Crossing Destinies (A Pretender Story) #Wattys2019 #Wattys2021

Chapter XI: Arrival Part 1

Chapter XI: Arrival Part 1

Wednesday, July 10th, 09.10 p.m.

Jarod closed the flyer on the last page and placed it on his knees, his gaze blank.

He had just finished reading Erin's novel, and he had found it simply brilliant. The characters jumped literally out of the pages, the set was depicted in a very vivid way, the plot was enthralling from beginning to end, both in the action and in the reflective or descriptive moments; moreover, unlike any other fantasy novel he had read so far, it spoke about love and sex openly, treating these topics as they are in reality, that is, fundamental facets of life.

In its genre, it was unique, and a masterpiece.

Jarod stood up and went looking for Erin, whom he knew busy in writing the sequel to her main character's adventures, the formidable healer/warrior woman who had so much of herself.

He halted on the doorway, propping one shoulder against the wall, and watched her as she was swiftly typing on the keyboard; on her face, she wore the anxious expression of the artist in full creative mode: shining, almost unblinking eyes, slightly parted lips, shallow breathing. In such a moment, interrupting this sort of trance would be almost a sacrilege, so Jarod stayed still and silent on the threshold, waiting for Erin to notice him, with the shadow of a smile full of loving pride playing on his lips.

She needed a few minutes, but finally, through her dulled senses, Erin perceived Jarod's presence and stopped, turning to him a gaze still lost on far horizons.

"I don't want to bother you", Jarod said, "but I just finished your book."

Erin's eyes focused on him.

"You never bother me", she stated, honestly, "you're the less intrusive person on Earth."

She flashed him one of those bright smiles of hers that turned his knees to jelly, and stood up to meet him.

"Come, I could use a cold drink", she invited him, "What about some pine-apple juice?"

"Yes, thank you."

They went and sat outside, under the gazebo, side by side on a rocking couch.

"Well", Erin asked him, inhaling deeply, "what do you think about it?"

"Absolutely fantastic", Jarod declared sincerely, "both from the reader's and from the literary critics' point of view..."

He told her his opinion, then quoted the scenes that had struck him particularly and praised the choice of certain not banal language patterns, which made the reading even more interesting.

Erin stayed silent as she listened to him, feeling more and more flattered and blushing in pleasure.

"Thank you, Jarod", she said in the end, "I'm really glad you liked my novel. I hope only that your so much positive critic doesn't come just from your feelings for me..."

Once more, her modest nature prevented her accepting without discussion such great praises.

"I assure you that, shouldn't I like it, I'd find a way to tell you without hurting you", Jarod declared, firmly. When he used this tone, Erin couldn't help but believe him.

"Okay", she said, with a slight embarrassed smirk.

"Very well", he nodded, "One more thing: I find it so good that I'd like to submit it to a friend of mine, a publisher."

A few years before, under a pseudonym, he had published a romance novel dedicated to Miss Parker, which had been such a success that the editor was still thanking him. In that same occasion, he had been able to save the man from a big trouble with an ex business partner, therefore he owed Jarod not one, but two.