Saved by the Cross (Cross 3)

44 - Blessing

Eleven months later...

Gray sat and looked at the line of people holding his book. By people, he meant women, older ones, but others were younger than he expected. Some looked at the cover or had it opened and were reading his words, his and the two incredible men who helped him. Most in line were looking at his picture.

He wasn't a vain man, but he looked good, and his photographer was the best. He glanced to his right where she stood. So beautiful, he smiled, and she winked at him. Her photography was selling his book, and hopefully, his story would sell the next one.

Monty teased him, and Sofia pretended to swoon. He smiled, she was a hormonal powder keg. After weeks of being sick and miserable, something she hadn't been with Ana, she was currently unpredictable and amorous. Monty was convinced it was a boy. Gray felt a slight tinge at the thought of not being downstairs for the fun.

A week before he had signed for a condo in Back Bay. It was an iconic old brick building with a walk up entrance. Although it was small, it would be perfect to start out on their own. The interior needed work which Doyle said would be the fun part. He wasn't so sure, but they were meeting with Oliver's wife. He liked the brick interior walls, although the rest looked like no one had updated it in thirty years.

A woman in her forties stepped up. "I just loved it."

He smiled. "Thank you." He looked up.

"Avery." Her face beamed like a kid on Christmas. Not that he ever was one.

Growing up Christmas was a dull day, especially knowing everyone was having a magical time. Even when his mother made a brisket and they watched football, it couldn't compare. He smiled. Maybe Trista should do a holiday book with traditions. They nixed the kid friendly idea. The holidays might be a companion to the book featuring his cook's old recipes.

He wrote Happy Reading Avery and signed his name. He repeated the process as each person stepped forward. A few asked if he wanted to get a drink. His answer was always the same. "Thanks, but no."

It was only his second signing. The first was with the launch which was mostly a party for friends. Even his parents came from New Jersey for the first time and met Doyle. Meeting at a restaurant in Boston was a lot different from spending a weekend at his suburban home eating tuna casserole. Doyle laughed and reminded him they could fly down for a few hours and fly back. His mother was glad he was settling down. Ironically, he would continue to travel with Monty.

He looked up to a soft voice. "Hi Gray. Congratulations."

Smiling, he couldn't remember her name, but he knew he had slept with her. "Thanks. It's been a few years."

She nodded. "I didn't know if you would remember."

Just as the uncomfortableness settled in, a hand rested on his shoulder. "Hi. I'm Doyle. You two are old friends."

The woman stammered her name. "Not really friends, but acquaintances."

Gray scrawled in her book and she moved on. Doyle saved him because it would have been awkward to ask her name. Her purpose was to mark her territory. It wasn't the first time they had run into one of his former friends. If he could go back and change it, he would.

Maybe it was what he had to do to get by until he met Doyle. Mrs. Carson sent him a Christmas card and he sent her a signed book. He imagined her bragging to her country club group or sewing club (whatever she was into) about how he had loved her daughter.

Eventually, the line trickled to an end, and he stood. The women milling around watched him like he might strip down and dance. He stretched his shoulders and walked over to Doyle and his agent.