Meet and Greet
Chapter 3

Once they were seated at the Mexican restaurant,sharing chips and salsa and sipping margaritas while they looked over the menu, Scott leaned across the booth and asked Kimmy, “Better than a Meet and Greet, isn't it? So tell me the story of how youtwo met."

With a laugh,she said, “That's something I should be asking you,no?I'm sure you've heard Darryl talk about me enough to make you sick,especially since you don't read any Darryl gave Scott a playful jab in the ribs."He might not readit but he never complains when I make him listen to it.Someone likes to act out the juicier bits." "Let's set the rules right now,"Scott joked."No talking about sex over dinner."

"Then why'd I even bother to come?"Kimmy teased.

of

my writing."

Under the table,someone nudged her foot.Was it Scott?Darryl?She didn't know,and both guys were grinning at her so she couldn't tell for sure.Giving them a coy smirk,she turned her attention back to her menu.“Darryl emailed me after I posted my first slash story online,"she said."Believe it ornot,his was the very first email I ever got.If I remember correctly, it read,OMG,you can actually spell!Write more now!I love you!Please marry me!Something along those lines." A dull color rose in Darryl's cheeks."I actually saw you post the story.I was hanging out online at the biggest slash fan fic archive online back in the day,trolling through my fandom postings, trying to find something new,when your story popped up.I didn't recognize your username—”

"TruBLeighVR23,"Kimmy said at the same time he did, and theyboth laughed.

Scott shook his head. "You two are freaking me out.I'm beginning to feel like the third wheel here, and I'm the one married to this guy!"

"Sorry."Kimmy felt a flush of nostalgia remembering those days writing fan fiction, without deadlines to meet, without editors to work with, without paperwork and taxes and promotion,nothing hanging over her head,nothing to worry about bu the story she wanted to tell.The characters were already there;all she had to do was take them out of the box andplay with them for a little while,and the moment she posted something new,emails flooded her inbox,praise and piss alike.The good and the bad;in retrospect she missed it all.When had writing become a job like any other?When had writing sex lost its edge?

Picking up his story, Darryl continued. "I clicked on the story and read it all in one go.Hell, in one breath, really.I don't think I came up for air from the opening line to the final period."

"It was short,"Kimmy admitted.

"It was brilliant, "Darryl told her."Perfect in every way.No errors,the characters were spot on,the pairing was just right, everything I always wanted in an S&M story—that's whatwe called a story about those two characters in that fandom,"he explained to Scott."It didn't mean the story contained sadomasochism, though if I remember correctly,there was a little bondage in that one,belts and neckties, God.So hot.I even remember the title.Come In His Office.Get it?Still makes me tingle just thinking about it."

As if to prove his point,he shivered deliciously and sighed with delight.Kimmy had to laugh."You really liked that one,didn't you?" she asked, snacking on a tortilla chip. Darryl's eyes popped."Liked it? Try loved it!That was the start of only your longest story ever!"

Smirking at Scott, she asked, "Is he always this hyped up?"

"He can get pretty excited, "Scott agreed.

"Deny Nothing,"Darryl said, talking over them."If I reallyhad to choose a favorite of yours, it's that one, hands down.Do you know it's over nine hundred pages printed out?" Kimmy reached for another chip."No way.I mean, yeah,in Word, but—”

"No,printed out."Reaching across the table,Darryl caught her hand and squeezed it before letting go."For our first anniversary, Scott had someone he knows at work print it out for me in paperback. Perfect bound, glossy full-color cover andall,just like your published books."

Kimmy's heart skipped a beat,and she looked from Darryl to Scott, who had hidden his head behind the menu. "What? Really? That's pretty cool."

Darryl moaned. "It's awesome. Best present ever.Now I can just take it down from the bookshelf and stare at it whenever I want.”

From behind the menu,Scott muttered, "Instead of what,turning on your Kindle any time you want to read it? Like how hard is that?"

Darryl held up a hand between them, as if that would be enough to block out Scott's comment.To Kimmy, he said, "Your story is canon to me.I can't even watch the show on DVD anymore without thinking about what happens in your story instead. You clear up so many little mysteries throughout the series! Like what happened when the scene faded to black the night they shared the hotel room,and every single time they stare each other down,I just want to scream." He squirmed in the booth and let out a little yelp that made Kimmy and Scott duck.A few other patrons nearby turned to look over at their table.Darryl ignored them.“God,I love your writing,”he sighed,his pale eyes pinning Kimmy in place. The moment stretched out between them.She glanced at Scott,studiously perusing the menu,and felt more than a little awkward.Was it just her,or did it feel like Darryl was coming onto her? He's just a little fanboyish,she thought, but damn,he was so frank and open,so blatant,she found it hard to keep reminding herself that he was gay.But hello,his partner,his husband,was right there beside him.

He's excited to meet me,nothing more than that.I'd be acting just as crazy if I ran into my favorite author.Once he sees I'm a normal,everyday,average human being,he'll dial it down some.

Kimmy flashed Darryl a quick smile. "I'm glad you like my stories," she said, then suppressed a groan.Did that sound aslame as she thought it did? Maybe she should add something else, but what?

After a moment,it came to her."When I'm writing,I always have an ideal reader in mind,you know?Someone I know will be reading the story after it's published,someone who'll love it as much as I do.And,I'll admit it,ever since email,my imaginary ideal reader has always been you."

Darryl gasped and fell back against the booth."So sweet!Scott,did you hear that?I knew I'd love her when we finally met in person."

Kimmy felt her smile freeze in place.Wait,what?

your first