by Tillie Cole
He moved to speak and then shook his head instead. "I'm sorry, Tash, I'm still confused. Are you feeling okay? Is the stress of facing the press getting to you?"
"Tude, the poster was for The Blade Reaper. You were the actor in the picture. The sign must have been that I was meant to find you. My true love."
He looked up and smiled a full Hollywood happy smile, finally getting it. "So you're telling me that we were destined to be together from the beginning?"
My heart stuttered. "I guess so. Looks like we were written in the stars," I said in a hushed voice.
"I never doubted it. You're it for me. I knew it from the get-go."
The hosts of butterflies were back in my stomach and I moved to straddle his waist.
“So we are really doing it this time, for keeps? I’m just checking that we are both on the same page about diving in with both feet?”
Tudor’s lips rose into a smug smirk, delicious dimples out on full display and he pulled me down to his mouth. “For me it was always for keeps, and my feet have been knee deep in your love juice from our first meeting,” he announced cheekily.
Ugh… love juice? Let it go, Tash… but love juice? What a bad choice of words! It seems I’m not the only one who says inappropriate things... bloody love juice!
I giggled and he thrust a hand in my hair to pull me in to his awaiting lips just as Kate entered the room, spoiling the lovey-dovey moment.
On seeing us on the couch, heads bent together, my legs spread over his, she walked over and grabbed my left hand from Tudor’s arm and inspected my ring finger before looking up and barking the question. "When you said Natasha was permanent, just how permanent is she? You haven't proposed or anything stupid like that have you? Because I need to know if you have, I don't do surprises."
Tudor looked at her menacingly. "No, we are not engaged, but she is special to me and I don't intend to let her go. Marrying her wouldn't be stupid, Kate; not being with her would be stupid. Just leave it alone."
Kate tilted her chin. "Well okay. Not as permanent yet as I thought. At least that gives me something to work with," she muttered, not quite as under her breath as I would have liked and walked to the other side of the room waiting for our cue.
I looked to Tudor, who was biting his lip in embarrassment. "That woman is without doubt the scariest person I have ever met." I whispered, so she couldn’t hear me.
He ticked his head to the side knowingly. "Yeah, but the best at what she does."
I smiled, fully believing that no-one in Hollywood could stop that freight train from barrelling through.
"Right, you two. It’s time to move those saccharine-sweet hinies!" Kate interrupted again, and then peered at my backside sceptically. “Or is yours full-sugar?” she asked and laughed hysterically to herself.
Why I ought to… cower in the corner. Jesus, grow a pair would you, Tash?!
Tudor laughed at my glowering face and seductively squeezed my ‘full-sugar’ arse in both hands and licked his lips, his brows dancing suggestively.
I took a calming breath and took my curvy-arse-loving man’s hand. He leaned down and whispered, "If you get nervous just look at me, okay? I'll protect you. You look beautiful, by the way."
I tried to smile but grimaced instead, my nerves were beginning to take over. Tudor pulled me to his chest laying his chin on my head. "We had to do this eventually, gorgeous. We couldn't live in our private little bubble forever, not with what I do for a living."
I squeezed my arms around his back. "I know. But I loved being in that little bubble of love. It was cosy and only made for two. I like having you all to myself. I don't know how to be with you in any other way, how to share you with the world."
"You will always have me to yourself, gorgeous. The real world knows a fictional man, only you get the hundred per cent real me – fucked-up dad and all. We will figure it out as we go along. You and me forever. Yes?"
I nodded, filled to the brim with love and pecked a quick kiss on his stubbly cheek.
I beamed from ear to ear as we walked out of the dressing room and we stood patiently in front of the closed doors that led to the massive conference room holding the eager horde of journalists and photographers.
The noise was deafening and scary, so I took his advice and looked up at my gorgeous boyfriend. He was so yummy in his black jeans; tight, long white T-shirt with a deep V-neck; tattoos on display and, you guessed it, grey beanie hat, but then, he always looked gorgeous to me. Well, me and the world’s entire female population.
My name is Natasha and I am a total Tudor Chick!
A knock on the door signalled that we were good to go, and as if someone had flicked a switch, Tudor’s stance suddenly changed, and I noticed that he had taken on the persona of Tudor North – actor. He looked completely calm and confident, one hundred per cent movie-star.
Tudor glanced down at me and winked, squeezing my hand as the doors began to open. Flashing lights blinded me, my ears were deafened by the thunder of questions being fired in our direction, and I began to shake with nerves.
My eyes roved over all of the unfamiliar faces glaring at me in scrutiny. My chest grew tight, and I began to feel like I couldn’t breathe, but then I saw a frantically waving hand trying to catch my attention. Standing just to the right of the hungry mob was my fabulous fairy, blowing me a kiss to show his support, wearing a red sequinned blazer that, when pulled apart, revealed a hand-made T-shirt that read, ‘Tash and Tudor forever!’ in purple italic script. Next to him was Tate, who was clapping enthusiastically in his red dickey bow and tailored black suit, as Tudor and I stood proudly on show for the first time as a couple. I burst into laughter at the sight, my inability to breathe forgotten, and I nudged Tudor, pointing in the direction of the cutie twosome.
