Found at the Library, page 16
part #1 of Found Series
He continued moving down the barely lit hall until he got to the other panel. He flipped the switch and gently pushed the bookcase open to peer into the library. Mac had told him he kept the library locked for parties and that appeared to be true. The space was lit, but empty. Tommy slid from behind the bookcase and closed it with a click and a deep sigh. Even here, he could smell Mac’s lingering scent.
A few of the tableside lamps had been left on, but for the most part the room was quiet and dimly lit. Tommy took the winding staircase down to the lower floor, but paused midway when he spotted the new display in the center of the room. He gasped and grew light-headed.
It was his book, his art, but it was displayed wrong. No one was supposed to see this secret art he’d created in the back. This. This is why he didn’t want to sell this piece. He approached it slowly, his breath becoming choppy. Seeing this private art displayed out in the open... His chest felt flayed wide open.
When he had realized the same guy who’d talked down to him at the book sale had written this book, Tommy had created this piece of art for himself. Only for him. But Mac had found his secret message buried within the last pages.
Tommy reached forward with trembling fingers and traced the letters...
You Determine Your Fate.
Do Epic Shit.
“I didn’t realize until I set it up for display.” Mac’s voice came out of the darkened corner.
Tommy’s heart clenched at the sound of Mac’s voice. “No one knew it was there but me. No one else was supposed to see it, to see that I needed it.”
“You don’t need it, and I’m so sorry that I made you feel that way that day at the library book sale. I was wrong. And I’m sorry for every hurt since then. I don’t mean to, but it seems that I keep hurting you.”
Tommy finally turned, looked at Mac, and his heart skipped. On the surface, Mac looked as ready to party as anyone else here. But Tommy could see the lines of exhaustion, the hint of desperation in his pleading eyes, the emotion. Fuck, he’d missed this man. “We’ve hurt each other, but I think in the long run, it will make our relationship stronger.”
“Relationship? Does that mean we still have one?” Mac took a few hesitant steps forward.
“I sure as hell hope so, because my life is pretty miserable without you in it.”
Pure relief and hope flitted across Mac’s face. “Mine, too. So, where do we go from here?” Mac asked, but his eyes shifted to the side, looking even more unsure of himself than he had before.
“Well, I’m hoping you come over here and kiss me, because I could really use that right now. After that, I need to go kiss the ass of some ex of Stig’s who bought my entire collection so I could put Ryder in a safe hospital.” His voice cracked. Mac had been the one to buy his collection. He should have known. Mac didn’t notice Tommy’s imminent breakdown as he strode over and enveloped Tommy in his arms.
They kissed, their lips entwined and their bodies pressed flush up against each other. This was home. Where he was supposed to be, in this man’s arms. It was more than nice, but then Mac pulled back slightly. “Did you say something about kissing someone’s ass?” he asked with an aroused gleam in his eye.
“Hell, yeah. Well, kissing and probably a little something more. See, it seems that this particular guy likes to be dominated and manhandled. I had no idea, but now that I do, I fully plan to reenact all his fantasies.”
Mac gulped. “All of them?”
“All of them.”
“Does that mean you liked the book?”
“I loved the book, but you changed the ending.” Tommy tilted his head in question. “Why did you do that?”
Mac swallowed. “I never believed in love, the happily ever after. I learned a long time ago that emotions like that would only hurt, even sometimes kill.” Mac glanced away and swiped at his eyes. “So I couldn’t see that as even a possibility for them, Rex and Thomas. My characters are a part of me, and I don’t lie to them or through them. But being with you taught me something. There’s so much love out there. Why can’t it be forever? I want to believe in that dream with you and for them. Rex and Thomas deserve the happily ever after. I’m hoping maybe you and I do, too.”
Tommy began to wind his arms around Mac again, but Mac stopped him with a hand to his chest. “Wait, wait. There’s more. I read you the story so you could see Rex and Thomas through my eyes. To me, my characters are real people. I have to take care of them, just like I would my friends and family. If we do this, you need to understand that writing is my life. It takes over and consumes me. For a few weeks, sometimes even months at a time, I’m a lousy boyfriend. I can’t get past my obsession with what’s happening in my character’s lives. I might as well live in another state during that time, because I check out of my life. Most people can’t live with that, Tommy. I don’t want to hurt you anymore. You need pure happiness in your life from now on, not misery.” Mac’s expression held such a contradiction of emotions...fear and hope.
