“I am fucking ecstatic,” he says, putting his arms around me and pulling me close. “I’ve wanted her to write ever since the first time I read something of hers. I knew she had a gift back then. The fact that it's such a huge hit is just…” He leans in and kisses the side of my head. “I’m so fucking proud I don’t know what to do with myself.” He laughs. “Right under our fucking noses.”
The guys congratulate me too and Penn says he’ll add it to his reading list.
“You have a reading list?” Weston teases, as I’m saying, “Oh, that's okay. You really don't need to read it.”
“I want to,” he says.
“Are you a reader?” I ask.
“No, but what better way to start reading than to start with yours? I can pull your book out and say I know the author.”
He’s teased more about it, but my phone vibrating makes everyone look at me.
“I really don't want—” I groan, as my phone buzzes with texts again.
Then it rings. I ignore it. I pick it up and cringe. I don’t recognize the number.
“People are messaging like crazy. I haven't even looked at all the videos about me. I’m scared to look.”
“It’s pretty fun, actually,” Calista says. “But now they’re putting two and two together and thinking maybe this story is about Rhodes.”
I make a face and look at Rhodes, who has a smug, shit-eating grin taking over his entire face.
“So glad we’d worked this out before this news came out,” I reiterate, motioning between the two of us. “I need to let my parents know before someone else tells them about it…if that's even possible.”
“You're an adult, honey,” Stephanie says. “I know you try really hard to do what your parents want. You're a good daughter. They should be proud of how smart you are, how kind and beautiful, and how much you love them and care what they think. But I lived for so long in a house with a husband where I couldn't do anything without wondering how he would take it or how he would verbally beat me up over it. I know your parents aren't doing that exactly, but anyone who shames something you're proud of...” She squeezes my hand. “I don't care if it's your parents, or your children, or friends, or strangers on the internet…you hold your head high and be proud of who you are.”
“Thank you, Stephanie,” I say, hugging her again. My voice is wobbly as I wipe the tears dripping down my face. “I needed to hear that.”
“Well, we're proud enough of you for the whole world, but from what I’m seeing, you’ve got some serious love going on out there.” Calista holds her phone up and waggles it.
“If you need to go and talk to your parents, you can always come back here and keep celebrating with us after, you know, if you need a boost,” Sadie says.
“No pressure,” Tru adds. “If it’s a rough one.”
“You guys are the best. I’m the one who begged you to see me in a hurry. I don’t want to miss the party.”
“Oh, we’ll keep partying over this. And now that the word is getting out, we should have a signing at Twinkle Tales,” Calista sings.
“Yes,” Tru says. “We have to! And Bree would totally want to be there too. I got her to read the book and she's as obsessed as we are.”
“You guys are the best. I'm so lucky to have you. Thank you. Thanks for not hating me for keeping it a secret fromyou. It wasn't because I didn't want to tell you. And I'm really glad you know now. I do think I need to see if my parents are free to talk.”
They nod and I hear the guys talking about The Single Dad Playbook stuff. I’d much rather get my greedy hands on that book than message my mom right now. That stuff is gold.
I hear back from my mom right away.
Mom
We’re home. Come over.
When Rhodes and I say bye to everyone, I let them know I'll keep them posted.
As soon as my mom opens the door, I can tell I’m in trouble. We step inside and no one says a word. She walks us back to the family room, where Bernard is sitting with my parents.
“Why does this not surprise me anymore?” I say when I walk in.
Mom motions for us to sit down and we sit on the loveseat across from my dad and Bernard. It’s tight with Rhodes’ large frame, but I’d be holding onto him even if we had all the room in the world.