He let out an amused snort, turned to me and asked, "Ready for this, Sunshine?"
I looked up at my stunning boyfriend – my lover, my soul mate, my Tudor – and any remaining nerves stilled.
I smiled confidently and replied, "For you, babes, I’m always ready," and giggled when he waggled his brows suggestively in response. With one final deep breath he leaned down and kissed me softly on my lips, pulled back to face the crowd and we walked forward hand-in-hand, into the throng of media vultures, declaring our love to the world, for everyone and their mothers to see.
Together.
The End
Eternally North: In His World
Coming soon…
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
There are many people I have to thank for helping me achieve this dream. Firstly, a huge whopping ‘ta, so much!’ to my mam, dad and the rest of the clan (Yep, that includes you Sam, Marc and my awesome niece and three super-cute nephews) for housing me while I put most of this novel together.
Mam, thank you for reading every single draft, amendment and version of this book. You have supported me from the beginning and shown your unwavering commitment, even going so far to choose the actor who should someday play Tudor North on the big screen – dream big or go home!
Dad, although not your genre – as it doesn’t include a warp drive, fluent Klingon or an alternate universe – thank you for supporting this venture… especially financially. But what’s new, eh? I will still say though, that you have no-one to blame but yourself, it was your own fault for saying’ yes’ when I demanded that, “I want a pony!” all of those years ago!
To my husband, thank you for once again flipping my life (and career) on its head. If you hadn’t dragged me away from Italy to Canada (reluctantly) at the very last minute, this book would probably never have happened. Love you lots!
My biggest thanks though, has to go to my fabulous editors, Rachel and Kia – The Genius Smoggie Sisters.
Rachel, you will never know just how much I appreciate you and all your support. Right from the drunken reveal in the Italian restaurant in London of, “This Geordie RomCom I’ve been writing”, you have pushed me to keep going and sacrificed way too much of your
free time to help me achieve this dream (sorry, Matt!). You have not only been an amazeballs editor, beta reader and Tink enthusiast, but also a one-in-a-million friend who, even though separated by a few countries, was my shoulder to cry on (literally) through a very tough and emotionally turbulent year. I will never be more thankful for the day that I started playing the cello (even though it affected our street-cred somewhat) and met you at aged nine in Junior Orchestra. If you think about it, our writing partnership started all those years ago too in History class with, ‘La Buche’ – only this time we say words like, vadge! Love you lots chuck, and remember, ‘negativity gives you wrinkles.’ Mwah!
Kia, thank you for being roped in at last minute, you truly were a fairy godmother (like Tink!). You offered sound advice and guidance even though your girls were ill and putting you through the wringer. You went boot-camp on my arse and helped whip this novel into shape. Plus, now you have a new-found love for transitive verbs and subordinate clauses!
Ed, my cover designer, thank you for taking an incredibly vague idea and turning into a beautiful work of art. You are fabulous!
Lastly, thank you to my readers. It is a very scary yet exciting process writing a book and releasing into the big wide world. It is because of you guys that I get to take the fantasies from my weird little head and put them onto the page to come to life and entertain you. I love you to the moon and back.
ETERNALLY NORTH PLAYLIST
To me, music is everything. End of story.
For as long as I can remember music has been in my life – cue flashbacks of my father in his study shaking the foundations of the house with Led Zeppelin IV; my Nanna getting drunk dancing to Tina Turner; my mother cleaning the house from top to bottom to Mike and The Mechanics, pressing my ear to my sisters bedroom wall to listen as she sang along to New Kids On The Block 'You got the right stuff!' Or me and my amazing bridesmaids entertaining my wedding guests with our surprise choreographed rendition of Lady Gaga's 'Bad Romance', it went down a storm –there's video footage!
Music is so important in my life, if I had a choice my life would be a musical – the ups, the downs, all in dramatic song (obviously I would be on lead vocals – no lip syncing for this gal!).
I have many fond memories in my life evoked by writing this book; all are integrated with music – from the time I bought my very first record (yes record – sheesh, I'm getting that old!) 'The Bart Man' by Bart Simpson (I was about six, so don't judge me!) to when I begged my mother to enrol me in theatre (performing arts) school. Mam did; not realising she was signing up to be subjected to a plethora of Andrew Lloyd Webber re-enactments from me in front of the TV – holding a hairbrush as a microphone. To this day when my parents hear the opening bars of Starlight Express they head for the hills! At least they have the comfort of knowing that it is now my husband's pleasure to watch those Tony Award-worthy performances, especially when he is engrossed in watching his beloved rugby!