Tommy needed to sooth all those doubts. “I get it, Mac. I’m an artist, too. I have moments where the process consumes me, too. I’ll make a deal with you, you can take care of me when I’ve checked out to immerse myself into my art, and I’ll do the same for you when you’re immersed in a book.” Tommy swallowed against the emotion as he considered all the different ways Mac had already taken care of him. “We make a good team, taking care of one another. When I think of all you’ve done in the last month...”
Mac shook his head. “I need you to know that’s not why I bought the art or why I read you the book, though. I wasn’t trying to coerce you into a relationship if that’s not what you want.”
Tommy nodded. “I know that, Mac, but maybe...”
“I did it because I love you. I adore you. I admire your incredible talent, your love for your brother, and your passion for books. But most of all, I love you because you challenge me, make me look at the world from a different angle. You keep me grounded, and—”
Tommy cut him off with the press of his lips. At simple touch, Tommy knew he’d come home. It may have taken them a while to find their way here, but this was right. With Mac in his embrace, kissing him like there was no tomorrow, he was at peace. From now on, they would do epic shit...together.
Epilogue
Love in books isn’t the same as it is in real life. In real life there’s more messiness. But that means you can enjoy the moments of very real, pure love all that much more.
-Observations from Tommy AND Mac
Eleven months later...
Mac called Tommy to the front of the room and the crowd quickly quieted down. They were all at the bookstore to celebrate the unveiling of the paperback cover of book six, The Final Destiny. The hardback had come out six months before, instantly hitting the bestseller lists with mixed reviews. Some liked the new romantic twist that had gone into this installment. Some of his readers felt betrayed by the change.
As the author, Mac knew he couldn’t change it. He could only write the best novel he could from what the characters told him in his head, and lately, all his characters were suspiciously focused on love.
His publisher had bought Love is War, and they had plans to release it in three months. So there were many fun surprises coming for Mac’s loyal readers.
But, whether he knew it or not—and Mac really hoped he’d managed to keep this a secret—today was all about Tommy.
The same Tommy who sent him confused glances now as he worked his way from the back of the room where he’d been standing. His man looking so gorgeous with his head of curls that needed cut again. They’d both been busy and distracted lately with the upcoming holiday season. Tommy walked toward him with that loose gait, loose because he’d fucked Mac into the mattress this morning and then again in the shower. Stress relief at its finest. After a year together, they’d made stress relief into an art all its own.
Mac gave him a reassuring smile. The last year had been amazing for the two of them. After Ryder had been released from the hospital, the two brothers had moved into Mac’s house. Ryder needed help during recovery and neither of them had places big enough. Space was something Mac had plenty of in his sprawling home, so it had only made sense.
He glanced over at Ryder now, sitting off to the side with a big grin on his face. Ryder and Emily were the only other two people who knew the plan.
Tommy arrived at the front and hissed under his breath, “What are you doing? This is your thing, not mine.”
Mac winked at him. “That’s what you think now, but you’re wrong,” he whispered as he brushed a light kiss across Tommy’s cheek, which turned even redder.
With a final squeeze to his fingers, Mac began talking into the microphone again. “Some of you already know this, but last year when I was supposed to be writing this book, I got a little behind because I had a new distraction in my life.” He motioned to Tommy. “This guy right here.”
“Oh, sure, throw me under the bus,” Tommy grumbled in a low voice.
The people sitting up front laughed since they were the only ones who could hear Tommy’s hushed comments.
Mac smiled. “No one’s getting thrown under the bus here. But what most of you probably don’t know is that Tommy is T. Garrett, the owner and artist at Typecast. He creates gorgeous works of art using—and inspired by—books. When the hardback version of The Final Destiny came out, he created a piece of art, using that book. That’s why we’re here today.”
Tommy looked at him quizzically, and Mac could see the wheels turning in his lover’s head as his eyes widened. Tommy was coming to understand there was more going on here today.
