Chapter 29 #2
“As soon as you emailed it over, I read it. I’ve had an hour of sleep.
It’s incredible. Your best work yet.” She’s talking fast now.
“The emotion, the depth, the way you captured what it means to choose love even when it’s terrifying.
Scarlett, this is the book romance readers have been waiting for. ”
Relief floods through me so fast, I don’t realize tears are streaming down my face. I press my hand to my chest, where my heart races. The last manuscript I turned in, she immediately rejected, so this feels like a win. “Really?”
“Really. I want to fast-track this and move up your publication date to get it out while there’s buzz around you and Ezra.
” She’s in full editor mode now. “The timing is perfect. Everyone wants to know your love story, and you just wrote the most beautiful version of it. I don’t know what I expected, but it wasn’t this masterpiece. ”
“Wait, move up the pub date? By how much?”
“Three months. We can have this out in six months if you’re okay with a tight turnaround on edits.”
My head spins. “That’s fast.”
“I know, but trust me on this. The market is hot for you right now. Your Instagram post, the photos, the public interest. Capitalizing on this will put this story in more readers’ hands.
” She pauses. “I know how that sounds, but I promise you, this isn’t just about sales.
This book is special, Scarlett. It deserves to be out in the world right now.
The journey is healing. We love a heroine who chooses herself. ”
Part of me wants to argue about using my relationship for book sales, but Natalie’s right. People are interested. “Okay. Let’s do it.”
“Excellent. I’ll send you my editing notes by the end of the week. Plan on about three weeks of revisions.”
“Whatever you need.”
“Perfect. Scarlett, I’m so excited about this. This book is going to be huge. I can just feel it. Oh, can you still come to the office on Friday and sign those books?”
“Friday?”
“Yeah, it was the day you gave me a few months ago. Are you still available?” she asks.
I know there is no way I can get out of this when I have already committed, because it’s for a book club. “Sure, I’ll be there.”
“Great, I’ll see you then.”
We hang up, and I sit there for a moment, letting it sink in. Everything I’ve been working toward for two years is finally happening.
I nearly float back into the kitchen where Ezra and Millie are waiting.
“Well?” Ezra asks.
“She loved it,” I say, realizing our time is being cut shorter than I thought. “She wants to move up the pub date and get it out as fast as possible.”
“That’s the best news!” Millie claps her hands. “I can’t wait to read it!”
Ezra crosses to me and picks me up, spinning me around. “I’m so fucking proud of you.”
Millie rummages through the cabinet and finds a bottle of champagne, then pops open the bottle. She pours the bubbly into three mismatched glasses. We toast to new books and new beginnings.
She tells stories about Ezra as a kid that make him groan and me laugh until my sides hurt. Millie leaves a few hours later after hugging us both so tight, I can barely breathe. The door closes behind her, and suddenly the house is very quiet.
“I have to tell you something,” I say to Ezra, pulling him close to me. “I have to be back in New York on Thursday. My publisher needs me in the office on Friday. It’s something I agreed to months ago, and I can’t douche out.”
The disappointment on his face is hard to ignore. “I want to be selfish, but I understand.”
“You can come with me,” I offer.
“I can’t,” he says. “Unfortunately, I have to prepare for the charity gala that’s coming up.”
“Oh, right. Of course,” I say, wishing past me hadn’t agreed to do this.
Unspoken words stream between us.
He wipes down the counter. “Everything will work out,” he says.
“I know,” I tell him, not concerned.
My phone buzzes and I pull it from my pocket.
Hallie
I CANNOT BELIEVE YOU FINISHED YOUR BOOK AND DIDN’T TEXT ME AND LET ME KNOW IT WAS IN MY INBOX! I JUST SAW IT! WTAF!!!!
I smile and text her back.
Scarlett
Yes! Omfg! I did! Hope you enjoy! Natalie called me and said she loved it.
Hallie
OMFG SHE READ IT BEFORE ME? I’m supposed to be first!
Scarlett
I’m sorry! I’ll make it up to you.
Hallie
Yeah? Coffee date when you’re back in the city?
Scarlett
Consider it done.
Hallie
Also, saw all the BS about you and Ezra. Are you doing okay?
Scarlett
Actually, yeah. Don’t care what anyone says. Doesn’t matter this time.
Hallie
Damn. When is the wedding?
Scarlett
Bwahaha! Shut up. Pencil me in for this weekend.
Hallie
I’ll send you an official invite.
In a few days, I’ll be walking back into my old environment as a new person. I’ll be back to my old life, meetings, edits, and figuring out my next steps.
“You got quiet,” Ezra says beside me.
“I just thought I had more time with you,” I admit. “Lots to think about.”
“Yeah,” he tells me. “So what are your plans?”
“First, I need to book my flight back to New York.” I chew on my bottom lip. “I’ll sign books on Friday, and then I’ll need to make a decision about my lease.”
“Very true.” He’s using that carefully neutral voice.
I pull out my phone, and my hands are shaking slightly as I open the airline app, checking the Thursday afternoon flights from Charleston to New York. My finger hovers over the purchase button, and my stomach drops when I select one-way.
The cursor blinks at me. That means I don’t know when I’m coming back; it means I haven’t decided yet. I click purchase before I can overthink it. The email confirmation comes through with a ding.
“Booked,” I mutter, and my voice sounds strange.
“Thursday?”
“Yeah.” I set my phone down. “In the afternoon.”
“Can I call you?” he asks.
“If you don’t, I’ll be pissed,” I tell him with a laugh, moving toward him.
He wraps his arms around me and inhales my hair. “I’m going to miss you.”
“I’ll miss you, too. But I’m only a text away.”
“I know. Just promise me you’ll actually think about what you want while you’re there.” He pulls away, meeting my eyes, and his hand runs through my hair. “Not what you think you should want or what makes sense. What you, the real Scarlett, actually wants.”
My throat is so tight, I can barely swallow. “I promise.”
I have to renew my lease by the last day of the month, which means I have less than two weeks to decide.
We stand in his kitchen with his arms around me, and my face pressed against his chest. The clock on the wall ticks too loud. Willow jumps onto the counter and meows at us.
“I’m scared,” I whisper into his shirt.
“I know.” His arms tighten. “I am, too.”
“What if I make the wrong choice?”
“You won’t.” He pulls back to give me a smile.
I’ve been living in limbo for two years, paralyzed by fear and what-ifs. I came to Charleston to finish a book, but I found something else, something more real than anything I’ve written. I found someone who makes me believe in love again.