Interview: Rule Archer and Shaw Landon from Rule by Jay Crownover

"Three Chicks and Their Books would like to thank both of you for meeting with us," Lisa says and we all walk into The Goal Line and are seated at a reserved table. "Please tell your manager thanks for allowing us to conduct our interview here. This looks like a fun place to work!"

(Author Jay Crownover peeks her head around a corner. "You girls better be ready to share a pitcher of Coors Light and a shot of Crown if that’s where the interview is going down. Just saying". Just as fast she works her way through the crowd, greeting people at different tables. )

Three Chicks:  Shaw has been in love with you since the day you met. How could you be so blind (She is gorgeous and smart)? Why did it take your friends to point out the obvious for you to notice?

Rule:  I wasn’t looking for love. Back then all I wanted was a good time and she was never that kind of girl. For a long time I had to look around my brother; my twin, to even see her. I had no idea what love looked like or felt like, I just needed them to knock some sense into me is all. I think sometimes it’s easier to see things from the outside looking in. Plus once I saw her in that uniform it was a done deal. *Winks at her*

Three Chicks:  Shaw, loving Rule as much as you do, HOW have you gotten through the past couple of years? Especially seeing him with all the women that have come and gone every week? Why did you continue to do it, why was Sunday dinner so important to you?

Shaw:  *shrugs* I was used to it. It wasn’t like it was anything new. He was like that when we were younger too. I just built up a wall to desensitize myself to it, and trust me if you had seen some of those girls *eye roll*. I knew why he was doing it. I’m not going to lie, it hurt, but I never thought we were going to be a THING so I just let it go.

Sundays were important because that’s my family. I want to keep everyone together and I guess I thought if Dale and Margot could see how much I cared they would eventually let go of their grief and care that much too. Sundays would have been important to Remy too. He would have made Rule go if he was still alive and I didn’t want to let him down.

Three Chicks:  Rule, how do you really feel about your mother's treatment towards you? Did you ever ask your Dad why he let it go on for as long as it did? How did you cope with it?

(This question definitely deserves a round of shots before answering)

Rule:  I understand it better now. I don’t approve of it. She hurt more than just me and did a lot of unnecessary damage, but I’m not one to deny we’re all human and infallible. I don’t need to ask my dad his roll. Now that I’m with Shaw I get it. You do whatever you have to in order to protect the one you love. No one else really factors into it *Pulls his girl close for that and she wraps her arm around his waist*. I used to cope by drinking myself stupid and having a lot of pointless sex, now I try and talk things out and while we still aren’t perfect we can be in the same room and no one has to leave in tears anymore. It’s a work in progress. I think any family dealing with a loss has to fight their way back and that’s what we’re all trying to do.

Three Chicks:  Shaw, did your mom ever come down from her high horse and apologize to you for giving Gabe the information he needed to get into your apartment?

(there go the eyes rolling again)

Shaw:  No way. She never will.

Three Chicks:  Shaw, what were your real feelings for Gabe? Do you think you were settling because you never thought you could have Rule? Was it the pressure from your parents? A little bit of both?

Shaw:  I don’t know, he was the kind of guy everyone always told me I should be with so I guess I just bought into the hype. Ayden never liked him, I don’t think I ever really liked him and after the way things turned out I don’t know how I missed all the warning signs. Not having Rule was just something I was resigned to. I dated guys that were his opposite but they never got very far and for a long time I just went through the motions trying to keep the peace all the way around *shakes her head*. Never again.

Three Chicks:  Rule, from the beginning it would seem your mom and Remy had a special relationship. Did you completely change your look to suit yourself? (Kristie shouts- not that anything is wrong with the way you look, believe me- you are HOT!- damn, did I just say that out loud?) Did you do it to make your mom mad?

(Laughs and gives Kristie a hi-five)

Rule:  Atta girl.

