I answered it, forcing a smile into my voice. “Hi, Liz. How are you?”
“Sarah, I’m good. I’m good. Just calling with a few updates.” My agent was originally from Newcastle and had never lost her Geordie accent. Usually, I could listen to her speak all day, but I struggled to concentrate at the moment.
“Okay.”
“Is now a bad time?”
I shook myself, sitting up. “No, of course not.”
“Great. First up, the film rights contract is almost complete in absolutely record time. I’ve never had a film rights contract go through this fast, which is exciting. We’ve just sent it back to Cavendish’s people, so they’ll be sending it to you for your signature soon.”
“Wonderful.”
“Cavendish must be very eager to get this into production.”
“He is.” I cleared my throat, my heart racing a wee bit. “Liz, you should know that Theo and I are … we’re more than writing partners for this script. We’re seeing each other.”
“Right, right. Good to know,” she answered briskly, as if it mattered but it didn’t. I relaxed for a mere two-point-fiveseconds before she continued, “Now that you’ve decided to no longer remain anonymous, your publisher would like you to do an interview withRise and Shine Britain.”
I blinked rapidly. “The … the biggest morning television show in the country?”
“The very one. It’s an exciting opportunity, Sarah. And this isn’t just slotting you into the book section of the show. It’s a proper interview. Your publisher would love to use the opportunity to announce the film rights deal with Cavendish.”
My body flushed hot from head to toe. “I … I …” I didn’t want to disappoint anyone but, “Liz, I’m not ready for something like that. I haven’t had any media training?—”
“We can set that up.”
“I’m not …” Bloody Nora, the thought of going on national television made me want to upchuck. “No. I’m not ready. I’m sorry.”
“That’s okay. How about a national magazine instead?” Liz swiftly moved on. “HEY!Magazine wants to interview you. It would involve some photos and questions about your rise to success.”
Even though that still filled me with nerves, I nodded. “I can do that.”
“Amazing. I’ll let your publisher know and they’ll communicate all the info.”
We chatted a wee bit longer about a few more foreign deals, and I promised Liz I was almost finished with the latest Juno book and would send her the final manuscript as soon as edits were completed. Self-publishing the e-book meant I still paid for editorial services and then would send the final file to Liz for her to forward on to the publishers for the print edition. I had to be very disciplined about the deadlines because we had to coordinate the release. Being swept up in an affair with TheoCavendish should have been a recipe for distraction from the book, but being who he was, I was more inspired than ever.
At that thought, after I got off the phone with Liz, I made a coffee and grabbed my laptop. Instead of worrying about Theo, I was going to be productive and try to write at least one new chapter.
My phone sounded with several new text messages over the next few hours. One from North checking in to see if all was okay. He knew Theo was talking with the police today. Another from Aria asking pretty much the same. One from Jared. And, surprisingly, one from Sloane Ironside asking how I was, when I would be returning to Ardnoch, and if I’d still like to do coffee when I got back.
At her text, I stared at my phone in wonder.
I couldn’t remember the last time this many people had been interested in my well-being.
It felt nice.
I replied to them all and told Sloane I wasn’t sure when I’d be back home, but I’d text her as soon as I did. I asked after her and we texted back and forth for a bit before she was distracted by a cake order.
Another thousand words later, Sloane texted me a picture of the cake. It was a three-tiered wedding cake decorated with a sweeping band of icing flowers that draped down over the tiers in a spiral. The flowers were so beautifully crafted, they looked real. I told Sloane so and then snapped a picture of the page I’d just written.
She texted back:
Did you just send me a sneak peek of your new Juno book? Monroe is going to be so jealous! DYING*skull emoji*
My shoulders shook with laughter.
Saving my manuscript, I closed the laptop and got up to wash out my cup. I hadn’t eaten anything since Theo left because I’d had low-level nausea all day.