“Most times, the covers change slightly between the hardback and paperback releases, but usually those are pretty minor changes. When my publishing team saw what Tommy had done with the hardback copy of The Final Destiny, they were also inspired. They wanted a total revamp of the cover for the paperback. As a result, I give you the newly released paperback version of The Final Destiny.” Mac pulled the drape off the ten-foot banner, and Tommy gasped.
The graphic design team had done an incredible job. They’d photographed Tommy’s art. This new piece featured the three dimensional logo of the Mystique crew flying out of the center of the standing book. It was gorgeous and evoked the perfect blend of sci fi, with the internal lighting, and futuristic feel, with the design. It made a perfect centerpiece on the cover. It was truly beautiful, but it didn’t compare to the man beaming with happiness beside him.
Mac wiped his hands on his pants and tried to find some moisture in his mouth, because now they’d arrived at the real test to the day.
He picked up the paperback version of the book that had been hidden behind the podium. “Tommy, as the artist for this new version, I have a specially prepared paperback copy of the book for you.” Tommy began to reach for it, but Mac shook his head and turned back to the audience.
“But first, I need to tell you the story of how Tommy and I met. I found him at the library book sale. I became rather put out when I realized he bought books so he could destroy them. At least, that was my impression of what he did.” Mac grimaced at them as a few of them chuckled. “Yeah, I was an idiot. I had no clue what Tommy really did with his art. When someone altered a book all I could see was the desecration of my hard work within the pages. Because, you know, the guts are kind of my thing.”
There were some more laughs from the audience.
“I’ve since discovered that sometimes the books become even more beautiful when the guts are cut out to create something else. And with that in mind,” he dropped to one knee in front of Tommy and held the book toward him, “I give you this book.”
Tommy’s eyes had widened dramatically and his hands shook as he took the book out of Mac’s grasp.
“Open it,” Mac encouraged.
With trembling fingers, Tommy opened the cover. His eyes widened and then filled with tears. “Are you serious?”
Mac grinned, feeling a little sick to his stomach. “Serious enough that I defiled a book for you. Will you marry me, Tommy Garrett?”
Tommy reached into the tiny compartment carved into the middle of the book pages and removed the matching set of wedding rings. He pulled Mac up from the floor. “Yes! Oh my fuck, yes.” And then he kissed him to the sound of the crowd applauding.
THE END
***
Do not let anyone stifle your dreams.
Do Epic Shit!
Author’s Note:
While Mac and Tommy are pure fiction, the circumstances around Tommy’s dyslexia are not. Those details are how things played out for my 20 year-old son when he was diagnosed with dyslexia at 17. But like Tommy, he learned how to cope and is in his junior year as a photography major at Texas Tech University, although this semester he’s interning as a team photographer with the Washington Redskins.
Be on the lookout next year for book #2 in this series, Found at the Bookstore, featuring Ryder and Stig. ;)
Another Note from the author:
I am so lucky. I have two of the best editors in the business, and I’m the absolute worst when it comes to editing. I bitch and complain and truly hate the process of editing, but their suggestions are always spot-on and make my books so much better.
Thank you to Mia Downing and Sarah Negovetich. I could NOT do this without both of you!!
And of course, I have a fabulous team all the way around.
To Amanda Matthews who read this book first and was just as excited as me. She loves these characters, too. She also created the gorgeous, drop-dead beautiful cover and I couldn’t be any happier with it. It’s so perfect!
To my betas...they had it easy this go around. I just sent them the book and told them to simply enjoy. Thank you to Anso, Kim, Lee, and Tessa.
And then Sabrina who’s the last person to touch it with proofreading. Thank you for reading fast at the last minute. Love you, girly!
Smiles,
Christi
Tommy’s Do Epic Shit key...it played a kind of big part in this story. There is actually a key like this that inspired it. In fact, I have several of them that I will be giving away throughout the 2015 holiday season. So keep an eye on my blog and Facebook page for those giveaways.
www.Christi-Snow.com
https://www.facebook.com/christisnowauthor
And you can have your own embossed keys created by the super talented, Marah Johnson (the artist behind these.) Her Facebook link...
https://www.facebook.com/marah.johnson?fref=ts
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