Another hand went up.
“What are you working on next?” a man in the back row shouted.
“Thanks for asking!” I exclaimed, since both Nia and I hadforgotten to talk about it. “I’m deep in book two of the series, holed up in my writing cave.”
The writing cave that Owen had created for me in his basement, which was bright enough to not qualify as subterranean. It was a cozy spot with an antique desk we’d found in London and bookshelves of my own filled with my color-sorted collection.
Merging our lives hadn’t been a discussion until Meredith forced the issue when she’d come home wearing an engagement ring right as our lease was up. Owen and I had only been a few months into dating, but we agreed that fate was pushing us together. Once I was settled in, it felt like I’d always been there. Marti gracefully accepted me as a new bedmate, opting to snuggle against me instead of Owen, to his dismay.
“Okay, folks, I’m seeing the ‘wrap up’ signal from our host,” Nia said. “Everyone, grab your books and get in line for the signing portion of the night. Thanks for being here; now go buy a bunch of copies of this wonderful book!”
I fought off a new swarm of butterflies as the applause died down, and I made my way to the table that had a massive bouquet of peach roses and ranunculus, courtesy of Wes and Claudia.
Holy shit, I was about to signmybook.
Nia gave me a quick hug before I sat down.
“I’m so sorry I can’t stay,” she whispered, clasping my arms. “But you’ve got this. You were fantastic.”
“Thank you for making it so fun,” I replied. “And for believing in me.”
She left to go to a family function before she could get cornered into a conversation, leaving me to face the hordes on my own.
Celeste slipped in to give me a quick hug and hand over a bottle of Veuve Clicquot. It turned out that my book was her biggest sale yet.
“Onward,” she said excitedly. “It’s just the beginning!”
As I signed, I blanked on old friends’ names, wrote “Bryan” instead of “Brian” inside a book and had to scrap it, spent far too long talking about pickleball bags with one of my students, and never stopped grinning.
Because it was real. The hardcover book with bold typeface over the top of a darkly romantic illustration had my name at the bottom.
When Meredith and Colton wound up in front of me, I paused to pull something out of the pocket of my pretty new dress.
“What’s this?” Meredith frowned as she took the slip of paper from me.
“I had an outstanding debt at the Bank of Waxman,” I replied. “I’d like to close my account now.”
“Oh my god, you dork.” She swatted at me. “I totally forgot! Sign the book and we’ll figure it out later.”
“Books,” Colton said as he hoisted a stack of a half dozen on the table in front of me.
“You don’t have to do that,” I gasped.
He pulled a receipt out of the top copy. “It’s done. And they’re gifts. Sign, please.”
They moved on quickly since Meredith knew the drill, and I continued signing, pausing to stop for photos and hugs.
My parents edged up to the table.
“I can’t wait to readThe Archer’s Paradox! I hear it’samazing,” my mom sang out overly loud so the people just happening upon my table might be convinced to pick up a copy.
“Mom, you’ve read it three times already.” I laughed. “You were one of my first readers.”
I’d dedicated the book to them, which had made my mom weep when she saw it.
“They don’t know that,” she said out of the corner of her mouth. “Still good for dinner after? Owen said he picked a really nice spot.”
“Yeah, I’m dying of hunger,” I whispered.
