the worst time. Baby, I’m so sorry. I had no idea my affliction was contagious.”
I was lucky that Chaz didn’t take that the wrong way. “I was thinking about Emory’s psychic ability, nothing sexual,” I said to clarify. I gave Chaz a sharp look and added, “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me about his psychic abilities.”
Chaz shrugged and said, “It wasn’t my story to tell.”
“I keep asking myself the same questions. Would I want to know in advance how my life turns out or would that ruin the journey? Wouldn’t I have missed little nuances if he had told me that I would fall in love with you and we’d build a life together? I would’ve taken it for granted instead of working for something that I so badly wanted.”
“I think it would be like opening a book to the last page and reading it first,” Chaz remarked. “Where’s the fun in that? You miss the buildup, the twists and turns, and the thrill of discovering love if you already know it happens. No,” Chaz said, shaking his head. “I’ll take the unscripted love.”
“Me too,” I agreed. “Maybe that’s how Drew feels. He’s trying to go off script to forge his path and find the love of his choosing.”
“But Aiden is perfect for him,” Chaz replied, but I could tell he was giving my words serious consideration. “Oh! Dimples, I think you might be onto something.”
“I was on it a few minutes ago,” I replied, earning a playful slap for my bawdy remark.
“It’s been Travis all along,” Chaz said in awe. “Damn, I have a lot of work to fix this hot mess of a manuscript.”
I pulled Chaz tighter to me and said, “It doesn’t have to be tonight.”
“You’re right.”
“Would you like me to go get your laptop for you or do you plan on sneaking up to your office as soon as I fall asleep?” I asked because I knew damn well he wasn’t going to bed until he figured out the changes to his plot.
“I don’t know,” Chaz replied. “How long do you think that will be?”
“I was thinking about one more round of ‘research,’” I told him. I broke out the air quotes that he loved so much.
“Okay then,” Chaz said, eagerly rolling to his back. “Do me, Dr. Dimples.”
“New Year’s Eve in Vegas was a brilliant idea,” I told Kyle through the microphone attached to my headset, even if I was nervous about some of the festivities he planned.
“Two birds with one stone: your first helicopter ride and amazing advantage point to see the fireworks.”
Kyle surprised me with the trip to ring in the new year. It reminded me of our trip to New York because I had a surprise of my own tucked inside my jacket pocket—one that made me more nauseous than when the helicopter lifted off.