Right. The celebration she has been planning since I told her about FlixPix.
I stare at the text for a long moment. The last thing I want to do right now is sit in a crowded bakery and pretend everything is normal when my entire life has turned upside down in less than a week.
But Stella has been so excited about this. She’s been my biggest cheerleader since I finally confided in her when I sold the pilot. And I bailed on her the day of my contract signing. And maybe I need to be around people who know me. People who will support me no matter what mess I’ve gotten myself into.
Me
See you there.
ten
. . .
Natalie
Porto’s is packedwhen I arrive, the smell of cheese rolls and café con leche making my stomach rumble. I spot Stella immediately, practically bouncing in her seat near the window. Blair, Sophia, and Jess are already there, pastry boxes stacked in the center of the table.
Stella sees me and leaps up, wrapping me in a hug that nearly knocks me over. “Finally! I have been dying to celebrate with you properly.”
“I missed you too,” I laugh.
They all stand, pulling me into hugs. Jess squeezes my shoulder. Sophia kisses my cheek. Blair gives me a longer hug, and there is something knowing in her eyes when we pull apart.
“Sit,” Stella commands, pushing me into a chair. “We got you a potato ball and a cheese roll.”
I grab the potato ball immediately, taking a huge bite. “You are my favorite people.”
“So.” Sophia leans forward, grinning. “What is this big news Stella keeps hinting about?”
Stella is practically vibrating. “Tell them. Tell them now!”
I look around the table at these women who have become my closest friends over the past few years. “I sold a show. To FlixPix.”
The table erupts. Sophia shrieks. Jess’s jaw drops. Blair is grinning, her happiness genuine even if it’s not a surprise, as I suspect it isn’t. They all jump up at once, another round of hugs and squealing that makes half the bakery turn to look at us.
“When did this happen?” Jess demands as we all settle back down.
“Couple weeks ago.”
“What is the concept?” Sophia asks.
“Three estranged sisters who inherit their grandmother’s witch powers and have to deal with family trauma while fighting supernatural threats. ThinkCharmedmeetsPractical MagicmeetsSupernatural.”
“That sounds amazing,” Blair says warmly. “Congrats to you.”
“Wait.” Jess sets down her iced coffee. “Have you been a writer this whole time we have known you?”
Heat creeps up my neck. I feel guilty that I have kept this a secret for so long. “Yes. I have been working on it while teaching yoga.”
“And you didn’t tell us?” Sophia looks genuinely hurt.
I take a breath. This is the part I have been dreading. “I didn’t tell anyone except Stella, and she only found out a fewweeks ago when I got the call.” I look around the table. “The thing is, my dad is Ryan Cole.”
The table goes quiet. They all know that name.
“Ryan Cole,” Sophia repeats slowly. “Ryan Cole…from Hays & Cole?”
“Yeah.”
