Taking my dad’s advice, I was going to start taking care of myself the way I needed to. Next, I’d live the life I deserved just like I’d told Stella to do.
12
Stella
6 months later
“Were you checking out my husband?” Lexie asked as I dried away the small amount of drool that had formed in the corner of my mouth.
I felt bad because Ryder was such a sweetheart, but I couldn’t help myself from ogling him. “It’s hard not to when first he pops out those dimples of his, and then he took off his shirt.” I held my hands up, hoping it didn’t offend her. “I’m only doing what any warm-blooded woman would do.”
“Trust me, I get it. Those dimples get me every time. But I think it’s time we get you a man of your own or at least someone to keep your bed warm.”
“And how is that supposed to happen when I’m gone all the damn time or writing?” I asked as I took the lounger next to hers.
Lexie shrugged. “At least get laid. How long has it been since that guy you told me about?”
“Remy? Almost a year now. Ten months is too long to go without sex, but I know he ruined me for all other guys.”
“Unless you find a man out there who’s better than him,” she smirked. “Keep thinking positive, and maybe one will drop out of the sky.”
“Or appear out of thin air. Please, tell me how I’m supposed to find a man who’s good in bed. Do I get references from his previous bed partners after he tells me what he excels at?”
Throwing her head back, Lexie cackled. “Oh my God, can you imagine?”
“Most definitely not. If that’s what it takes, I’m out of the game.” I laughed along with her.
Once our laughter died down, Lexie sat up on her lounger and swung her legs around until she was facing me. “How have you been, with the exception of not getting any dick?”
“You know it’s not fair that out of you, me, and Penelope, I’m the only one not getting any.” Lexie bit her bottom lip to keep from smiling. “Other than that, my life is great. I can’t believe people are reading my book and loving it. It’s been surreal. I’m ready for a break, but my publisher wants me to get started on another book that I have no concept on yet.”
“Sounds to me like you need to find a young stud to please you, unblock your pipes, and then your life will be perfect.”
“Is sex the answer to all my problems?”
“It certainly won’t hurt, but if you want, I can brainstorm with you.” She sat up straighter and got serious. “Are you wanting to continue to write with the same characters like a series or something new?”
“I don’t know,” I moaned out as I threw my arm over my eyes. “I mean, how much can happen in that little town?”
“It wouldn’t be a place I’d want to live if people kept dying, but it doesn’t have to be murders. Does it have to be a mystery? Maybe you can have someone kidnapped or sold into the sex trade industry.”
“Wow,” I blinked. “I’m not sure I’m ready for people to be sex slaves yet in my books or ever, but maybe a kidnapping. A kidnapping would be fun. Although I think that’s too much for one small town. Can you imagine? I would move. Hell, I did move, but not because of the serial killer who was causing havoc on my town.”
“You’re right. I think it should be a new place with new characters unless it’s in a big city. The best part is you can travel to those places for research.”
“I don’t want to go anywhere but my bed for the foreseeable future. I don’t know how you do it?”
“It’s not easy. Especially with Delila, but we’ve got a system that works well for us.” She turned and looked to the gym, where we could see Ryder working out. I kept my eyes away. “When I first met Ryder, he was traveling nonstop. He didn’t even have a place to live since he was never home. I warned him he was going to get burned out even when we weren’t together, and luckily, he listened. He scheduled some much-needed time off, and after that, he started to look at the jobs he was offered. Who the photographer was, how much money he’d be paid, and who the shoot was for. If it wasn’t worth the time away, he didn’t take the job.”
“I never thought about all that. He seems so put together.”
“Now he is, and he was doing it for a good reason back then. He wanted to make money to help with his mother’s hospital bills. I warned him that if he didn’t slow down and got sick, it could fuck with his career. You’re only as good as your reputation in the modeling industry.”
“I’m sure he’s grateful he had you in his corner to give him good advice.”
Lexie nodded. “I do give good advice, and my advice to you is to enjoy what’s happening to you. You only get your first time being a New York Times best-selling author.”
“You’re right, and I am for the most part. It’s been an amazing experience, but with each passing day, my inbox fills up more and more with no time to look at them. It’s too much for me to handle.”
“Maybe you should look into getting an assistant. You don’t even need to have one come to your house. They can live hundreds if not thousands of miles away, but it might be worth it to have someone helping you, and then you wouldn’t be so overwhelmed.”
“Damn, you’re good. I should have talked to you about this a couple of months ago when I started drowning.” If I didn’t have to worry about all
