by Chase Connor
Before I could make my way out to the patio to be with my boyfriend and grandmother, I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. I extracted my phone, tapped the screen, and glanced down at the text message I’d received:
Ron: How about more of a murder mystery with fantasy or paranormal elements? We won’t touch the characters or give you shit about who plays which character.
Smiling widely to myself, I realized that the script had hooked Ron and Lucinda more than they had been willing to let on in the meeting. No producer ever messaged so quickly after a pitch meeting. Quickly, but not so quickly as to seem desperate, I tapped out my short response.
Deal.
As I stepped out onto the patio, Oma turned her head to look at me, raising her champagne flute in a salute with a smile.
“Afternoon, assface.” She quipped before bringing her drink to her lips.
“Good afternoon, you old bag.” I nudged her shoulder with my hip as I went by. “How’s the sauce?”
“Well,” She sighed and smacked her lips, “I’ve had worse.”
I laughed as I slid into the seat next to Lucas, who still had his nose in his book. A quick glance at the cover let me know that he was rereading Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice. Using my forefinger, I thumped the cover, and Lucas jerked in his seat. Looking up from his book, as though he had been somewhere else entirely, he looked over the top of the book. For a second, he seemed disoriented, then his eyes met mine, and a smile bloomed on his face.
“Babe.” He stated happily.
“Research?” I asked, nodding at the book.
Lucas set his book on the patio table, spine up, and leaned forward to give me a chaste, yet lingering kiss.
“Mmm.” I winked as he pulled away.
“Not really research,” He gestured at the book, “but, just in case they didn’t like what you took to them today, maybe I could be inspired to come up with a better idea to tweak what we wrote.”
“They liked it.” I leaned in with a grin.
Lucas’ eyes grew wide with joyful surprise, and his lips were on mine once again.
“Well, good,” Oma grumbled from the other side of the table. “Y’all didn’t have enough reasons to swap spit, did ya’?”
“Can it, old woman.” I teased her as Lucas’ arms went around my neck, giving me a celebratory hug. “This is good news.”
“Yeah?” She turned in her seat to look at us as Lucas’ arms slid from my neck, and he beamed at me. “Betcha dollars to donuts them sumbitches loved the idea of you in the lead, but where does that leave me and handsome over there?”
“Thank you, Mrs. Wagner.” Lucas laughed.
“They probably told you that ‘the old hag’ and your ‘boy toy’ had to sit this one out, didn’t they?” Oma waggled her head and slammed the rest of her champagne.
“I don’t like that nickname nearly as much.” Lucas turned up his nose.
“Ignore her.” I patted his knee. “As a matter of fact, Oma, they are on board with all three of us. They said they want to change it to a murder mystery with paranormal and fantasy elements, but otherwise, they’re going to move forward with all three of us.”
Oma’s brow raised.
“Well,” The corner of her mouth turned up, “didn’t think you had it in you to make that kind of deal. The washed-up old has-been and the professional extra get called up to the big leagues.”
Lucas frowned at her, but he wasn’t wholly unamused.
“Stuff it, Oma.” I did my best not to chuckle.
“Oh, boy. It’s true what they say. You don’t buy champagne, ya’ rent it.” Oma stated simply before rising from her chair and scuttling toward the house.
Lucas watched her go, shaking his head amusedly.
“We should probably celebrate.” He finally said once Oma was out of earshot. “Do you want to go out?”
“You hate going out.” I leaned in with a grin and laid my forehead against his.
“I do.”
“Maybe you’ll be saying that phrase in a different context in the future?” I wiggled my eyebrows.
“Ya’ never know.” He winked.
“Time will tell.” I sighed happily.
“I’ll make us something special for dinner. Lots of wine.” He slowly rose from his chair, so I sat back in mine to give him space. “Then, when the old lady goes to bed, we’ll do disrespectful things.”
“Obscenely disrespectful.” I winked up at him.
Lucas grinned wickedly and made his way toward the house, just like Oma had. Of course, unlike Oma, he most likely wasn’t going to the fridge to attack the champagne after visiting the bathroom. I sat back in the patio chair and propped my elbows on the table, smiling to myself. Just thinking about developing a project with the two people I loved most in life would keep me happy for a long time. Unless things fell through, and the project just couldn’t be brought to the small screen, I knew that I would be even happier in the months to come.
I nearly jumped out of my skin as a hand suddenly found my knee and had to stop myself from screaming out. Holding a hand to my chest, I laughed as the small man crept out from under the table. Ernst gave me an apologetic smile as he patted my knee and came to stand beside me.
“I don’ like California, Rob.” He said in his high-pitched voice. “Too much sun. I like shadows.”
He squinted and held a hand over his eyes to block out some of the sunlight that threatened his senses.
I laid a hand on his shoulder. “I know. The others have said the same thing. Give it time. In a few months, maybe we’ll all be back in Ohio.”
Ernst’s eyes lit up from underneath the visor made of his hand.
“Did they like your ideas?” He asked, hopefully.
“They did.” I smiled down at him.
“We’ve been ‘ere so long.” He sighed. “I woul’ love to be back ‘ome.”
I patted his shoulder and gave it a squeeze as I looked out at the sunlit hills around us.
“We’ll see what the future brings, my friend.” I smiled. “Only time will tell. Have faith.”
And…scene.
A Point Worth LGBTQ+
Paranormal Romance Series
Will continue with Book 7 –
Murder at the Red Rooster Tavern
~Coming in 2021~
About the Author
Chase Connor currently lives in Des Moines, Iowa with his partner, his dog, Rimbaud, and spends his free time writing M/M Romance, LGBTQ YA novellas/novels, LGBTQ Paranormal Romance, as well as general LGBTQ fiction, when he’s not busy being enthusiastic about naps and Pad Thai.
Chase can be reached at
[email protected]
Or on Twitter @ChaseConnor7
He can also be found on Chase Connor Books
https://chaseconnor.com
or on Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18055910.Chase_Connor
He does his very best to respond to all DMs, emails, and Twitter comments from his reader friends and loves the interaction with them. Chase has several novellas/novels for sale on Amazon (and other sites) in ebook and paperback format.
***Chase Connor’s catalog can be read for free with Kindle Unlimited***