No. I think that’s a common misconception about body modification, that you do it for a reaction, that you’re doing it to make someone else feel something. I loved my brother. He was the best guy I ever met. I just didn’t want to be a carbon copy and when Nash started tattooing, I knew, I just knew that it was something I wanted to do, for me. Look at it this way, you would never live somewhere and not decorate it to suit your own personal taste and style. I feel that way about my body.

(Shaw runs her fingers over her name on his knuckles) I couldn’t imagine you any other way you know.

Three Chicks:  Shaw, after getting your "birthday present" from Rule, what were you thinking the next morning? Were you thinking that was all you were ever going to get from him and it just had to be enough?

Shaw:  *blushes bright red*
I was thinking, holy shit that was awesome if you really want to know the truth. I knew it meant things were going to be different, but I wasn’t about to be a one night stand so I was determined to just let that be the end of it. I had no idea it was going to end up meaning something so important to him as well. I figured he was used to loving and leaving so that if I just acted like it never happened then things would remain the status quo.

*Rule looks at her out of the corner of his eye like she’s lost her mind.*

Rule: You’ve got to be kidding me. There was no way we were ever going to be status quo. That night was epic and I can’t believe you thought I was just going to forget about it.

*She narrows her eyes at him*

Shaw:  That was pretty much your style at the time champ.

(They stare at each other for a second until it gets uncomfortable and the next question gets asked.)

Three Chicks:  Rule, you recently found out some things about your brother, from Shaw, and that information caused you to lash out at her. Was the hurt and anger directed at her because she kept Remy's secret or because you knew and you yourself were in denial? Being outsiders looking in, it seems to us that you were angry at your brother and took it out on Shaw. Do you regret reacting the way you did?

Rule:  I acted that way because I can be an immature asshole sometimes. I was mad at Remy, I was mad at Shaw for keeping it a secret, I was mad at my parents for everything and I think I just lashed out at her because I knew deep down she had always loved me and even if I was acting like an idiot there was a good chance that when I pulled my head out of my ass she would forgive me. Neither Rome nor I had any clue about Remy. He did a good job keeping it quiet and as much as I hate it now, he used Shaw in a way that was really convincing. I don’t care that he was gay, I care that he felt like he couldn’t tell us. I know my dad was right, I would have pushed him endlessly to just be himself, to just come out and live life out in the open, so I kind of understand it now. It still sucks though. Sure I regret it. It hurt Shaw, it hurt me but I’m not the kind of guy that really takes a minute to work my feelings out. That isn’t something that is likely to change any time soon.

*Shaw sort of giggles at that and all the tension between the two of them is gone.*

Three Chicks:  Shaw, how are you doing mentally after being attacked?

Shaw:  Now I need a shot to answer the question…

I have good days and bad days. Sometimes I wake up at night freaked out, but I’m never alone so that helps. I have amazing friends that hold me up every day and now that I live with two giant tattooed dudes it’s pretty easy to feel safe.

*looks up at Rule and it’s easy to see the affection between the two of them*

He makes me feel safe.

Three Chicks:  Rule, how are you handling Shaw’s attack? What went through your mind when you heard that Shaw had been attacked? Were you surprised at who attacked her?

Rule:  Fury, rage, terror. All of it. I knew it was him as soon as Cora said Shaw was in the hospital. I want to kill him, wish I had done more damage when I cornered him at the school. I felt like I let her down.

*he squeezes her tight and it’s pretty clear this is still a sensitive subject between the two of them*

Three Chicks:  This question is for the both of you.  How is your relationship with Rome since he went back to Afghanistan? How is he doing? He took things pretty hard.

*Rule scowls*  

*Shaw sighs heavily*

Shaw:  He’s still pretty mad at me. We don’t really talk. Rule tries to play peace-keeper but Rome isn’t really on board. He does his best to fake it, but I can tell things between us aren’t the same.

Rule:  He’s acting like a punk. When he gets home in a few months we're gonna have a serious chat. I’m the one that gets to be irrational and angry, he’s the logical one. He needs to get over it. He wouldn’t let me hold a grudge with the folks so I guess it’s my turn to lay some brotherly wisdom out for him. He feels really, really betrayed…by all of us.

