23 - Eliza

The flight to Los Angles had been uneventful; no one seemed to recognize me thankfully. I'd spent the almost seven hours letting the tears I'd been holding back all day slide down my cheeks silently, finally alone enough to let the emotions out.

I'd checked into my room and spent the next few hours sleeping fitfully. I'd had to wait until eight to go meet with my agent. Now that my name was really out there she had all kinds of ideas of what I should do, none of which had sounded appealing to me, but there wasn't anything I could do now.

She'd scheduled a handful of book signings over the next couple of days which was fine, the one that had me nervous was the guest spot on one of the late shows on Friday. I knew there would be questions about Tom asked and I wasn't sure what answers I should give. I'd have to message Elsa or Gerald later and see if one of them would ask him for me.

I purposely chosen a hotel that was within walking distance of my agents office and though the weather was considerably warmer than it had been in New York it wasn't bad. It did me good to stretch my legs and soak up some sun.

I'd used my phone to found a bistro not far away for lunch and was about to lock the screen when it started ringing in my hand, the name that flashes on the screen sends my heart into my throat. Tom was calling me though I couldn't think of a reason why he would be.

I might have needed to know what he wanted the story to be I wasn't ready to actually talk to him so I swipe to send him to voicemail and power my phone off, I could get to the bistro without it. I missed him but just seeing his name had hurt.

I stick my phone into my back pocket and turn to walk and run smack into someone. Looking up to say sorry I knew someone upstairs was having fun messing with me. The person I'd ran in to is none other than Henry freaking Cavill and he'd caught me by the arms before I fell completely.

"I'm so sorry Mr. Cavill." I say as he helps me stand back up.

"As much my fault as yours. I wasn't watching where I was going." He smiles, "You're not hurt are you?"

"I'm fine." I smile back and go to step around him.

"I know you." He says, studying my face.

"You do?" I ask, my eyes widening.

"You're E.L. Graham right?"

"I am actually. I'm flattered you know who I am."

I'd expected him to know me because of Tom, that had been the longest claim to fame I had right now. My face had only been out as an author for a day so it surprised me that was how he recognized me.

"I've read your books. When is the next one due out?"

"Not til June. You've read my books?"

"I have, they're very good. I heard talks they were trying to get you to agree to a movie adaption after the first one came out."

"I've had the offer a couple times now. Sorry I just can't get over that you've read my books."

"Well they are best-sellers. Say, would you like to grab some lunch with me? I'd love to discuss your books if you have the time."

Yes the universe was certainly having fun at my expense.

"Sure, I was just heading to a bistro down the street."

"Lead the way."

We walk down to the bistro and sit down. We were drawing all kinds of attention and it made me very uncomfortable but Henry was very nice and fun to talk to. The women at the table next to ours were all but drooling at Henry while we talked and I had to keep myself from laughing.

He was indeed a fan of my books and it gave me an odd sort of thrill to sit here talking to this gorgeous man about the worlds inside my head and him actually talk back. Katy had been the only one to know about my books for so long it felt good to have someone else show interest in them. My own parents had never read any of my books or supported my dream of becoming an author in the first place, but here this man sat talking about them like they were real.

"So you really don't want to have them made into movies?" He asks as we start finishing up our meal.

"It's not that I don't want to necessarily but the series isn't complete yet and to be honest the pitches they've given me are half baked at best. I'm certain a couple hadn't even read the books. They're my babies you know? I don't want someone to butcher them just to get them on the big screen."

"No, that totally makes sense. So few book to screen translations are true to the books I can't fault you there. You'd want someone who really knew and understood them to do it."

"Thank you. Besides it's not like I could've been involved with the productions at that point since my face hadn't released until now."

"You know, I wouldn't mind giving it a go if that'd be alright with you."

"I don't know. I wouldn't want you to waste your time, I'm sure you have plenty of other things you could be doing. I'm still working on book three and have two more after that, I would really like to get them all done before trying something like that."

"It'd be no problem. I'm in between films right now anyway, I have nothing but time to kill and it's not like I wouldn't enjoy it. If you don't like what I come up with I have plenty of time to make it better while you finish writing."

"I mean if you want to I certainly can't stop you." I laugh, enjoying his enthusiasm.

"Brilliant! Besides this gives me an excuse to see you again. As friends I mean, I know you're seeing someone else."

I blush despite trying not to and he smiles at me, making me blush more. I'd be lying if I said I didn't think he was handsome, but as angry as I was with Tom and the things he'd accused me of I just couldn't jump back into another relationship.

"I am but I'm always up for making new friends. I'll tell you what, I'm in LA for the foreseeable future, first book tour and all that fun stuff, so if you really want to and it won't keep you from things you should be doing I'll be happy to see what you come up with. No promises though."