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I find friend requests from Ember, Luna, and Jax. I stare at his name longer than I'd like to admit, waiting for it to make sense. Celebrities don't add ordinary women on social media. They don't have to—there's no reason to, not really. So why has he?

Maybe there's something to what Ember said after all.

Hitting accept on all three, I sit quietly for a moment—the dark phone screen clutched in my hand—as a slow, helpless smile takes over my face and a flutter settles in my chest.

The room around me doesn’t feel quite so overwhelming now that I have a new perspective. Everywhere I look people are hugging, laughing, taking photos together like they’ve known each other forever. There’s something inherently beautiful about it. Like the whole world’s love arrived at once, holding everyone without asking them to change.

I think that’s what this place really is. Not just a convention but permission—to be yourself, to accept yourself and others as you find them. For once, being a little odd isn’t something to apologise for. It’s expected. Celebrated even.

And standing here amongst it all, love doesn’t feel quite so scary. It feels like something that was there all along, just quietly waiting for me to finally understand it.

Chapter 31

Jax

The guest lounge is strangely calm compared to the absolute madness happening downstairs. I’m sprawled across one of the black leather sofas with a coffee in one hand and Bri’s book balanced on my knee. Every now and then, a burst of cheering from the main hall, followed by the crackle of announcements over the speakers cuts through the silence. I grin to myself. The gang were right; the atmosphere and experience are electric. I can’t believe I’ve never properly experienced one of these events from the other side before. Usually, I’m rushed in through side doors, shoved into photoshoots, dragged to panels, dying at my table from a hangover, then rushed out again in one big blur.

Today is different. I got here ridiculously early because I wanted to experience the event with friends, with Bri, really. The enthusiasm in her voice, and the way her eyes lit up while she talked about it yesterday, made me want to see it for myself.

Watching her explore the convention with unfiltered wonder and awe didn’t disappoint. She has a unique way of making everything feel alive—including me.

We spent an hour exploring the prop displays and taking ridiculous photos together, like a couple of teenagers who just met and couldn’t wait to show off to each other. And I had shown off, posing dramatically with a replica plasma rifle twice my size that caused me to fall flat on my face. Bri had ended up on the floor beside me purely from laughing so hard. Normally I’d have died of embarrassment, but I don’t feel awkward around Bri—even when I make a fool of myself—I just feel content, like I finally know who I am and want to own it.

When Ella caught wind that I was in the building early, she’d come looking, thinking it was a joke staff were playing on her. “Jesus Christ,” she’d laughed. “You really did just show up.”

Like an absolute angel, she organised breakfast and coffee for me, and apparently cancelled the car that was supposed to collect me from the lodge because, in my excitement, I’d completely forgotten it existed.

My gaze drops back to the book on my knee. I finished the final chapter ten minutes ago and it’s still living rent free in my head. The dialogue, the pacing, the way she writes emotion so sharply it sneaks under your ribs before you realise what she’s done. It’s mind-blowing for a debut novel. Then again, maybe it isn’t surprising. Bri is the most incredible person I’ve ever met. Chaotic as hell. Completely unfiltered. Down to earth in a way most people in this industry stopped being years ago. She makes me want to be the best version of myself that I can be and even more impressively, she makes me believe that it’s possible.

My phone buzzes against the armrest. Elijah. I answer immediately. “Please tell me you’re not billing me weekend rates.”

“You can afford weekend rates,” my brother replies dryly.

I laugh, leaning back into the sofa. Elijah’s technically my lawyer, but before that he’s my older brother, which means every professional conversation comes with at least some level of taking the piss.

“I spoke to Lennie this morning,” he says, tone shifting slightly. “He sent everything over. I’m going through it all today.”

“Okay.”

There’s a pause. “Are you sure about this, Jax?”

“Yeah,” I say quietly. “I’m sure.”

“Fantastic. So, while normal people enjoy their Saturday, I’ll be neck-deep in work because my little brother’s having a personal growth arc.”

I snort. “Tell Sara I apologise.”

“Oh, she already knows.”

“Jax!” Sara shouts down the line. “You absolutely owe us for this.”

“Anything for my favourite sister-in law.”

“Aidan keeps asking when Uncle Jax is visiting,” she says. “So, your repayment plan is getting your ass to London and entertaining your nephew.”

“Done,” I agree. It has been too long.

“You promise?”