I digress.
What I'm trying to say is that writing this book would not have happened without music. While planning out plots and picturing characters (Yum-Yum, Tudor North), I had four playlists, four very long playlists – each helped me to express different emotions. Obviously I cannot mention them all here, but certain songs insinuated themselves in my head and either helped me write a particular paragraph or inspired the overall vision of a scene – like a movie – in my mind. Mid-sentence, a song would float effortlessly onto the pages of the text like it always belonged there – I didn't pick it, it picked me. Perhaps Tink's Gods of Glitter intervened and gave me a guiding manicured hand?
The Playlist below is but a small sample of the mountain of music that inspired me. Now, you may shout out, 'what the hell?' when you see some of my choices, but to me music is personal and subjective and it is how I felt or imagined the chapter. Just to note, there were a few bands/singers that if possible, I would have included their entire works i.e. Newton Faulkner, Cheryl Cole, Lady Gaga, Nicki Minaj and a new British Indie band, Fears. I have included a select few from each of my favourites, ones that suit the overall book – but just take my advice and listen to all their songs – you will not regret it!
So here you are, the (incredibly shortened) playlist for 'Eternally North'.
Enjoy folks and get dancing!
Stuttering – Fefe Dobson
I Want To Break Free – Queen
Calgary – Fears
Call Me Maybe – Carly Rae Jepson
Collide – Leona Lewis; Avicii
Beneath Your Beautiful – Labrinth ft Emeli Sande
Love Killer – Cheryl
Easy To Break – Fears
I'm Not Your Hero – Tegan and Sara
Explosions – Ellie Goulding
Learn To Love Again – Lawson
For You – Angus & Julia Stone
Like The Sun – Ryandan
Perfect For Me – Ron Pope
Fall Down (ft Miley Cyrus) – Wil.I.Am
Dream Catch Me – Newton Faulkner
Anthems:
Tink's Anthems –
Gloria Gaynor – I Am What I Am/
Lady Gaga – Boys, Boys, Boys
Tash's Anthems –
Spice Girls – Spice Up Your Life/
The Rocky Horror Picture Show – Don't Dream It, Be It
Tash's Anthem for Tudor – Sinitta – So Macho
Tink's Anthem for Pookie – DJ Antoine – Ma Chérie
AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY
Tillie Cole is a Northern girl through and through. She originates from a place called Teesside on that little but awesomely sunny (okay I exaggerate) Isle called Great Britain. She was brought up surrounded by her mother – a farmer's daughter, her crazy Scottish father, a savagely sarcastic sister and a multitude of rescue animals and horses.
Being a scary blend of Scottish and English, Tillie embraces both cultures; her English heritage through her love of HP sauce and freshly made Yorkshire Puddings, and her Scottish which is mostly demonstrated by her frighteningly foul-mouthed episodes of pure rage and her much-loved dirty jokes.
Having been born and raised as a Teesside Smoggie, Tillie, at age nineteen, moved thirty miles north to the 'Toon', Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, where she attended University and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts honours degree in Religious Studies. She returned two years later to complete a Post-Graduate Certificate in Teaching High School Social Studies. She regards Newcastle to be a home from home and enjoyed the Newcastle Geordie way of life for seven 'proper mint', 'lush' years.
Tillie, from a very young age has been part of the theatre community and loves nothing more than to entertain through the mediums of cheerleading, dance, drama and singing (sometimes in the rain). She can also be found in nightclubs around the world imitating her favourite artists alongside her crazy BFF’s –The Teesside Massive – or, sat on the front row at the theatre bopping along to her favourite musical, ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show ’, clad in a only a maids outfit, clutching a bag of rice and sporting a vibrant shade of red lipstick.
One summers day, after finishing reading her thousandth book on Kindle, Tillie turned to her husband and declared, "D' you know, I have a great idea for a story. I could write a book." Several months later, repeating the same tired line, she was scolded by her husband to shut up talking about writing a novel and “just bloody do it!”
Immediately she set off on a crazy journey, delving deep into her fertile imagination. Tillie, ever since, has written from the heart. She combines her passion for anything camp and glittery with her love of humour and dark brooding men (most often muscled and tattooed – they’re her weakness!).
After years of teaching high school Social Studies and following her Professional Rugby Player husband around Europe, they have settled in Calgary, Alberta where Tillie spends most of her days (and many a late night) lost in a writing euphoria or in her dream of pursuing a dazzling career as a barrel-racing, tasselled-chap, Stetson-wearing cowgirl... Ye-haw!
Follow
Tillie at:
https://www.facebook.com/tilliecoleauthor
https://twitter.com/tillie_cole
[email protected]
Cover Design:
https://www.facebook.com/EdWilliamsonArtwork
Table of Contents
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Acknowledgments
Eternally North Playlist
Author Biography