Chapter 25 NORA
NORA
IF I THOUGHT I WAS busy before, it’s nothing on what my schedule is like now.
I scan the calendar on my phone, looking over the radio interviews, podcasts and other people who’ve asked me to go live with them to share my story and promote my books. A book tour has been set up for me to travel around Australia and then go international.
Ever since the news broke about my identity, I feel like I haven’t had a chance to breathe. I thought I was popular before, but now my audience seems to have tripled.
I used to write in silence, alone in my room, spending hours in my own company between study and sleep.
Now I have my assistant calling and texting me with a bunch of new opportunities and more things to schedule.
It’s a little overwhelming but kind of incredible at the same time.
Now that I’ve recovered from the internet talking about it, I’m enjoying the ride.
My photos were sent to me from the photoshoot and they look amazing. I didn’t hesitate to share them with the world, not caring about who sees me and what they think.
The cherry on top of the cake is that the house of my dreams has come onto the market.
I’m going to look at it on the weekend and prepare an offer, however I’m not quite ready to leave Zayden’s house yet.
We’ll need to discuss it but I want to live with him, whether that be here for longer or moving into my house, I don’t mind.
As long as we’re together. I also enjoy living with Mason and Anya, and the fact that Cami is over all the time.
This place is great and I don’t want to lose it so soon.
Zayden and Anya have gone back home for the day to spend time with their mum as a family.
I’m choosing to take the alone time to sort through the chaos that is now my life.
I’m putting into order all the things I have coming up and when they are, so that I can be prepared and ensure I’m not double booked anywhere.
I’ve also never been so inspired to write, which is what I plan to do for the day. Write, read, swim and eat. Sounds like the perfect afternoon to me.
After staring at the screen so long my eyes sting, I close it and FaceTime my mum, filling her in on all the things going on.
When the others get home, we decide to stay in for the night. We’re all curled up on mismatched blankets under a sky full of stars. There’s a chill to the night air but it’s not cool enough to deter us.
Cami is telling us the latest gossip – it’s kind of funny that Mason and Zayden know all the drama going down in the squad – and Anya is laughing so hard she nearly spills her cider.
Mason’s already half-asleep, stretched out on his back with one arm thrown over his face.
I lie on Zayden’s chest, feeling dreamy and content.
‘I don’t want this night to end,’ I whisper, to no one in particular.
‘Me either,’ Zayden replies.
The truth is, I spent a long time thinking I wouldn’t get to have moments like this – a romance that feels like the ones I read about in books, even the ones I’ve written myself, and having such true, close friendships like these.
I thought I’d always be watching from the edge. Somewhere between the late-night drives, stolen kisses and pinging group chats, I found people who make me feel like I belong. Who show me that love – real love – isn’t just about romance.
‘Let’s promise to be best friends forever,’ Anya murmurs, and at first, I think the others may laugh or make a joke out of it, but no one does.
‘Okay,’ I agree. ‘Let’s promise.’
The others murmur in agreement, even Mason, who I thought might have dozed off.
‘Even if life pulls us in a hundred directions and things get messy, we promise,’ Cami says.
Laying here, with Zayden’s arms around me, surrounded by my best friends, I decide I’ve made it and it’s only going to go up from here.