Three Chicks:  What do you guys really think is going on with Jet and Ayden?

(They both laugh and share a knowing look.)

Rule:  All kinds of stuff.

Shaw:  What girl can resist a guy with a guitar?

Three Chicks:  We love your snow flake tattoo and its meaning. Have either one of you gotten any new tattoos or any new piercings?

Shaw:  (Shaw shakes her head no)  No I just wanted ones that meant something to me.

Rule:  (nods and shrugs)  I work in a tattoo shop. I always have new stuff. Some of it matters, some of it doesn’t.

Three Chicks:  Rule, why a mermaid tattoo? Did it hurt?

Rule:  No tattoo feels good. Don’t think I didn’t notice all of you just look below my belt either *smirks at the guilt looks*. A mermaid because she’s mythical and beautiful and they save drowning men. I was drowning for a long time. It took a different beautiful mythical creature to save me.

*Shaw gasps and puts a hand to her mouth*

Shaw:  Sometimes the things you say.

*He winks at her*

Shaw, it seems that the real you is the woman sitting in front of us with the tattoos and piercings and is in love with Rule. Have your parents accepted that this is who you really are and that you are in love with Rule....Have you seen your parents?  

Shaw:  No, to both. My dad calls and still writes me a check, but he’s in the middle of a divorce, surprise, surprise. I don’t talk to my mother. She’ll text every now and then but that’s the extent of it and honestly I’m fine with it. I have a family and a group of friends I love and that love me for who I am. I wake up every morning happy and content.

Three Chicks:  Rule, you had quite the reputation with the ladies before Shaw.....What is it about Shaw that made you want to change?

Rule:  She is my everything…the end. I need her, I never needed them.

Three Chicks:  Shaw, inquiring minds NEED to know the answer....Is having sex with a guy who has his penis pierced as amazing as they say (all Three Chicks are literally at the edge of their seats waiting for the answer)?

*you thought the blush before was bright red, oh man you should see her face now* *Clears her throat and looks at Rule before answering*

Shaw:  Let’s just say I wouldn’t change it for a guy without it- EVER.

*Rule laughs so hard that other people are looking over to see what’s going on*

Three Chicks:  Rule, what was really going through your mind when Shaw "showed" you your birthday gift?

Rule:  You honestly think there was any blood left in my brain for a functioning thought at that point in time?

Three Chicks:  Shaw, Rule seems to get along well with your parents’ "high profile" friends. Rule, some of them are even your clients. Has this changed their perspective on things? When it came down to it, The State Attorney General, Alex Carsten, helped make sure that justice was served with your assault. Are your parents even thankful for that?

Rule:  People are people, inked or not. Alex is a cool guy and good at his job. To me he would be a cool guy whether or not he had tattoos. I’m grateful for what he did and I’m not going to lie, I loved that it pisses Shaw’s mom off that I know people in her precious inner circle.

Shaw:  My mom doesn’t care. She’s all about appearances and since Alex can cover his work up and wear a thousand dollar suit she can just pretend he’s more like her than like Rule. She didn’t even come to the trial, not that I wanted her there.

Three Chicks:  Where do you both see yourselves in 5 years?

Shaw:  Together

Rule:  Together…and that’s all I care about.

Shaw:  Me too.

Three Chicks:  Everyone ready for an end of interview celebration shot? "To health, happiness and success.. Cheers!" Everyone downs their shots. High fives are given along with some hugs. Kristie looks over to Rule than to Jen and Lisa, giggles and says,” I was really hoping he would show us that piercing...”

Rule:  Couple more shots and it might happen ladies.

Shaw:  No it won’t.

Rule, Shaw- thanks for spending some time with us today, we know you have to get going. We hope we see some more of you, maybe in another book life, (wink wink).

Rule:  Trust me we aren’t going anywhere. I gotta keep my boys in line.

Shaw:  *nods in agreement* Someone has to keep Ayden from making the biggest mistake of her life.

Keep an eye out for Ayden and Jet’s story….to be continued