My manager shrugged. “I don’t know, really. She was crying on her way here,” he gestured at Kenzie, “so D and I followed her to make sure everything was okay.”
I looked down at Zaira again. “Baby?” I placed my hands on her shoulders and nudged her gently. “I’m really starting to worry here, so could youpleasetell me what’s wrong?”
She moved back and gazed up at me, and God, the way her eyes shone in that moment – they made me catch my breath just so I could look at her without interruption.
She sniffed and stepped back, pulled her glasses out of the side pocket of her white hoodie, and put them on. She then swiped at her phone – which was in her hand – and then turned it around so I could see the screen. “I will never be able to thank you enough,” she said a little shakily. “Words can’t express my gratitude, Gallan. You made this happen for me, and I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to pay you back for your generosity and kindness.”
I blinked and swallowed at her words, and then glanced down at her phone. I kept staring at it for a while, because I didn’t know what I was looking for, but when it finally registered to me, I brought my eyes back to hers and grinned at her.
“Holy shit, baby; congratulations!” I cupped her face and kissed her wet lips. Various thoughts of murdering Ross in cold blood left my mind, and I felt nothing but pure joy and pride as I looked at the gorgeous woman in front of me.
She hitched out a little sob and smiled at me. “Youmade this happen for me, so thank you, Gall.”
I shook my head and stepped closer to her. “It’s your determination that got you here. I just gave you a little push, Zaira, that’s all. It’s your passion and talent that have risen you to this accomplishment, and damn, sweetheart, I’m so fucking proud of you.”
The Ice Bearerhad reached the #1 spot in theNew York Times Bestselling Listunder the Graphic Book and Manga category. The early responses I’d received on my contest had beencrazygood, but I wasn’t aware that my little act to help my girl out would turn into something this big. The happiness and excitement on her face were infectious, to say the least, and the awe she held in her eyes as she looked at me – man, that made me wanna spread my arms wide and dance like a fucking peacock.
Zaira held my wrists. “The sales keep increasing every few minutes. Kenzie and I were tracking them all day, but we lost count a couple hours ago. Then, someone messaged me on IG and asked me to check theNYTlist, and I just...” Her chin trembled. “Up until the day before yesterday, I didn’t even have a single sale to my name, and now…” She shook her head and let go of my wrists. “Now I can’t even keep track of them. It’s not about the money for me – it never will be. I’m just so incredibly happy that people are giving my book a chance; that they’ll hold my hard work, my blood and sweat and tears, in their hands. That they’ll go on the adventureIwrote; meet the charactersIcreated. I’m both ecstatic and scared shitless, but I’m even more curious to see how they’ll react to the story.”
I kissed her once, twice, and then pulled a napkin out of my jeans pocket before wiping her tears and snot with it. “I know you care about getting your story out there to the right audience, and not about the money. And I also know that once people start reading your book, they’re going to lose their marbles over Graham and his squad. You’re incredible, Zaira, and so isTheIceBearer. I can’t wait for readers to fall in love with you, your energy, and your book.”
“Amen to that!” Amara said, and then grinned at Zaira. “Kenneth and I’ve ordered more than 50 copies of your book, and we can’t wait to give them out to our families, friends, and my makeup team.”
Kenneth chuckled as he looked at me. “Yup. We practically spammed the online retailers after I saw your contest video. They probably think we’re either nuts, or bots making a bulk purchase, but as far as the copies get delivered to us, I don’t really care.”
I laughed. “Thanks for the support.”
He nodded. “Of course.”
Zaira sniffed. “I’m speechless,” she said. “I don’t know if I even deserve all of this. I just–”
“Of course you deserve it!” Dylan cut her off as he came to stand next to her. “I can’t wait to take all sorts of awesome pictures with my copy when it arrives! I’m going to promote the literal shit out of your book, babe. I’m going to promote it so hard, that Graham will startquakingin his skintight jeans.”
Zaira’s lips twitched. “He doesn’t wear skintight jeans,” she told Dylan. “He wearsonlyjeans – ones that have enough room for hisballs.” She looked sideways at me.
I put my tongue to my cheek, and slightly nudged one of her sneakers with my left boot.
Dylan gave Zaira an incredulous look. “Huh?”
Shane placed a hand on his shoulder. “Trust me, D, you don’t wanna know whatever it is that she meant by that. These two,” he pointed between me and Zaira, “are A-grade basketcases. They’ve already drained half of my brain in the short time they’ve been together. You’re better off, I promise.”
Everyone laughed at that, whereas I flipped my manager off for his snarky remarks. In turn, he smirked and gave me a two-finger salute.
Asshole.
Kenzie hugged Zaira from behind. “Aww, you used my skinny-jeans-and-dusty-attic joke, didn’t you?” she said to her.
Zaira chuckled. “You bet your silly ass I did.”
“Hey!” Kenzie slapped her arm in a playful manner. “My ass is plump and posh, and so very ready to be manhandled by Robert Pattinson.”
“Wait,” Zaira and I said together, and then laughed before high-fiving each other.
“Wasn’t Tom Hiddleston your celebrity crush just the other day?” my girlfriend asked her best friend.
Kenzie stepped back and shrugged. “I changed my mind.”
“I wish I could do that so easily,” Amara mused, and then teasingly elbowed Kenneth in the stomach.
