Page 237 of The Virgin Romance Novelist Chronicles
I put my entire heart in this book. My internal dialogue, what I really thought when it came to sex, penises, and even the internal dialogue of my vagina . . . Virginia. I wrapped the novel up with a pretty little bow of finding love where you least expected it, with your best friend, the man who had been there for you the whole time.
Wolf Shirt Wendy couldn’t have been prouder of me, or Delaney who was my number-one beta reader—a self-proclaimed title. She had started to read more, now that I was inserting myself in the world, so she kept up to date on new books and standout authors. We talked daily about something we saw on Facebook, a post of a naked man, or some “rant” someone went on. We decided that if I was going to put myself out there, I’d be an entertainer, and that was it. I wouldn’t use my status as an author to talk about my problems, because no one wanted to hear about those. My job was to help readers forget THEIR problems, so I started writing down fun ideas on how to do that with interactive posts and funny tidbitsonlymy brain could think of.
So far, I had a Facebook page with five hundred likes—pretty much all family and friends, but whenever I got a new like from someone neither of us knew, Delaney and I cheered with each other. It was going to be a long road, full of highs and lows, but I was ready to take the journey. If anything, I just wanted to make one person laugh, one person escape their reality for a short period of time. If I did that, then I had done my job.
“Are you ready for this?” Delaney asked, gripping my shoulders.
Henry and Derk stood beside us, basking in the new adventure that sat before me.
“I think I am.” I nodded.
“I’m so proud of you, love.” Henry kissed the top of my head. “Press it.”
I took a calming breath, smiled, and clicked the publish button. “The Virgin Romance Novelistis now published. Look out, world, my quirky and naïve character, Meghan, is coming for you.”
Derk, Henry, and Delaney cheered, congratulating me and pulling me into hugs.
“Check the sales,” Derk chanted. “I’m sure there are at least five. That cover is legit.”
I laughed. “Derk, it can take up to twenty-four hours to process. We have some time.”
“Damn, that would have been so cool.”
“Nice try. Want to go to the living room for snacks?”
“Sure.” Delaney kissed me on the cheek and then guided Derk out of the room to give Henry and me a little privacy.
Taking me into his arms, he pulled me as close to his chest as he could, thanks to my baby bump.
“I can’t tell you how proud I am of you, Rosie. Your strength and determination to make this happen is so sexy.” He rubbed my back and smiled at me.
“We have guests,” I reminded him.
“They might like to hear some ball slapping.” He wiggled his eyebrows at me.
“No one likes ball slapping.” I laughed and walked away, but I didn’t get very far because Henry pulled on my arm and brought his lips quickly down on mine. I melted into him, loving the way his mouth softly explored mine.
Love enveloped me. This was the man I’d be spending the rest of my life with, the man who would hold my hand during the good reviews and the bad, the man who would help welcome our baby boy into the world. He would forever go down in history as the best book boyfriend, ever. No questions asked.
Part Three
THE PARENTING ROMANCE NOVELIST
Chapter Forty-Two
ROSIE
Knock. Knock.
“Come in,” I call out, shifting my hospital gown down my leg.
Delany peeks her head past the door and tiptoes into the room. “Can I visit?
I wave in Delaney. “Yup.” I rest my head against the hospital bed and fold my hands over my deflated belly. “No need to be quiet. The baby is off having some tests done.”
“Ugh, really?” Shoulders slouched, the air knocked out of her, she stumbles the rest of the way into the room and flops a teddy bear on the end of the hospital bed. “Lame. Don’t they know Aunt Delaney is here to see her precious little nephew?”
I reach for my ice chips—my throat is sore from all the painful screaming—and pop a few in my mouth. “Apparently the nurses don’t care about your schedule.” I look past Delaney just as she sits on the chair next to my bed. “Where’s Derk?”
