19. Chapter 19

Did you know that writing your perfect love story while mourning the loss of the three most perfect men in the world is the recipe for success?

Neither did I.

My publisher gobbled up my book and waived the contract for the remainder of the bodice rippers they had planned.

As I was in a daze and didn’t care one way or another, I agreed to publish my story as long as it wasn’t under my name. They had to keep the pen name we’d created for the purpose of those books. Angelique.

I wasn’t expecting much when it came out. Who would? The first five books I’d done for them did a fair trade. Enough to keep the bills paid and leave me enough money for coffee and my membership with Jasper’s gym. But then, some social media influencer picked it up and loved it. Her following… Well, followed her example and read it, too.

And now, I’m a best-selling author. Granted, an anonymous one, because I at least have an iron-clad NDA with the publisher, and no matter how much they beg me, I refuse to come out into the light. A big part of me hates that I’m making money off of my heartbreak, but it gives me the freedom to do what I want now. I no longer have to write what others tell me and am finally following my own muse.

My heart still aches for the men from my dreams, and probably will for some time to come because no matter what my logical mind thinks, I still believe it was real.

Jess continues to try and get me to live a little, and I try to humor her from time to time, but my heart isn’t quite in it. I compare every man I come across to the men from my book, and none of them come even remotely close.

Talk about the curse of the book boyfriend.

I’m drawn from my morbid thoughts by the shrill ring of my cell phone. Cringing at the display, I contemplate letting the call from Jess go to voicemail.

Somehow, a whole year has gone by since I woke up, and I’ve successfully been avoiding everything and everyone for the past week. I don’t feel like being around anyone so close to my birthday. Everything reminds me of my time on the ship with the crew and the celebrations with the villagers.

My finger hovers over the ‘Accept’ call button, and I sigh before pressing it. Jess has been patient, and I’ll even go so far as to say she didn’t not believe me when I finally caved and told her about my dream that wasn’t a dream.

“Oh, good. You’re alive,” her sarcastic voice says, drawing a reluctant smile from me.

“Hi, to you too,” I respond sheepishly.

“Don’t you ‘Hi’ me, missy. I’ve been worried sick about you this last week. Where the fuck have you been?”

Even though we were casual friends before I had my ‘dream’, we’ve become really close in the last year. She doesn’t care that I’m suddenly a famous author or that I’ve apparently lost my mind. She’s even going to the gym with me, too, now, although I suspect that has something to do with Jasper more than me.

“Sorry, babe. Tough time. What’s up?”

“What’s up is you can bring your beautiful ass to French Roast so I can get my eyes on you,” she orders me.

“Listen—” I try to say, but she interrupts me with a harrumph.

“No, Lori. You listen. Go wash your hair, get dressed and come out. I have some fresh chocolate cake with your name on it.” She has that tone that informs me I can try as hard as I want, she’s not going to let up. I can put the phone down in her ear, but she’ll just show up and knock on my door until I let her in.

“Fine. I’m coming.”

“Good girl,” she says before hanging up, having the last word. Brat.

***

The usually jovial music playing over the sound system annoys me from the minute I step foot into French Roast. But I promised Jess I’d come, so I grit my teeth and sidle up to the counter to place my order before grabbing my number and taking a seat at an unoccupied table.

It’s busy, in that way all the coffee shops are for their lunch rush, so I’m thankful for the seat. Jess sees me and waves before taking off her apron and throwing her red elf hat at the manager.

“Hi, babe!” she greets me with a kiss on the cheek before placing my coffee order down in front of me. “Thanks for coming.”

My return smile is smaller than hers, but no less genuine.

Jess bites her lower lip and looks at me with a worried expression that instantly sends my spidey senses tingling.

“What did you do?” I ask, my voice laced with caution.

“You know last month… when you got those notifications on that stupid dating app and you asked me to delete it?”

My already shaky mood plummets.

“You didn’t,” I deny, hoping she’ll agree with me.

“I kind of did. But like… I think you need to just give it a chance, okay?” She stands up from the table, places another kiss on my cheek, and looks to the door when the bell above it jingles before turning back to me. “And remember, you love me. Okay bye!”

The traitor turns tail and runs right for the door, momentarily blocking my view.

And then I see them.

Three men.

My men.

Well, what my men would look like if they didn’t live on a pirate ship before modern plumbing was invented. I don’t know whether to run to them and jump them or hide under the table, but before I can decide, the redhead’s gaze lands on me and his face splits into the same grin I fell in love with. He tugs on the sleeve of the Johnny Depp look-alike next to him, drawing his attention to me, too.

I send them the world’s most awkward wave and when they return it the giant behind them steps forward. When his blue eyes land on me, my breath catches.

How on earth could this be?

My ass stays glued to the seat as they walk to me.

“Loralei?” the redhead asks. I nod in response and his grin widens. “I’m Pete. Nice to meet you. You look exactly like the photo on the app.”

Pete holds out his hand in greeting and I respond by grabbing it with my clammy one. He gestures to the men next to him. “These are my friends and business partners, Jack and Drake. Mind if we sit?”

Numbly, I nod, and as one, they each grab a seat and crowd the small table.

“You’re a very difficult woman to get hold of,” Jack says, resting his elbows on the table. I’m a little terrified the small table will crack under all that weight, but I’ve not quite found my words yet so I keep quiet, staring at them.

“We’ve been looking for you for a while.” This from Drake. He even has the same damn scowl on his face.

“We thought we were going insane. Sharing dreams. Falling in love with a fictional woman. And then that book came out, and we knew it was real,” Pete fills in, his words making my heart skip a beat.

What in the actual fuck are they saying?

“But you had to write it under a pen name, didn’t you?” Drake huffs out before grabbing my hand. “We tried bribing your publisher. We threatened them with lawsuits, and they nearly caved when we proved who we were, but some fancy lawyer brushed us off. Dammit, Loralei.”

He sounds exactly like the frustrated pirate who showed me how to take control of the ship.

“How did you find me?” I finally whisper past the knot in my throat.

“You’re our temptress, our princess, our heart. Of course, we’d find you. I promised you I’d keep your heart safe. I’m nothing if not a man of my word.”

The End. For real this time.

Or is it.