Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 126425 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 632(@200wpm)___ 506(@250wpm)___ 421(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126425 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 632(@200wpm)___ 506(@250wpm)___ 421(@300wpm)
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
And, again, I don’t know why I don’t just address my questions and theories right now. Why I don’t confront my misgivings. But I find myself unable to and with not enough time to do a deep dive into the wherefores. And for some reason, out of nowhere, I hear my mother’s voice in my head: “Cordelia Penelope Sarantopoulos, you need to stop acting like a silly child and focus yourself like an adult.” Then I hear her tsk. And that’s it. I’m done.
There’s no way I’m going to talk to Steve like an adult woman now. If for no other reason than because my mom just told me to. And so, I’m going to do the opposite.
Yeah. That’ll show her.
Dear God, I am overstimulated at the moment.
“Are you sure? Did I do something—?”
“No. No, no. No, no, no. No, nobody did nothing to nobody.” I wince at my own grammatical misuse. “I just…”
“You had a good time last night, right? We didn’t do anything that—?”
“No! No, no!” I don’t realize how loud I’m being until a bunch of women turn to look at where I’m shouting. I bring it down a notch. “No, last night was just—”
“I apologize for ripping your Skinnies.”
“What?”
“I ripped your… which, by the way, you do not need. Like, even a little. But, honestly, I don’t think anyone does. I mean, I’m glad Britney’s mom has been able to make a successful go of it in the slimming undergarment biz, but I think all bodies are beautiful no matter what they look like. But, in particular, your body…”
What the hell? Is he for real? Talking about all bodies being beautiful, but my body… And he thinks I’m upset about ripping…? Is he for real?
No. This seals it. He’s too nice. Nobody is this charming and handsome and non-judgmental and unproblematic and all… I dunno, thoughtful and whatever. No. Body. Now I know for sure it has to be a game of some kind.
I just don’t understand clearly what it is yet.
I pull away from handsome Steve Smith, reiterating my premise that “I’m fine,” and make my way toward the room where the panel is taking place. But then I stop. Because I realize…
“Um. Do you know where I’m going? I don’t know exactly where it, uh…” I trail off as I stare into his eyes. His beautiful, sympathetic, confused, pained-looking eyes (no, stop, don’t get distracted). He sighs in and out, lifting his chest and letting it fall, and then says…
“Yeah. Follow me.”
And, despite any number of hesitations, I do.
Picking at the Band-Aid on my finger, I look over to Britney, who gives me a thumbs-up and a big smile, indicating with her fingers that I should also try to smile.
Steve is standing next to her in the back of the room, also smiling at me. But his smile is more of a cautious one. An imploring of sorts, accompanied by a nod of what is probably intended to be encouragement.
The room is bursting at the seams, so many romance readers packed in that it has to be a violation of some kind of fire code.
And, suddenly, from out of nowhere, I get an idea for a book. It’s unformed and hazy, but something about Vegas and firefighters and maybe there’s, like, a criminal B-story or something? Maybe the woman is struggling to find her way in the world after a personal trag—
“All right! We’ll go ahead and get started, then,” the frizzy-haired moderator whose name I didn’t catch says as the buzzing, electric energy in the room dies down to a thrum. “Welcome to Reader Rants, where some of the biggest names in romance today will address concerns and questions from you, the readers. First, let’s just go down the panel and have everyone introduce themselves. Although this group hardly needs any introduction,” she adds with a knowing look and a tiny laugh which, in turn, calls up a healthy chuckle from the crowd. Frizzy gestures to her right where the first author on this impressive and intimidating panel sits.
“Hi. I’m Winter Page.” Winter raises her hand and a huge round of applause erupts from the crowd. In front of Winter, her name card confirms why.
WINTER PAGE, #1 NY Times Bestseller
Next up is… “I’m Mercy Rose, hello.”
MERCY ROSE, NY Times and USA Today Bestseller
Another massive round of applause.
Next… “Hello, my dears. My name is Raven Lark,” Raven says in her gentle, septuagenarian way.
RAVEN LARK, NY Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestseller
Uproarious applause.
Followed by, “’Sup, bitches? I’m Eden Le Fay,” says Eden, wiggling the fingers of her black-lace-gloved hands at the women in the room.
EDEN LE FAY, Multiple #1 NY Times Bestseller
The applause is both excited and reverent, almost like they want to celebrate her but are simultaneously terrified of what witchcraft she might be capable of casting upon them.