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)
I look at Cordelia. “Who…?”
“My… landlady?” Cordelia shrugs. “Sheila. It’s kind of a long story. But you’re right, we do match.” She beams a smile at me.
“Like she said,” Britney says, pointing at Sheila weaving between tables as she makes her way to the bar, “you kids have fun.” Then she’s off too.
We watch Britney disappear as the room begins filling up with people all decked out in vintage dresses. Most look like they’re dressed in costumes. Cheap stuff. Things they will never wear again. But Cordelia…
“My God, Cordelia.” I sigh a little. “You really do look stunning tonight.”
“Thanks.” She puts a hand over her chest. “I feel like… Cinderella.”
I point to myself. “Does that make me the prince?”
Cordelia blushes a little. “I guess it does.”
“Well”—I offer her the crook of my arm—“we should go to the ball.”
Cordelia hooks her arm in mine and we face the night together.
We only get about ten steps in before a group of ladies rush up to us. I put up a hand. “Ladies, ladies, please. I might or might not narrate your books. But tonight is not—”
But I’m cut off. “Cynthia, I loved your book! I read the ARC this afternoon! I could not put it down!”
Cordy’s eyebrows shoot up. “You did? You couldn’t?”
“I did too!” a friend adds.
“Well, I’ve read all of your books. You’re gonna complete that series, right? I’m dying for more!”
Cordy blinks. “You are?”
“Oh, my God,” the first one says. Then proceeds to gush.
Gush. A technical term. To go over-the-top insane in front of people so they get a paralyzing sense of FOMO and start one-clicking the pre-order.
Note to Steve’s internal notepad: Remind Cordy to put up a pre-order for next book in series tomorrow.
Soon, there is quite a crowd, all clamoring for my lovely Cordelia’s attention.
She looks at me—almost a deer-in-headlights kind of look. I nod at her and smile.
But I can’t help but think back to my first signing. Well, Essie’s first signing. With me at her side. Awkward. But when it wasn’t awkward, it was amazing.
It was a sudden and almost overwhelming understanding that people are not only reading my words—something they did not actually do prior to Master Choke—they are in love with them.
They were coming up to Essie gushing about Choke and Sugar like they were real people.
It was… incredible. And so much fun, even though I was just the sidekick brother. I got to hear what people thought about my writing with my own ears. Not only that, I knew they weren’t lying because I wasn’t Essie!
No one knew who I was that first time. No one cared.
Fast-forward another year and everyone knew I was Steve—Essie’s Ro-Bro.
I sigh. The climb up is so much better than reaching the peak.
And right in this moment Cordelia Sarantopoulos, aka Cynthia Lear, is getting a healthy dose of what that actually means. I lean in to her ear. “Enjoy this. Take your time. I’ll get us drinks.”
As I’m making my way to the bar, I notice my parents have joined Essie and Mike near the bandstand and my first instinct is to dodge them. But then I look over my shoulder, find Cordelia in deep conversation with her newfound fans, and decide I should make an effort.
So I walk over and smile at my mother. The Rom-Mom. It’s cute. She’s still wearing that ribbon, too, pinned right on the black satin stole of her stunning white satin full-length gown. When I get to them, I touch her shoulder, lean down, and kiss her cheek. “Are you having a good time, Mom?”
“Oh, Steve.” She looks up at me with her blue eyes—which are a little more faded as each year goes by—and I brace for the insults. “Don’t you look handsome tonight!” She reaches up, straightens my tie, and nods.
Then my dad is clapping me on my shoulder. “That really is a great suit, son. But I don’t look bad either, right?”
I glance at Essie and Mike, wondering if they’ve mentioned my interest in a woman and that’s why my parents are being so complimentary. I can’t tell. “Well, the two of you might as well be Fred and Ginger the way you look tonight.” My dad is wearing full evening dress complete with white bow tie. And honestly, together, they look quite amazing.
Essie and Mike are just as decked out. Essie is in her elegant, full-length mermaid gown with millions of beads and a true art deco feel. Mike is white tie too.
In fact, I feel a little casual tonight compared to them. And I’m expecting those insults to start flying at any moment.
But to my surprise, my dad says, “You look fantastic, son,” and claps me on the back again.
Hmm. Well. “Thank you.” I will take that compliment. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to grab a drink for my date.”