Chapter 33 Skye - Late June, Around a Year and a Half Later
SKYE. LATE JUNE, AROUND A YEAR AND A HALF LATER
New York feels completely different this time. It still has the undeniable energy, like the ocean at high tide, but instead of threatening to pull me under, it feels like it’s pushing me forward, like I’m riding the wave. The pink skirt of my sundress billows around my knees, roused by my momentum.
I’m off to The Ripped Bodice in Brooklyn, the first stop on my book tour.
My book tour. I love hearing that term.
It’s about a month long, with seven stops on the East Coast and then five on the West. It’ll wrap up near the end of July, just in time for Dad and Thora’s wedding back at the castle.
They both keep saying they’re going to keep it simple, but knowing the two of them, it’ll be grand, with more flowers than a garden store.
I check my phone. Miles is supposed to meet me at the bookstore.
We’ve been splitting our time between Scotland and LA, but the past month or so, I tucked myself away at our little slice of heaven on the Isle of Skye, working on my latest book.
It’s not due to my publisher for a good six months, but I was so excited about it that I couldn’t wait to pick up where I left off.
After finishing my romance, I sent it to Elsie’s agent friend and signed with her a few weeks later.
When she sold this book, I really did get a two-book deal.
My first, the romance about Miles and me, just came out last Tuesday, and so far, the response has been exciting.
Lots of people have given it five stars on Goodreads, and I’m getting tagged left and right in reels on IG and TikTok.
Miles bought the rights to the film, even before it was published, which I think may have sped up the process.
He asked if I wanted to write the screenplay, but I wanted to focus on my next book.
And I’m still tinkering with the story inspired by my mother.
After my last delicious sip of my iced coffee, I throw it in a nearby trash can and take a deep breath. I can do this. I can read from my book in front of a handful of people. Easy peasy.
The Ripped Bodice is impossible to miss.
Both the awning and the building itself under the storefront window are bright pink, almost the exact pink of my dress.
The bells chime as I swing the glass door open to a packed house.
Far more crowded than I’ve ever seen a bookstore at four o’clock on a Wednesday afternoon.
I almost turn right around and leave before the door can close, noticing as I do HAPPILY EVER AFTER and a smattering of HEA’s are hand-painted above the door.
One of the owners comes over, the excitement in her cheeks grounding me. “We’re so thrilled you’re here! Can I get you anything? Water, juice, coffee?”
I nod. “Water would be great, thanks.”
“We’re just going to be right up there.” She points to two velvet rose-colored chairs in the back of the store, sitting in front of a gorgeous display with three large arched window frames, book pages hanging where the glass would go.
I make my way through the crowd, looking for Miles.
Each face I peer into is friendly but unfamiliar, until I get to one I know.
“Minnie!”
“Skye!” Minnie throws her thin arms around me. “This is amazing! Look at all these people here for you!”
I frown and nod. “It’s a little intimidating.”
She squeezes my arm. “You’re going to be amazing.”
“I hope so. What have you been up to?”
“Well, I got a new job at LightStream Productions. We’re shooting a movie a couple of blocks over.”
“Oh fun!”
“It is, but it’s a ton of work. I actually have to head back. I snuck off set just to wish you luck.”
“Thank you.”
Minnie blows me a kiss before running off on her next adventure.
I make my way through the chairs, and before I know it, it’s time to start. I read a few excerpts, ending on one of my favorites.
“Sorcha curtsies, holding out her threadbare slip with both hands, doing her best impression of Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday. Mickey takes her hand and fits her body close to his at first, then adjusts to a perfect waltzing position. They glide through the room, the walls of the little house fading away, like they’re in a grand palace.
The stars out the window are like candles burning; the rustic wood floor has been transformed into marble tile.
Sorcha has never felt more lithe on her feet, never felt sexier, never felt so much in love as she does at this moment.
She worries there may not be enough room inside her to contain it all—that it may be too heavy, but then she looks in Mickey’s eyes and realizes she doesn’t have to carry it alone. ”
The crowd, even larger than when I started reading, definitely a lot larger than my agent and publicist anticipated, claps.
Slow at first and then building. My cheeks warm when everyone stands up and continues to applaud.
