“It hasn’t. The same people who used to ask when I was getting a real job are now asking when the next book’s coming out. The questions changed. I didn’t.”
She chuckles. “You wrote under a pseudonym for years. Why reveal yourself now?”
I think about that—about Whynot, about Penny, about the porch light that always seems to be waiting for me, no matter how far I drift. “Because hiding stops feeling safe after a while. It just starts feeling small.”
Caroline nods, clearly pleased. Then, almost casually, “And the love stories? You write them with conviction. Does that come from experience?”
We hit the town limits and I look across the square to Central Café. Through the wide glass front, I catch a flash of Penny—hair tied up, sunlight making her glow like the angel I know her to be.
“Yeah,” I say quietly. “It does. Comes from trying to get it right. And screwing it up enough times torecognize when it’s real.”
Caroline follows my gaze. “Sounds like you’ve found something you’d like to hold on to.”
I don’t look away from the restaurant. “I have.”
“Want to tell me more?”
“Nope,” I say with a grin, eyes flicking to the rearview mirror to find Derek still engrossed in his phone. “It’s complicated.”
She smiles. “The best things usually are.”
I slide into a parking spot one block off Main and we all exit the truck. “Come on… I’m going to show you around town.”
I give them the grand tour of Whynot and even take them into Chesty’s for a beer, where Pap regales Caroline with stories about me growing up. It’s then time to part ways as Caroline and Chris have to catch their flight back to New York.
“We’ll be in touch to schedule the actual interview.” Caroline holds out her hand and we shake. “You’re the easiest subject I’ve covered in months. You remind people why these stories matter—it’s not the fantasy, it’s that you’re genuine.”
“I appreciate that.”
Derek and I watch their taillights disappear past the square and I let out a relieved breath. “That wasn’t so bad.”
Laughing, Derek shakes his head. “Iwant to hear you say that after you appear live on national television.”
“Fuck… I’m going to be a wreck, I imagine.”
“Nah,” he says with good nature. “Just be yourself and it will go perfectly.” Derek nods toward Millie’s. “I’m going to go get some work done. I’ve got a few pitches to look over.”
I think back to the first time I pitched to Derek and that seems like ages ago. “God help the wannabe authors who have you critiquing their work.”
“They’ll probably all want to be as good as you, but you, my friend, are one of those once-in-a-lifetime clients an agent might get.” He punches my shoulder lightly, affectionately. “If, through all of my preening and exclaiming over how great my commissions are going to be I forget to tell you, I appreciate the hell out of you.”
“Ditto,” I assure him. “Ditto.”
Derek turns toward Millie’s but then hesitates. “This went really well today, Sam. You came off genuine, charming, grounded. I think the actual interview is going to be epic and it will launch you higher than you ever thought possible.”
“I hope so. It wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be.”
Derek glances back over at the bed-and-breakfast as if he’s trying to find the right words. When he looks back at me, he says, “Just… don’t let things distract you.”
I arch an eyebrow. “Things?”
“You know… things.”
I’m guessing Derek was paying more attention than it appeared when Caroline was asking about my love life in the truck. My hackles rise slightly. “I sort of think you really mean just Penny.”
He sighs. “Listen… you’re on fire right now, Sam. Publishers are circling. There’s talk of a national tour. You could be doing signings, late-night shows, podcasts. I just don’t want to see you shrink your world when it’s finally opening up.”
I force a calming breath, the threat to my relationship with Penny grating on my nerves. “We’ve sort of had this discussion before. In case you forgot, let me remind you… I’m not about to give up Penny. I don’t know what we could be or how this is going to evolve, but I’m going to put a hundred and ten percent into figuring it out, and that might interfere with my other obligations. Be ready for it.”
