READER FRIENDS
ELLE
Now
A couple weeks later,I am sitting in the back of Twinkle Tales trying to calm down my jitters over the signing about to take place. Rhodes has sent me a video of the long line that's outside the store and all the way down the street…which isn’t helping to calm me down.
Calista comes in with a bottle of champagne. She opens it and pours me a glass with a flourish before pouring her own glass. We tap them together.
“Thank you so much for doing this,” she says. “I know you wanted to stay hidden forever and you could have, even after the word got out. But I'm really, really glad you're doing this for me.”
“You're doing this forme,” I say. “Thank you for being such an advocate of my book and for selling it, even before you knew it was mine.”
“Girl, your book sold itself,” she says, laughing. “I’m just so glad I found it and that the rest of the world did too. And so, so glad you're my best friend.”
“Me too.” I hug her and fan my face, feeling myself getting emotional.
“You ready for this?”
“I think so.”
Rhodes knocks on the door and comes in, looking like a kid. We celebrated his birthday a few days ago and had so much fun, but you’d think today was his birthday for how excited he is. Levi pokes his head around Rhodes’ leg and runs in when he sees me. I hug them both. Rhodes kisses my cheek.
“You look beautiful. Don't be nervous. You're going to do great,” he says.
“Oh, that's easy for you to say,” I whisper.
“Do we have time for a quick surprise?” he asks.
“How quick?”
He pokes his head out the door and motions for someone to come. Tru and Henley pop inside.
“I snuck them in,” Rhodes says.
“Aw, hi guys!” I hug them and then pull back, eyes crinkling. “Okay, what’s going on here? You look extra glowy.”
Tru holds up her hand and I’m blinded by a gorgeous sparkly diamond. “We’re getting married!”
“Ahhh,” I yell. “This is the best news!” I hug both of them. “Oh my goodness, you guys. I’m so happy for you both.”
“The hundredth time I asked her finally worked,” Henley says, kissing Tru’s hand. “She said yes last night and we were waiting to tell everyone in person. But the guys got it out of me when we got here.” He laughs.
“And I knew you’d want to know right away,” Rhodes tells me.
“Absolutely.” I hug Tru again. “So, so happy.”
She can’t stop smiling and she nods. “Me too. Sadie was there when Henley told the guys, so I just need to find Calista now and tell her the news!” She looks at the clock. “Oh yikes, I think the doors will be opening soon.”
After more words of encouragement and hugs, they go get a seat. Calista leans in long enough to say she’s going to open the doors. I pace back and forth until she calls me out there, and I’m surprised to see all the chairs filled, plus people lined up on either side and as far back as they can fit. There’s a rush of applause when I walk out and Calista starts the event, asking a few crowd-warmer questions. I see people from church and my former co-workers from the chiropractor’s office. Yesterday was my last day working there. Almost all of the cheer team is here, despite the football players in attendance, but Lisa isn’t here, so maybe they’ll be okay. There are a lot of people I don’t recognize too, and based on Calista’s questions, it sounds like many drove here from all over Colorado. One came from New Mexico, which is just shocking. The signing was only announced a week and a half ago.
I expect the Q&A to be a little awkward, but Calistamakes it easy, and the readers are so nice. The time goes by fast and it’s mostly questions about the storyline and characters…until the very end.
“So, is it true that this story is based on your life?” It’s a girl who looks too young to be reading my books, and my cheeks burn with the thought of her reading the spicy scenes.
“Uh…well, it’s the story Iwishedwas happening in my life,” I say.
There are a few laughs and I look at Rhodes.