From the back, I hear a low whistle. I look to see Miles banging his hands together like a man possessed. I laugh.
The bookstore owner gets on the microphone. “Wow. I just can’t get enough of Sorcha and Mickey.” She holds up a printed list with a red circle in the middle. “We have a little surprise for you from your agent and publisher. Ms. Ainslie, as of this morning, is a New York Times Bestselling author!”
My jaw almost hits the black and pink tile floor in front of me. Did I hear her right? She hands me the paper, and there it is, printed in black and white. My agent mentioned a surprise at the signing, but in all the excitement, it slipped my mind.
Sorcha and Mickey: A Somewhat True, but Mostly Fictional Love Story is number eight on the New York Times bestseller list. My eyes go to where I saw Miles in the crowd earlier, but he’s gone. I scan and find him running along the edges in back, trying to find a way to the front.
I leap forward and weave my way through the fans to more cheers. Affectionate hands pat my shoulders, and some of the women hold up their hands for high fives, which I enthusiastically give as I strut through the crowd to Miles.
His eyes are like fireworks. “You did it!”
The smile on my face grows wider, a feat I didn’t think possible. I have no words.
The corner of his lips turns into a playful smirk. “The writer is speechless?”
I laugh.
Miles leans in and whispers, “Let’s give them something to talk about, then.”
He pulls me into his arms, and the applause gets louder. He dips and dramatically kisses me like the end of an old Hollywood movie. All under the fitting painted wall saying HAPPILY EVER AFTER.
The Q&A and the signing that follows have a celebratory feel. When it’s time to go, Miles takes my hand. As soon as we step outside the store, I pull out my phone. “I have to call my dad. He’s going to be so excited. I’ve been dying to tell him since I heard the news.”
Miles is nodding. “Yes, of course.” But something about him seems nervous, and he’s texting. Probably work stuff.
Dad picks up on the first ring. I hadn’t even thought about what time it must be there.
“Pet, is everything all right?”
I nod and realize he can’t see that. “More than all right. Dad, I have some very exciting news.”
“Ahh, so Miles finally did it?” Dad yells to Thora in the background. I can’t make it all out. “I wondered what the holdup was. He asked me for my blessing ages ago.”
“Your blessing?” More indistinct chatter in the background, but I don’t wait for an answer. “Dad, I’ll have to call you back.”
Miles is running his hand over his face and shaking his head.
A smirk pulls at my lips. I knew it. I knew Miles Casey was up to something. “Miles, my dad said something about you asking for his blessing? What do you think he means? What could you possibly need his blessing for?”
Miles laughs. “I was trying to text him. I knew he’d think that’s what you meant. Can’t I have one surprise?”
“What did he think I meant? Do you have something to tell me? Or should I say, ask me?” I hold out my hand, wiggling my fingers.
Miles sighs, then takes my hand. He looks me in the eye.
“Skye, I wanted this moment to be epic. It just took me a while to figure out what to do. I thought about doing it at our place, but that seemed too everyday. Then I thought maybe while you were here, I could take you to the Empire State Building, but that didn’t feel right either. ”
My heart is soaring. How is this my life? Can this many good things happen in one day?
“I have a picnic all set up at Central Park.” Miles looks around. “But the Universe wants it here.”
Miles gets down on one knee, pulls a velvet ring box out of his pocket, and then takes my hand in his again.
“Skye. I love you. I love your laugh, I love your wit, I love your crazy hair, I love your long legs, I love your eyes, and the way they look at me. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, and I was hoping you might want that too. Skye, will you marry me?”
He opens the ring box to reveal a perfect marquise-cut diamond ring, which twinkles in the summer sun. My heart is beating so fast, I feel like it’s trying to reach out of my chest. I can barely contain my tears, my emotions threatening to overwhelm me. “Aye,” I say in a trembling voice.
Cheers erupt from the bookstore behind us. We turn to find many of the women from my reading pressed against the glass door, peeking out the windows, some with phones held up, some clapping, and some with tears of joy trickling down their faces.
Miles stands, picks me up, and swings me around. Then he sets me down and kisses me—my first kiss from my fiancé.
He takes my hand. “Still up for a picnic in the park?”
I smile. “I’m up for anything, as long as it’s with you.”